Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

Selena took deep breaths, trying her best to squash the fear bubbling inside her. She needed to calm down, clear her head, and figure out a way to get herself out of this mess. After a moment, her mind started to clear up a little. She thought back to the woman she spotted in the restroom-her silhouette seemed so familiar. Selena knitted her brows, mulling it over until the realization hit her. It was Yasmine!

Everett pulled up to the Irwin Estate in Northtown at the crack of dawn. Despite the ungodly hour, the grand house was ablaze with lights. He stepped out of the car and headed straight inside. The living room was silent except for Ava, who sat alone on the couch, silent tears streaming down her face. Everett felt a pang in his chest, the pain causing him to hunch slightly.

At the sound of his arrival, Ava's head shot up, hopeful it was the lady of the house, only to find Everett standing there. Disappointment washed over her, but his presence kindled a flicker of hope. No matter how unreliable he was in the love department, he was undeniably strong. The fact that he showed up meant he still cared about the lady, which boosted their chances of finding her.

It was like she had found her anchor again. Ava stumbled towards him, tears flowing freely before she could say anything. Everett gently patted her shoulder, offering a silent comfort.

"Where are the kids?" he asked softly.

Ava choked back her tears, "They're asleep upstairs. The little one's too young to understand, but Mateo's sharp and sensitive. He kept asking about his mom, and it took a lot to get him to sleep."

Everett nodded, "I'll go check on them."

He took off his coat, draping it over his arm. Ava handed him a pair of slippers. As he stepped into them and moved closer, she got a good look at his face. Under the harsh light, he looked ghostly pale.

"Sir, are you okay? You look sick," Ava asked, concerned.

"Yeah, just a cold. It's nothing," he brushed it off, taking long strides toward the stairs.

In the kids' room, Haley slept soundly in her crib, blissfully unaware of the turmoil around her. Mateo, on the other hand, clutched his small pillow, curled up tight with a frown etched on his little face even in sleep. Clearly, he wasn't resting well.

Everett moved quietly to his son's side, sitting by the bed. He tucked the blanket snugly around Mateo, smoothing out the boy's furrowed brow with his thumb.

Suddenly, in his sleep, Mateo murmured hoarsely, "Mommy, mommy..."noveldrama

The words hit Everett like a punch to the gut. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his son's cheek. "I promise, I'll bring Mommy back to you," he whispered, full of resolve He then moved to the crib, carefully lifting his sleeping daughter. He pressed his forehead to hers, inhaling the sweet baby scent before laying her back down gently. Quietly, he left the room, pulling the door softly shut behind him.

Downstairs, the local head of the Bennett family had arrived. Everett sank onto the couch, lazily lifting his gaze to meet the man's. Even in his current weakened state, the gesture carried a weight of authority that was hard to ignore. The manager broke into a sweat, choosing his words with care as he reported.

"We've got search teams out on both sides. It's confirmed that this isn't tied to the Bennett family."

"The lady is new to Northtown, hasn't had the chance to widen her social circle. We can rule out an inside job. Seems like someone with a personal grudge, someone with a plan, managed to take her without a trace."

A personal grudge? Everett furrowed his brow, his eyes clouded with thought. Beside him, Ava was beside herself, repeatedly saying, "Our lady is always so kind, how could she have enemies?"

"Since moving to Northtown, she's been all about charity and goodwill. Who in their right mind would want to harm her? They must be heartless!"

Everett closed his eyes in frustration, trying to get a grip on the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.