“What flavor would Cayden like? Vanilla or green tea? Or maybe, he has different taste from his parents,” Gabriella muttered as she looked at the colorful box of ice cream.
“Ah, I hope his stomach is okay. He can only taste the tip of a spoon if the choice is this much,” the woman thought before quickening her pace. She couldn’t wait to see the Little Prince’s happy face.
However, when her gaze fell on the bench, the curve of Gabriella’s lips suddenly disappeared. She only saw a servant sitting there. With a pounding heart, the woman ran over while checking the surroundings.
“Lena, where’s Cayden?” she sighed with ragged breaths.
Without any burden, the servant lowered the phone from her face. “Here.”
In just an instant, the young girl’s eyes opened wide. “Oh my gosh! Where is Young Master? A minute ago, the stroller was still here, Madam,” Lena exclaimed as she stood up.
Clutching her head, Gabriella forced the brain to stay sane. With tears held back by worry, she observed the situation of the park which was quite crowded.
“If the stroller was still here a minute ago, so Cayden isn’t out of the park yet. We have to find him!”
With cheeks wet with regret, the servant nodded. “In that case, I’ll look in that direction.”
Without having time to answer with words, Gabriella nodded and ran in the opposite direction. Her throat felt hot, pressed by the air from the congested lungs. She didn’t know what would happen if Cayden really didn’t come back into her arms.
***
“That woman is so evil. The baby keeps crying, but she doesn’t care at all.”
“Right. Does she have a psychological disorder?”
Instead of paying heed, the skinny woman who was pushing the bear-patterned stroller took faster steps. The blasphemy from the people was no big deal for her.
“Hey, Young Lady! I don’t know what your problem is, but take good care of your child. Everyone was disturbed by his loud crying. Do you have the heart to let him suffered?” an old man reprimanded as he could not bear to see a baby neglected. The little hands kept reaching out from the carriage.
Unfortunately, the skinny woman kept walking. She really didn’t pay attention to the voice.
“Are you deaf? Or could it be that … you are a kidnapper?” the old man exclaimed, successfully stopping the woman in her tracks. “People will think so if you don’t calm your child down.”
After being a stone for a moment, the skinny woman finally turned to the front side of the stroller. “Shut up,” she said in a low voice.
However, the baby’s cry got louder and louder. With a heavy heart, the woman opened the bag, looking for a pacifier to put in the mouth that was not tired of making sounds.
“This … shut up,” she said, forcing the baby to greet the bear-patterned pacifier.
Unexpectedly, the little human refused with a shake. Annoyed, the woman finally unfastened the buckle and held the baby in one hand. Then, with the other hand, she pushed the carriage out of the garden.
After a while, the woman suddenly screamed. The baby grabbed her hair with one hand mercilessly.
“Hey, why are you doing this to Mom?” she asked awkwardly. Her thin brows twitched in annoyance and anger.
However, no matter how hard she tried to save her hair, the tiny grip refused to let go. With the other hand, the baby gripped the remaining hair he could still reach.
“Hey …” the woman grumbled, starting to raise her voice.
Sensing something was wrong, the old man who had been watching, approached. “Is there a problem, Miss?” he asked in a worried tone.
“No. Absolutely no.”
While enduring the pain at the roots of her hair, the skinny woman resumed walking with the stroller in one hand.
However, only in a few steps, her head began to be attracted towards the baby. The little man’s strength was far beyond expectations.
“Stop,” she said in a low voice.
Unexpectedly, the baby began to grip her face until it left a fine scratch mark. The woman automatically gritted her teeth tighter. “I said stop!” she rebuked while keeping her face away.
Unable to endure the relentless attacks, the heartless human finally lowered the baby back into the carriage. However, before she could reach the handle, the carriage toppled over, overthrowing the baby who swiftly got up and staggered away.
Witnessing such a miracle, the skinny woman snorted. Immediately, she tried to stop the baby. However, the little feet were trained to avoid the catch.
“You devil child!” The woman’s cursing made everyone who heard it gasp, including the old man who then stared at the little boy in the brown bear jumpsuit coming to him.
“Wait a minute! Isn’t this Mr. and Mrs. Evans’ son?” the old man exclaimed, making the skinny woman’s steps stop.
A second later, his index finger was raised. “You must be a kidnapper!”
Hearing such a sure cry, people began to approach the woman who was slowly moving backwards. She realized that her evil action had been exposed. Without stalling for time, the villain took a quick steps. People who feel angry are automatically moved to stop her.
“Catch the kidnapper!”
“Don’t let her escape!”
While people were busy chasing, the old man looked down at the little baby holding his leg. With a look of pity, he reached out a hand to comfort him. But, before his finger touched Cayden’s head, the little boy ran again.
“Where are you going?” the old man asked as he couldn’t walk fast. His brows furrowed with concern.
However, when he saw whom the baby was approaching to, his heart suddenly relaxed. Gabriella was running with tears in her eyes and hands ready to hug.
“Cayden …!” the woman sighed as she could no longer scream. Her energy had been diverted to increase a speed she had never reached.
When Gabriella’s hands managed to hug the baby, her eyes automatically closed, letting go of worry. Little Prince’s cry sounded very sad. But on the other hand, it made a heavy weight lift from the mother’s heart.
“I’m sorry, Cayden. I’m sorry. Mom has neglected to take care of you,” Gabriella sobbed while stroking the back that was shaking with fear.
While repeatedly kissing the Little Prince’s head, the woman expressed guilt.
“The kidnapper was trying to escape. People are doing their best to catch her,” the old man explained as soon as he arrived in front of the young woman.
When Gabriella looked up to check who was speaking, her eyes suddenly opened wide. After she got up with Cayden in her arms, she bowed in gratitude.
“Thank you, Sir. Thank you so much for saving my son,” Gabriella sighed with face still wet.
“I didn’t do anything, Madam. Your son saved himself. He is great. That evil woman is overwhelmed with him,” the old man explained while nodding reassuringly. A second later, his index finger pointed again. “But he fell from his stroller. I hope he’s okay.”
Without wasting any time, Gabriella checked the direction the man was pointing. As soon as she found Cayden’s jumpsuit littered with dust, her heart cracked even more.
“Is Cayden in pain?” Gabriella sighed as she leveled her eyes with her son.
The Little Prince had stopped crying. However, something still stuck in the woman’s chest. After a brief deliberation, Gabriella finally mumbled, “We’re going to the hospital now.”