Samuel felt extremely annoyed.
On his way to the park to find Kathleen, he had been pondering. Does Kathleen really not want to spend the rest of her life with me? It can’t be. She loves me. How could she not want to be with me?
Samuel figured he was overthinking.
After all, as long as he did not mention Christopher’s plan, Kathleen would not know a thing.
Kathleen and Federick went to look for Madeline separately.
When Samuel found her, she was shouting, “Madeline? Madeline?”
Even though she knew Madeline would not respond even if the latter heard her, she still could not help but give it a try.
“Kathleen!” Samuel walked over.
Kathleen was stunned momentarily. “Why are you here?”
Then, she shifted her gaze toward the more than twenty bodyguards standing behind Samuel.
So he’s brought his men here.
Walking over, Kathleen took out her phone. “Please add my WhatsApp. I’ll create a group and send the girl’s photo to the group. Her name is Madeline, and she has autism. She hates the crowd, so you can search in places where there are fewer people. Don’t leave any corner unsearched. Update the group once you’re done searching a particular area so that we can sort it out. Understand?”
The men nodded in response.
“Another thing. Don’t touch her after you guys find her. Just make sure that she is safe, and contact me right away. I will go over to wherever you are,” Kathleen uttered again.
“Yes, Mrs. Macari.” The crowd nodded.
Upon hearing that, Kathleen was stunned momentarily.
Lowering her head, she created the group chat on WhatsApp and invited everyone into it, including Federick.
“Invite me in too,” Samuel said.
Kathleen rolled her eyes at him before inviting him in.
Kathleen texted: @Federick Please send Madeline’s photo here and tell everyone what she is wearing today to make it easier for everyone to find her.
Federick did not expect Kathleen would summon so many people.
Without hesitation, he sent the photo in the group chat.
He then texted: Madeline is wearing a red dress with white bottoms, along with a pair of red leather shoes today. Her hair is tied into a ponytail, and she’s holding a doll in her arms.
After that, he sent a photo of the doll as well.
Kathleen texted: All right, everyone. Let’s go find her separately.
After receiving the information, everyone started the search immediately.
Federick texted again: Thanks, everyone.
Soon after, Kathleen started searching as well, and Samuel followed her.
Kathleen bit her lip. “Do you want to say something?”
Does he want to say that I’m being nosy again?
“The priority right now is to find her.” Samuel’s tone was cold. “Have you looked over there?”
“Yes.” Kathleen nodded.
“Why are we looking around here?” Samuel questioned.
“Because her scope of activity is within this area,” Kathleen explained.
“Although I don’t know much about it, speaking of the scope of activities, she should have been to more places, right?” Samuel asked coldly.
Kathleen glanced at Samuel. “Do you mean we need to expand the scope of our search?”
“Autism would usually be accompanied by paranoia.” Samuel stared at her. “They usually have certain preferences for certain things.”
Kathleen furrowed her brows. “Let me think.”
“What day is today?” Samuel asked.
“Sunday,” Kathleen replied.
“What was supposed to be her schedule for today?” Samuel asked again.
“She was supposed to go to the charity home,” Kathleen answered, “but because Federick had something to do, and Madeline’s grandma was not feeling well today, she didn’t end up going.”
Samuel stared at her curtly. “I just said that she has paranoia. What do you think she would do when her schedule is changed?”
Kathleen came to a realization. “Let’s go search along the road to the charity home!” She immediately grabbed Samuel’s hand.
Stunned momentarily, Samuel tightened his grip too. “Let’s go.”
Samuel drove while Kathleen sat in the passenger seat, looking out the car window for Madeline.
The night fell gradually, and it became more difficult to search for Madeline even with the street lights.
Kathleen started to worry that Madeline might have gotten into trouble.
“Hold on a second.” Suddenly, Kathleen stopped Samuel.
Samuel immediately stepped on the brakes.
Kathleen ran out of the car and approached an old lady. “Where did you get this doll from?”
“I picked it up from the river behind,” the old lady responded.
Walking over, Samuel took out a few banknotes directly. “Sell us this doll, and tell us the specific spot you found it.”
The old lady’s eyes lit up instantly. “Follow me then.”
Kathleen fixed her gaze on Samuel as the latter grabbed her hand and led her to follow the old lady.
The old lady brought them to a river and pointed at it. “I found it here.”
After thanking the old lady, Kathleen walked forward.
Samuel opened his mouth. “Based on the direction, we should head backward instead.”
Kathleen furrowed her brows. “Why so?”
Samuel explained, “I think she’d gone to the charity home, but it was closed, and it was getting dark. She wanted to walk home, but she got lost. So, she kept moving forward.”
Kathleen felt that Samuel’s words made sense.
She did not doubt his analyzing ability at all for he was always very sharp and accurate.
As such, after finding Madeline’s doll, they walked in the backward direction.
The sky had turned darker by then, and the road was not as bright as the main streets.
Grabbing Kathleen’s hand tightly, Samuel used his phone as a torchlight with his other hand.
Kathleen’s hand was cold.
Meanwhile, Samuel’s was warm, which gave Kathleen a great sense of security.
After walking for a long while, they arrived at a construction site.
There were several large cement pipes outside the construction site.
Kathleen seemed to have seen something as the light from the phone shone toward the site.
“That way.” She pointed with her finger.
Samuel directed the light at the site and spotted a little girl curled up inside one of the cement pipes.
“Madeline!” Kathleen ran over without delay.
Samuel sent a message to Federick before walking over.
Just then, Kathleen carried Madeline out. “Madeline?”
Madeline’s body was freezing cold.
When Kathleen was about to take off her coat, Samuel had already taken off his.
“Thanks,” Kathleen thanked him.
Samuel felt somehow uneasy, but he did not argue with her.
Kathleen checked Madeline’s body and was relieved to find that the latter was not injured.
“Madeline?” Kathleen caressed the latter’s head and confirmed that she did not have a fever either.
At that moment, Madeline woke up.
Her eyes were bright and starry-eyed as she opened them. “Katie!”
Kathleen’s heart melted. “You naughty girl. Do you know that everyone has been looking for you?”
“But I was looking for you.” Madeline stared at Kathleen sincerely.
“Looking for me?” Kathleen froze on the spot.
Madeline nodded. “Katie, are you done making the doll’s clothes?”
Only then did Kathleen recall that. “Yes, it’s done.”
“Yay!” Madeline was overwhelmed with joy. “Let’s put it on my doll then.”
When Madeline was looking for her doll, her eyes suddenly turned red. “Where’s my doll?”
“Madeline, don’t worry. Your doll is in my car. Let me take you to it,” Kathleen immediately comforted Madeline.
Madeline almost burst into tears before Kathleen comforted her.
With that, Kathleen carried Madeline out.
Samuel wanted to help Kathleen, but Madeline refused to let go of her and clung onto her tightly.
“Let me. She doesn’t trust other people easily,” Kathleen uttered.
Samuel frowned slightly upon hearing that.
After walking for a while, Federick arrived at the scene.
Tears rolled down his handsome face the second he saw Madeline. “Madeline!”
After hearing Federick’s voice, Madeline responded, “Dad.”
Federick approached and hugged Madeline all while bawling his eyes out.
