"The last time I was on a call with Anne, she really sounded as if her mind was somewhere else. So I
called a connection in the city and he told me about the matters between you and TS Company. I also
knew about the video on the internet," Peter said. "If you can't locate that person, you will always be
cast in a suspicious light."
Kevin nodded. The person to whom Peter had referred was Colin.
There were no leads on him. No one had any idea where Colin could be.
As time went by, Ella had become increasingly worried. She had started to ask about her father about
twice a day.
But now, there was no new information on him.
Last night, Ella had yet again had a terrifying dream that woke her from her sleep. Crying, she had
knocked on Kevin and Anne's door and anxiously flung herself into the latter's arms for comfort.
They felt so sorry for this little girl, but there was really nothing they could do for her.
"You know, I have remembered how I behaved previously. I have taken it too far in the past. This time, I
want to help you and I don't want any type of remuneration or reward. I want to make up for the
mistakes I have committed in the past. What do you say?" Peter said this with a confident and assured
smile on his face.
Anne and Kevin shared a look. They both then looked back at Peter.
"Are you aware that Kim is still alive?" Anne asked.
Although Peter was not a co-conspirator of Kim, and was not in Kim's immediate circle, Kim did trust
him very much.
Peter raised his eyebrows, nodded, and said, "Of course I know."
"This whole thing has something to do with Kim. If you help us, you will be against Kim. Aren't the two
of you friends?" she continued.
Peter smirked. He took a sip of his tea, then he said, "Anne, you could not be more wrong. Kim and I
have never been friends!"
Anne and Kevin looked at each other in surprise.
Peter lowered his voice and elaborated, "Back then, Kim was aware of my true identity. He blackmailed
me with this information. I really had no choice. But now, he really can't threaten me any longer. Even if
I go against him directly to his face, what can he do?"
Peter was no longer the person he used to be. Now, he had done everything by the book. He was not
scared of Kim at all!
It wasn't until he went abroad that he had realized he was at his happiest when he was a man who was
self-made, self-assured, honest and confident.
That was why he had decided to pursue a career as a detective. He did his best to find out what the
truth was in very difficult cases. The real murderer should stand trial and be convicted."
Hearing that, Anne and Kevin both smiled.
"In that case, thank you so much," Kevin said seriously. Since Peter had advised of the situation, he
really wanted to enlist his assistance.
Plus, it had been a really long time since the incident had transpired yet there was no news from the
police. Perhaps Peter could uncover some new clues.
Further, Peter knew Kim and his ways better than the police.
Peter gave a small nod, picked up the gift bag next to him and placed it on the table. "Simon and Sally
had told me about what happened with Eddy. I'm sorry that I haven't had a chance to visit him at
hospital, but I have got him a birthday present. Here."
Shaking her head, Anne said, "No, you don't have to worry about him. He has recovered as well as we
could have hoped for. I think he'll likely be discharged quite soon."
Peter nodded at the good news. After chatting for some time, he got to his feet and took his leave.
The only purpose of Peter making a return was to help Anne and Kevin.
The two of them watched Peter's departing figure and sighed heavily. They really couldn't know for sure
whether Peter would uncover anything or not.
But they had no better means or solution.
Not long after Peter left the house, a black car cut him off. Unfazed and fearless, Peter smiled.
Although he could not see who exactly was in the car, he waved in greeting.
"When I heard that you were dead, I really didn't believe it. I'm relieved to see that you are alive and
kicking." Peter had the hunch that Kim was indeed alive.
Kim was elusive and truly a force to be reckoned with. With the strength of his black-market businesses
behind him, how could he so easily be killed?
Peter was abroad when the news of Kim's death had broken. He thought it was utterly ridiculous. He
really had not expected Anne and Kevin to have believed it.
After discovering the whole story, Peter really had no other option but to accept that Kim's character
was encapsulated by two words: powerful and cunning.
The car window slowly rolled down, revealing Kim's wicked face. His eyes were cold and dark, his
expression blank. He looked directly at Peter. His presence created a pressurized feeling, as if his
ability to coerce was hanging tangibly in the air.
"So, it's evident that you have been stalking the Fu Family," Peter said in a heavy voice. "You
conquered death. After that, is there still something you can't let go of? Do you really think it wise to
fight bitterly to the end? Kim - let it go. Let Anne be free. Just let everything end here."
Kim's face darkened with menace for a moment. He snorted and said scornfully, "Don't think you can
tell me what to do, Peter. It really isn't any of your concern."
Peter had no choice but to nod in acceptance. "Forget it. It is your business and life. It doesn't have
anything to do with me."
"Why did you come back?" Kim asked.
"Of course, I returned for a specific purpose. But you aren't the mayor of the city, are you?" Peter made
this remark with a mocking smile playing across his face. He did not have one iota of fear in him for
Kim.
Kim's eyes narrowed and he gave Peter a look that could turn a person to ice in an instant. In the blink
of an eye, he took out his gun and pointed directly at Peter.
"Peter, I have lost my patience with you. If you want to live, you better get out of this city right now!"
Kim said menacingly.
His men had been watching the Fu Family's residence closely. When Peter had paid a visit, he was
immediately alerted.
He wasn't sure why Peter had come back but he had a bad feeling about it.
