Chapter 1643

Ben nearly walked out of the company the moment he learned Charlie was missing. Unfortunately, he was in the middle of a crucial meeting when the call came in.
As Ben rose to leave, the board members exchanged nervous glances and scrambled to stop him.
“Mr. Lucas, where are you going?”
“You can’t leave now! This issue hasn’t been resolved yet. Without a clear direction, how can we proceed?”
Their frantic objections only made Ben’s temper flare. Shooting them a sharp glare, his icy tone silenced the room. “I have more important matters to attend to. This discussion can wait.”
The board members gaped, but Ben didn’t give them a chance to argue further. He strode out, leaving behind a roomful of frustrated sighs and resigned faces.
*
Meanwhile, Jamie arrived at the preschool, her face pale and her steps quick. She spotted Miss Georgia pacing nervously and hurried over. “Miss Georgia, have you found him yet?”
Miss Georgia looked momentarily relieved at Jamie’s arrival, but her expression quickly shifted to one of guilt and anxiety. “Not yet. I’ve searched everywhere, but I can’t figure out where he’s gone.” Hearing this, Jamie felt a wave of dizziness threaten to overtake her.
Dismissal time at a preschool was notoriously chaotic. It was a perfect opportunity for someone with bad intentions to slip in unnoticed. Jamie’s mind spun with terrifying possibilities, her chest tightening with dread. But she forced herself to stay calm. “Let’s check the security cameras,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Yes! The cameras! I’ll go now!” Miss Georgia slapped her forehead, berating herself for not thinking of it sooner.
As they headed to view the footage, Jamie suddenly froze. Her heart clenched as she spotted Charlie in the distance. Without a second thought, she broke into a run, scooping him into her arms.
“Charlie, where were you? You scared me to death!” Her voice trembled with relief and lingering panic as she held him tightly.
Charlie, realizing how upset she was, looked remorseful. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I promise it won’t happen again.”
His hands clumsily wiped away her tears, his face full of guilt.
Jamie managed a teary smile, brushing her own cheeks. “Mommy’s just happy I found you.”
Miss Georgia, standing nearby, also sighed in relief. If Charlie had truly gone missing, the preschool would undoubtedly face serious consequences.
Though Miss Georgia didn’t know
the full details of Charlie’s family background, the school
administration had been unusually cautious during his enrollment. That had been enough to tip her off that his mother wasn’t just another parent. Ever since, Miss Georgia had made it a point to accommodate every request Jamie made.
After much searching and a rollercoaster of emotions, Jamie finally brought Charlie home.
When Ben arrived and learned the full story, his expression darkened, and his demeanor turned cold. His silent fury was enough to make Charlie shrink in fear.
Jamie, however, didn’t intervene.
She believed this was a lesson Charlie needed to learn.
Overindulgence wouldn’t help him grow, and he needed to understand the weight of his actions.
After Ben finished scolding him, Charlie was left looking like a wilting flower, completely dejected. His usual spark was gone, and Jamie’s heart ached as she watched him sulk.
Gently, she pulled him into her arms, speaking softly, “You haven’t told me yet. Why did you wander off today? Didn’t Mommy teach you to stay put?”
Charlie hesitated, glancing nervously at Ben before answering in a small voice. “I didn’t wander off. Someone took me to eat something.”
Jamie froze, her heart skipping a beat at his unexpected confession. Her grip on him tightened momentarily before she consciously relaxed, careful not to alarm him. “Someone took you? Who was it? Charlie, you know you can’t go with strangers or eat food they give you. Are you okay? Let Mommy check you.”
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