Selena could barely keep a grip on her phone, her lips quivering ever so slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "What do you mean he's disappeared? Could he have just gotten upset and hidden somewhere? Have you really looked everywhere?" On the other end, Ava sounded like she was on the brink of tears. "He's been so down lately, so I thought taking him to the park with some kids might cheer him up. They decided to play hide and seek, and for once, little Mateo was excited to join in. But then, all of a

sudden, while the other kids were still around, he just vanished."

"I asked all the kids, and they said they hadn't seen him. We combed through the entire park, but there's no sign of him. Ma'am, do you think someone might have taken him? What are we going to do..."

If Mateo really was lost, she'd never forgive herself!

Upon hearing this, Selena's face was still pale, but her mind was already racing with questions. Mateo probably inherited the Bennett family's exceptional smarts; he'd always been sharper than other kids his age, mature and sensible. While other kids liked playing with him, he often seemed uninterested, especially in games like hide and seek.

Something doesn't add up.

Selena, staying composed, instructed, "Ava, let's not panic yet. Our neighborhood is known for being safe, and the chance of someone snatching a child in broad daylight is slim. Pass the phone to Emily; I need to talk to her."noveldrama

Ava was puzzled about why she wanted to speak to a child at such a tense moment, especially since she'd already asked the kids, and they knew nothing. But over the years, she had come to realize that her lady was more than just a pretty face Mr. Everett kept in a mansion. She was smart and capable, and Ava really trusted her.

Soon, a lively young voice came through the phone. Emily was the neighbor's daughter, and she had a big crush on Mateo, following him around and calling him "brother" like a little fan. Among the group, Mateo was a bit more fond of her.

If Mateo had indeed run off on his own, Emily would definitely know something. Kids are kids, after all, and all Selena had to do was promise that if Emily told her where Mateo had gone, she'd let Mateo come over and play house with her, acting as her little husband. Emily quickly caved and told everything. In her sweet, childish voice, she said, "Brother Mateo was sad; he said he wanted to find his mom!"

"He smashed his piggy bank, and I broke my bunny bank. He said he was going to buy a 'chick ticket' and fly away."

Selena was speechless. Was this kid planning to run back home all by himself?

She was in shock and panic; no matter how clever he was, he was still just a little kid. The thought of him traveling alone on a plane was terrifying.

Her composure was slipping, and her back was slick with cold sweat. After hanging up, she urgently contacted Callum, hoping to find Mateo before he boarded any flight.

As the sun dipped below the horizon,

Yasmine had been waiting almost eight hours when the CEO's office door finally swung open. A tall, handsome man walked in with long strides. Everett had sat through meetings all day and hadn't rested well the night before, fatigue etched on his face. Seeing Yasmine rise to greet him, he hesitated for a moment, as if he'd completely forgotten she was there.

But he didn't seem to mind much, heading straight to his desk. Sitting down, he rubbed his temples with his long fingers, his voice sounding tired and rough. "What's up?

Yasmine's eyes flickered with concern. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Alex knocked and came in.

"Mr. Everett, the car's ready. You've got a dinner meeting with Mr. Shaw tonight; we should leave soon to beat the traffic."

"Alright," Everett replied, standing up.

He grabbed his suit jacket from the

hook, slipped it on with a touch of elegance, adjusted his cuffs, and once more, prepared to leave.

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