Free Web NovelChapter 244: The little figure running around.
I looked away.
Tristin sighed.
Then his voice softened.
"Let’s do something, Alexander."
I looked back at him.
"You’ve been searching for over two weeks and found nothing."
He paused.
"I have connections too."
"Not just here. Abroad as well." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
My brows furrowed slightly.
"We can continue searching for Alicia while handling the company."
He held my gaze steadily.
"We’ll use every resource available."
"The company’s resources."
"My resources."
"Everything."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Tristin smiled faintly.
"I know I haven’t been the best brother all these years."
The admission caught me off guard.
"But just this once..."
His expression turned serious.
"Let me help you."
The room fell silent again.
At this point, I knew I couldn’t reject Tristin’s offer.
I had been searching for weeks with no real progress.
At the same time, I couldn’t keep abandoning the company.
If I wanted to do both, I would need help.
And Tristin was probably the best person for it.
He had spent years managing the overseas branches and had connections all over the world.
Tristin studied my face for a moment before a faint smile appeared on his lips.
He already knew I had given in.
"I’ll leave you to it then, Chairman Blackwood."
He turned toward the door.
But before he could leave, I called out.
"Arrange a conference with the executives and directors of every department this afternoon."
He paused and looked back.
"But before then, I want every unresolved issue on my desk."
His smile widened slightly.
"Yes, Chairman Blackwood."
Then he left.
Soon, my desk was covered with files.
Reports.
Contracts.
Pending projects.
Problems that had piled up during my absence.
With Jane’s assistance, I managed to get through a large portion of them before the conference.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in meetings.
One issue after another.
One solution after another.
For the first time since returning, I felt as though I was finally moving forward instead of standing still.
By the time everything ended, evening had already fallen over the city.
After an exhausting day filled with meetings, project reviews, and discussions, I finally returned to my office.
The room was quiet.
For a moment, I simply sat there.
Then I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet.
Carefully unfolding it, I looked at the ultrasound picture I had been carrying with me everywhere.
My chest tightened.
The image wasn’t clear.
It was only a tiny glimpse of a life that hadn’t even entered the world yet.
Yet it had somehow become one of my most treasured possessions.
My thumb brushed lightly across the picture.
A bitter smile appeared on my lips.
"Wherever you are..."
My voice was barely above a whisper.
"Just stay safe."
I lowered my gaze to the image.
"Both of you."
The office fell silent again.
I didn’t know where Alicia was.
I didn’t know how long it would take to find her.
Maybe months.
Maybe years.
But one thing was certain.
I would never stop searching.
Carefully, I folded the picture and returned it to my wallet.
Then I stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
Velaridge City stretched endlessly beneath me.
The same city where I met Alicia.
The same city where I married her.
The same city where I lost her.
My reflection stared back at me through the glass.
And for the first time in a long while, I didn’t look away.
One day, I would find her.
And when that day came...
I would tell her everything I should have said long ago.
And ask her the many questions on my mind.
But until then, I would do things one step at a time.
I would become someone worthy of standing beside her.
Someone our child could be proud of.
For now, there was still a long road ahead.
A company to protect.
A family legacy to uphold.
And a promise to keep.
The promise that no matter how long it took...
I would find my way back to them.
Alicia’s POV
"Aimy, stop right there! You haven’t touched your breakfast yet!"
I hurried after the little figure running around the living room.
"I’m not hungry!"
"But you can’t just skip meals."
I was already running late for work, yet she showed no signs of stopping.
After chasing her around for several minutes, I finally gave up and collapsed onto the couch.
The moment Aimy noticed I wasn’t following her anymore, she stopped and burst into giggles.
"Aimy, are you giving your mother a hard time again?"
Aunt Margaret’s voice came from the kitchen as she walked into the living room.
"I don’t want to eat," Aimy pouted, her tiny lips sticking out.
Yet despite her protest, she willingly walked toward Aunt Margaret.
Aunt Margaret scooped her into her arms with a smile.
"Alicia, I know you’re already late. Just go ahead. I’ll make sure she eats."
I smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Aunt."
As I headed upstairs, I heard Aimy’s voice again.
"Grandma, I don’t want to eat."
"Really?" Aunt Margaret asked seriously. "So it’s true? You don’t want to grow up and become strong and beautiful just like Grandma?"
I couldn’t help smiling.
Aunt Margaret was the only person capable of making Amelia eat without turning it into a battle.
I entered my room and quickly freshened up before changing into a formal outfit.
A tailored suit.
Matching trousers.
And my favorite red-bottom heels.
After making sure everything I needed was inside my bag, I headed back downstairs.
The sight that greeted me made me smile.
Aimy was now happily eating her oats while Aunt Margaret fed her.
The moment she heard my footsteps, Aunt Margaret looked up.
"Ready for work?"
I nodded.
"Mm."
"You look beautiful, my baby."
She looked me up and down approvingly.
Aimy immediately burst into laughter.
She always found it hilarious whenever Aunt Margaret called me a baby.
"Hey, you might spill the oats in your mouth. Stop laughing at your mother."
Aunt Margaret tried to sound serious.
Aimy instantly quieted down and obediently opened her mouth for another spoonful.
I walked over and kissed her cheek.
"Be a good girl and don’t disturb Grandma, alright?"
She nodded quickly.
"I won’t, Mummy."
Then her big blue eyes lit up hopefully.
"If I finish all my food, can we go to the amusement park?"
"Why not?.
The excitement on her face was immediate.
"Yay!"
"Alright, enough celebrating," Aunt Margaret said. "Let your mother go to work. She’s already late."
"Bye, Mummy!"
"Bye, baby."
I turned to Aunt Margaret.
"Bye, Aunt."
After saying goodbye, I quickly left the mansion and got into my car.
The moment I checked the time, I groaned.
9:30 a.m.
I was very late.
And it would still take at least thirty minutes to get to the company.
Thankfully, the roads were mostly clear. Most people had already started their day, and the small town was settling into its usual peaceful rhythm.
Halfway through the drive, my phone rang.
I glanced at the screen.
Anna.
I immediately answered and switched it to speaker.
The moment the call connected, my cousin’s voice exploded through the car.
"Alicia! Where are you? You’re never late."
I laughed softly.
"I’m on my way already, Anna."
"Well, hurry up. Everyone is waiting for you in the conference room.
Before I could reply, she hung up.
I shook my head with a faint smile.
Sometimes Anna took work even more seriously than I did.
