Chapter 277

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Jonathan thought he heard someone calling him . He turned around , scanning the crowd , but all he saw were unfamiliar faces .
“ Everything okay , Mr. Lynn ? ”
“ I thought I heard someone call out . ”
“ Really ? I didn’t hear anything . Maybe you misheard . ”
Jonathan turned back , brushing it off without a second thought .
Michael was frantic , his little face scrunched up as tears threatened to spill .
We Was
sure he’d seen Jonathan . His heart raced with excitement and urgency , and he wanted nothing more than to rush over .
But the crowd ahead was thick with adults , their tall figures blocking his way . Being so small , he couldn’t keep up with their long strides , and before long , he was swallowed up by the sea of people .
Teresa had only turned away for a moment to grab a milkshake . In just those few seconds , when she turned back , Michael was gone .
“ Michael ! ” she screamed , her voice cracking with panic . She frantically looked around , but there was no trace of him . The milkshake slipped from her hand , hitting the
ground with a splatter , completely forgotten ..
Teresa’s face turned ghostly pale , drained of all color . A wave of fear and helplessness . unlike anything she’d ever felt washed over her . This unfamiliar city , teeming with strangers , felt suffocating in the dim light of evening . She stumbled forward , searching desperately for Michael .
“ Excuse me , have you seen my son ? He’s about three feet tall , fair – skinned , with a bright , sunny smile , ” she asked every passerby , gesturing to describe Michael’s appearance . But no one had seen him .
Tears brimmed in Teresa’s eyes as she shakily pulled out her phone . She found at photo of Michael and showed it to one stranger after another , her voice trembling as she asked for help . But every response was the same – shaking heads and murmured apologies .
Teresa turned around , her gaze sweeping over the growing crowd behind her . All she saw were unfamiliar faces , one after another . She stood frozen in place , utterly lost . and overwhelmed .
Michael was all she had left . He was her whole world .
“ Mom ! ” A soft , familiar voice suddenly called out .
Teresa froze , her heart skipping a beat . She stared ahead , her eyes locking onto a group of college students walking toward her , Michael’s tiny hand in theirs .
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“ Mom ! ” Michael called again , his voice trembling with relief as he broke free and rant
into her arms .
In that moment , Teresa felt the full weight of her child in her embrace . Her precious . boy finally returned . The crushing fear and despair that had consumed her moments ago began to fade , replaced by overwhelming relief and gratitude .
Teresa crouched down , grabbed Michael’s hand , and smacked his palm sharply . Where on earth did you go ? Didn’t I tell you not to wander off ? ”
“ Mom , I saw Mr. Lime ! I wanted to find him , but … but I couldn’t . ” Michael whimpered , pulling his hand back and rubbing his teary eyes with his sleeve .
Teresa let out a deep sigh , her frustration and relief mixing into one . She clutched his hand tightly , as if afraid he might vanish again , and stood up to thank the students who had helped .
“ Oh , it’s no big deal . We’re just glad we could help , ” one of them said with a smile .
“ Yeah , we saw this little guy looking lost and thought we’d help him find his mom , ” another added .
“ There are so many people here . You really need to keep a close eye on your child , ” someone else advised kindly .
“ I understand . Thank you so much , ” Teresa said , her voice filled with gratitude .
She pulled out some cash from her wallet , pressing it into their hands despite their polite refusals . “ Please , take this . It’s just a small token of my appreciation . ”
The students hesitated , glancing at each other . But seeing and her
e teary eves insistence , they finally accepted , albeit a bit sheepishly .
“ Take good care of your little one , okay ? Don’t let go of his hand again – there are too many people around ,” one of the students reminded her .
“ I will . Thank you all again ,” Teresa replied with a grateful smile .
As the students walked away , Teresa’s relief turned into frustration . She knelt down
and
gave Michael a sharp smack on his bottom . It was the first time she’d ever hit him . “ If you ever run off like that again , I won’t take you out anymore . ”
“ Mom , ” Michael clung to her leg , his small body shaking with sobs . “ But I really saw Mr. Lime ! I miss him so much . Why can’t he be my daddy ? Mom , I just want a daddy . ”
Teresa’s chest tightened at his words , a pang of guilt and sorrow washing over her . She bit her lip , gripping his hand even tighter .
Jonathan had already reached the area near the square when he overheard a group of young men chatting behind him .
“ Man , that mom we just saw was stunning ! If she didn’t have a kid , I’d totally hit on her ,” one of them said .
“ Yeah , but you’d have to get her husband’s approval first , ” another joked .
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“ True . With a kid like that , she’s gotta be married , the first one with a sligh
Jonathan turned slightly to glance in the hammering the Whim thay cght oight of his face , one of them and sudby his eyes widening What’s wh today ? So many ridiculously posiß isoking people avaryklarat
“ Hey , that kid from earlier kind of tooked the this guy , don’t you think ? antar atitet his tone filled with runesty
Then the group of youth walked away in elence