"Where is Penelope? How is she? Is she alright?"
I ask Mindy hurriedly, with my heart in my mouth.
God knows how hard these days are.
I'm worried about Penelope every single day, afraid that something might happen to her, or perhaps
something worse awaits me.
Now finally there is information about her, but I can't summon the courage hear it.
I'm scared.
I'm really frightened. I can't take another loss anymore.
Penelope, you must be fine.
"If David's investigation is on the right course, then Penelope was taken away by Frances."
Frances?
I breathe a sigh of relief.
At the very least, Penelope is not in danger, since she's in Frances' hands. Fierce as he is, he doesn't
lay a hand on his child. I've misunderstood him about Earl. Now I know very well that he won't do
anything to his children.
Our relationship ends, but he won't hurt Penelope for this.
Such trust in him finally puts me at ease after I spend so many days fretting about Penelope.
However, I don't understand why Frances takes Penelope away. Besides, I tell him about it, but he says
nothing.
What exactly does he want?
"Then does David know the reason why Frances did that? What about Penelope's illness? How is she
now?"
"You'd better ask Frances about all this. He does a good job of keeping it a secret. The babysitter who
takes care of Penelope happens to be the elder sister of one of David's boys. If it weren't for her, we
probably wouldn't have known about it now."
Mindy's words make me even more curious about his intention.
After finishing the phone call, I dial Frances' number.
I call him twice, but he doesn't answer.
I want to send him a message, but somehow I recall what Hilda once told me.
When I ask her about Penelope, she regrets leaving Penelope unharmed.
If Hilda accidentally finds out about Penelope, will she touch Penelope?
It takes much effort to confirm that Penelope is safe. I can't put her at risk again.
After thinking for a while, I decide to go to Frances' company to find him.
At this time, he should be in there.
When I open the door, Mom is preparing lunch. Seeing me come out, she says with concern, "Jane,
lunch will be ready in a few minutes. Don't go back to your room. Take a look at yourself. How thin you
are. I made chicken soup for you. Have some more for lunch."
"No. I need to go out."
I whisper to my mother.
"Where are you going in such a hurry? You can have lunch before you set off." Mom is persuading me.
"Just out for a walk and get some fresh air. Don't worry about me."
With that, I put on my shoes and stride out.
I don't want to tell her about Penelope for now.
I don't even know what's going on with Frances. If I can't bring Penelope back, I'd better not give Mom
any hope.
Mom is too old to withstand the ups and downs.
When I arrive at Frances' company, the security guards stop me as usual.
I have no choice but to wait for him downstairs.
At first, I think that I would have to wait until the afternoon when he gets off work.
Unexpectedly, those guards go to lunch at noon and this gives me the opportunity to get in.
When no one is around, I take the elevator to the 28th floor and make my way to Frances' office.
The door to his office is unlocked, and I push it open and go in, only to find that he is not inside.
Maybe he's having lunch outside.
His coat is on the back of the chair. I walk over and gently caress the coat the way I once caressed
him.
It is only when there is no one around that I can unleash my feelings.
It has been so long, but I still can't let it go.
As for him, I'm afraid he doesn't care about me in the slightest.
I smile bitterly and catch a glimpse of a sharp edge poking up from his coat's inner pocket.
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