For so many years, he'd survived hails of bullets. His sixth sense was more accurate than anyone
else's.
That was why he made it a priority to personally come to Peter and threaten his life.
"Peter shook his head as if he didn't even see the murderous weapon pointed right at him. He said
fearlessly, "I can't leave now. I haven't finished my work yet!"
"What is it that you've set out to do?" Kim pressed him for an answer.
"That is my private business, and it has nothing to do with you!" Peter shook his head again.
During his stint overseas, he had a gun pointed directly at his temple three times within one year. He
was no longer afraid of it.
But did Kim dare to actually pull the trigger?
"Are you challenging me?" Kim's voice became sinister and he cocked the takedown lever.
"You are the one and only Kim, king of the underworld, black-market business. You've killed more
people than I can count. Why would I dare to challenge you?" Peter said defenselessly. "This city is my
home town. What's wrong with me coming back home? You can't possibly be so obsessively
controlling, can you?"
Kim frowned as something important suddenly popped into his head. He answered a phone call, and
put his gun away. He looked at Peter with a vile look on his face, and said threateningly, "I will say this
once and once only: If you dare interfere in my business or meddle with my plans, you will regret it."
His piercing, icy tone made Peter realize that Kim would make good on his threat.
But he couldn't just leave. He wanted to make sure he helped Kevin first.
Kim drove away from Peter, dismissing the encounter. Peter stood on the spot quietly for some time
before he looked away.
He really wanted to persuade himself to leave but he just could not do it. His professional ethics
required that he stayed and helped Kevin solve this case.
He was self-motivated; his dedication came from within.
Peter smiled and then drove away.
Of course, Kevin and Anne had no inkling of the altercation that had transpired.
A week passed and the day of Eddy's birthday arrived.
The day before, Eddy had been transferred out of the ICU into a general ward. The doctor had strictly
advised him not to eat much sweet food.
His parents were very cautious and kept this in mind.
On the day, everyone was present except for Emily. The entire ward had been dressed up and
decorated, creating a cheery atmosphere. It felt as if they were back home at the Fu Family's
residence.
There was a small smile on Eddy's face. He was already a whole five years old. He felt great.
"Eddy is about two years older than me, but my birthday is not far off. I will be three soon!" Sally said
sweetly from next to Eddy.
Eddy lowered his head to look at Sally. He noticed that she was eyeing his stack of presents eagerly.
Instantly, he realized she was a smart little girl who was angling for a gift.
"Which gift do you want? I'll let you have it," Eddy said.
"I want the paper crane that Ella gave you," Sally turned around and said.
In order to celebrate Eddy's birthday, Ella had folded nine hundred and ninety-nine origami cranes.
Anne had come up with this idea.
This was because when Ella had nothing to keep her busy, she would think obsessively about Colin.
After all, an idle mind is the devil's workshop. To find a solution for this, Anne had thought this was a
good idea.
The little girl had spent her days and nights folding the many cranes.
Eddy frowned and felt a little affronted.
He didn't care about any of the other gifts...but the paper cranes...
It was a gift from Ella.
Noticing that something was wrong, Anne walked up to them, ready to intervene if necessary. After
hearing the whole story, she held Sally in her arms and explained, "This is a gift from Ella to your
brother. You can't take it, okay?"
"Okay..." Sally lowered her head and agreed reluctantly.
"Your birthday is coming soon. How about I make you paper cranes then?" Ella asked with a smile.
Sally's eyes lit up and she nodded eagerly.
Anne shook her head in happy disbelief.
Rose and Mark arrived, holding Paula between them.
They hadn't seen them in a while. Paula had grown so big!
"Paula darling, did you miss me?" Anne hugged Paula tightly and asked with a smile.
Paula nodded and kissed Anne on the cheek, "I missed you so much!"
"You are so sweet!" Anne chuckled affectionately.
Rose and Mark shared a warm look and smiled at each other. Only when children were brought up in a
loving, happy family would they grow up healthily. Paula was no longer shy and introverted. She had
grown into a friendly, engaging little girl.
Thinking of how their divorce had influenced the child before, they knew they must love her even more.
"Where's Kevin?" Peering around trying to spot Kevin, Mark was surprised that he was nowhere to be
seen.
'Why hasn't Kevin come to Eddy's birthday party?' he wondered.
"Kevin has another pressing engagement to attend." Anne smiled.
Mark nodded and walked to Sam who was hanging up balloons. He patted Sam on the back, and said,
"Congratulations on becoming a father!"
Smiling from ear to ear, Sam nodded and replied, "Thank you! I have been looking forward to this
moment for so long. I'm finally a dad!"
"Anne said it's a beautiful baby girl?" Mark asked.
Sam grinned. "In fact, since we found out Emily was pregnant, I was hoping for a daughter. I did not
expect my dream to come true."
Father and daughter were always the closest when it came to parent-child relationships. In the new
world, where women were rightfully seen as equal to men, they were keeping up with the times and
preferred to have a daughter.
"Girls are much better behaved and more obedient," he continued. Mark's mouth tilt upwards at the
corners. "You must take good care of the little one."
"Of course!" Sam nodded seriously. "I will actually find it difficult not to pamper and spoilt my little
girl!"
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