Chapter 774
“Mr. Youngblood adopted Wrenna simply because he happened to see Ms. Sabatini and Wrenna being mistreated, and Guillermo expressed a desire for a younger sister,” Carlos quickly explained, worried about any misunderstandings Rosalie might have.
“You mean Guillermo, right?” Rosalie’s expression grew somewhat emotional when Carlos mentioned her son, whom she had never met.
“Yes, Guillermo. He’ll be coming home from kindergarten soon, and you’ll get to see him,” Carlos replied.
“And what about the other children? I was pregnant with triplets initially. When I woke up in the hospital, I only had Jen by my side. Do you have my two children here?” Rosalie asked anxiously.
However, both Carlos and Gary wore regretful expressions. “No, there’s only Guillermo here.”
Rosalie felt her heart sink, a bitter and piercing sensation spreading from her chest.
Although she had contemplated the possibility, having it confirmed brought another wave of pain.
She had carried three children in her womb, but now, only two remained. Her mind was overwhelmed by questions about what had become of the missing child, where the child might be, and whether that child was still alive.
“When Mr. Wilmer first handed Guillermo over to the Youngblood family, he claimed that only one child had survived. But now, Ms. Youngblood is also alive, right? Perhaps the other child is still out there,” Gary pondered. He had taken to addressing Jennifer as “Ms. Youngblood” out of a sense of responsibility. Indeed, Jennifer was the rightful Ms. Youngblood of the Youngblood family! Rosalie exhaled with relief. “Yes, it’s possible that the missing child is still alive. Mr. Wilmer likely holds all the answers. He must know whether the child is living or not,” she thought.
“Do you know where Mr. Wilmer is?” Rosalie asked.
“Since Mr. Wilmer had Mr. Youngblood’s memory hypnotized, he was arrested by the police on charges of assault and kidnapping. However, he managed to escape before his trial, and now, nobody knows his whereabouts. Today, Mr. Youngblood and I visited the police station because they had received a lead on Mr. Wilmer’s location, so we went to confirm,” Carlos explained.
Rosalie shivered, her breath quickening. “Does that mean they’ll find Mr. Wilmer soon?”
“Yes, the Youngblood family will also assist the police in tracking down Mr.
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Wilmer!” Carlos assured her.
Especially when considering their past belief that only Guillermo had survived, it appeared that the situation had taken a different turn. Their determination to locate Kurt was fueled not only by this but also by the need to find the
whereabouts of the final child.
Suddenly, a cry from the second floor shattered the silence.
The three individuals in the living room looked up to see a housekeeper standing not far from the staircase, her gaze fixed on a room at the end of the hallway, her expression filled with uncertainty.
“What’s happening? Where’s Ms. Youngblood?” Gary asked, recognizing the housekeeper he had tasked with looking after Jennifer.
“Ms. Youngblood… she… entered Mr. Youngblood’s study,” the housekeeper replied, her face reflecting her inner turmoil.
Jonathan’s study was a place that not just anyone could enter. Even Guillermo would incur Jonathan’s displeasure if he were to enter the study without a good
reason.
With Jennifer having just returned, the prospect of angering Jonathan was a genuine concern for Gary and Carlos.
Inside the study at that very moment, a young girl and a man were locked in a stare-down.
Informed by the housekeeper accompanying her that Jonathan was in his study, Jennifer brimmed with enthusiasm to engage in a conversation with him. Overflowing with thoughts and eager to share them, she rushed into the study after seeking directions from the housekeeper regarding its location. “Who gave you permission to enter?” Jonathan asked, a displeased frown creasing his forehead. He typically treasured the moments of quiet contemplation he spent in his study and did not welcome any disturbances.
What added to his annoyance was that he was presently engrossed in thoughts about Rosalie, and the cherubic face before him served as a poignant reminder of her. It left him feeling inexplicably irked, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of his irritation.
“I entered on my own,” Jennifer declared, raising her tiny chin. “I wanted to get a good look at you, Daddy. And, Daddy, you need to get a good look at me too because from now on, I’m your little girl. Don’t mix me up with anyone else!” Inwardly, Jennifer thought, “We look so much alike that I can spot Daddy without any confusion!” This realization filled her with a sense of pride.
“Who told you to call me Daddy?” Jonathan questioned, his tone chilly.
Jennifer blinked her eyes, so reminiscent of Rosalie’s. “Mommy told me to call you Daddy. Mommy said you’re my daddy and showed me your photos. Sadly, they’re all torn, but Mommy said that when I meet you, I can take a few photos of
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you if I want. By the way, Daddy, my name is Jennifer, but I still prefer to go by Jen. Can I use that name at kindergarten? And…”
Jennifer continued to chatter away, detailing her preferences, from her favorite color and food to her beloved stories.
Jonathan suddenly felt a headache creeping in.
“If Jen is indeed my daughter, she’s quite the talker compared to Guillermo. And what… she wants to take a picture?” Jonathan muttered to himself in silence.
He had never been fond of taking photos, and yet that woman, Rosalie, casually promised it.
However, when he heard the name Jennifer, which bore a striking resemblance to his own, Jonathan felt an unusual flutter in his heart.
“Daddy, hug me!” Jennifer raised her tiny arms, hoping Jonathan would lift her. Jonathan pressed his thin lips tightly and remained still. He had even stopped hugging Guillermo after he began attending kindergarten.
Now, here was Jennifer, whom he had just met today, requesting a hug.
The father and daughter locked eyes. Jennifer had widened her glistening eyes, and her tiny outstretched arms appeared to tire. “Daddy, don’t you like me?” A trace of moisture welled up in her eyes.
Jonathan suddenly felt a pang in his heart. Almost instinctively, he embraced the tiny girl.
Instantly, a smile spread across Jennifer’s small face, and the glistening hint in her eyes vanished. Her little arms even wrapped around Jonathan’s neck.
“Well, Mommy was right. Daddy really does like me!” Jennifer thought.
Only at that moment did Jonathan become fully aware that he had indeed scooped up Jennifer in his arms.
Jennifer’s petite, soft body was similar in size to Guillermo’s, but it felt entirely different as Jonathan held her. Especially the way her little arms clung to his shoulders and neck, her tiny body fitting snugly against his, created an indescribable intimacy.