Chapter 1642

“Mommy, why haven’t you come yet,” Charlie muttered to himself, his small voice lost in the chaos of the bustling schoolyard.
At that moment, a woman in a black dress with long flowing hair appeared, her steps unhurried. She crouched down to meet his gaze and asked gently, “Are you Charlie?”
Charlie looked at the unfamiliar lady, his curiosity piqued. After a moment of scrutiny, his eyes widened in surprise. She looked so much like his aunt! But uncertainty lingered in his young mind, so he cautiously replied, “You look familiar.”
Winnie smiled faintly, a glimmer of complexity in her eyes as she studied the child before her. She already knew exactly who he was. “I know your mom pretty well. We’re… friends.”
“Do you know why she hasn’t come yet?” Charlie asked, his brows furrowed with concern.
“She might be held up on the way. How about this? Come with me, and we’ll wait for her together at a nearby cafe. It’ll be more fun than standing here.”
Charlie hesitated, his mother’s constant warnings about not going off with strangers echoing in his mind. But this wasn’t just any stranger. After deliberating for a long moment, he finally nodded with reluctant trust. “Alright, but as soon as my mom comes, I have to leave.” Winnie couldn’t help but smile at his precocious demeanor. “Fair enough.”
She didn’t take him far, just to a cozy cafe near the preschool. They sat down at a table by the window, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.
Charlie stared at the steaming cup in Winnie’s hands, his curiosity evident. But when he reached out, Winnie shook her head firmly. “Coffee isn’t good for kids. It can keep you awake and jittery. You can have something sweet instead.”
Her words gave Charlie pause. His little hand quickly pulled back, a hint of caution crossing his face. “I don’t want to feel all jittery,” he said, suddenly losing interest in coffee.
Winnie chuckled softly and ordered a hot milk and a cake for him. Charlie ate happily, savoring every bite. Winnie, meanwhile, gazed out the window, her eyes tinged with a faint melancholy.
In truth, she hadn’t planned on coming. It had been a whim, a sudden impulse to catch a glimpse of her so-called nephew.
“Are you ok?”
“Hm?” Winnie lowered her head, realizing someone was tugging at her sleeve. She met Charlie’s wide, curious eyes.
She couldn’t deny that Charlie bore a
striking resemblance to Ben,
especially his eyes. Those same
expressive, bright eyes stirred
something deep within her, momentarily blurring her thoughts
as she was reminded of Jack.
“You’ve been staring out the window for a while. Why? What are you looking at?” Charlie tilted his head in innocent curiosity.
Winnie snapped out of her daze, her lips curving into a faint smile. “It’s nothing. Just lost in thought. How’s the cake? Is it good?”
Charlie nodded eagerly. “It’s delicious! But, why did you bring me here?”
His innocent curiosity was like a clear mirror, reflecting nothing but sincerity. Winnie found herself unable to meet his gaze, her heart aching from the purity she saw in him. She didn’t answer immediately.
Noticing her silence, Charlie tilted his head and gave a small shake, but he didn’t press her for answers. Instead, he went back to enjoying his cake, his carefree delight evident.
Meanwhile, Jamie had just hung up
the call with Miss Georgia, her hands
trembling slightly. “Charlie’s
missing? How is that even
possible?” The news hit her like a tidakwave, leaving her breathless and momentarily paralyzed.
It felt as if everything she cared about had been ripped away in an instant. For a few agonizing seconds, she could do nothing but stand frozen in disbelief. However, the initial shock quickly gave way to determination.
“Miss Georgia is already searching for him. I can’t just stand here. I have to get there as quickly as possible,” Jamie muttered, clenching her jaw and steeling herself. Without hesitation, she swung open the car door and got out. Stuck in gridlocked traffic, she quickly called Ben, explaining the situation and asking him to send someone to handle her stranded car. Then, she bolted through the congested street on foot, her mind solely focused on reaching an area where she could hail a ride. Flagging down a rideshare, she directed it straight to the preschool.
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