Their eyes met, and Skylar froze. He hadn't expected to slap a hand over her mouth on impulse like that.The soft warmth of her lips against his palm sent a sharp jolt through him.

With her mouth covered, her pretty face somehow looked even more striking-wide, startled eyes locked on his.

Skylar pulled his hand back right away."You spit on me," he said, acting disgusted.

"Huh?" Sandara stared at him. What nonsense is he talking about?

She wiped her own lips, then grabbed his hand and wiped it with the sleeve of her jacket.

"What are you doing?" Skylar's face darkened.

"You covered my mouth, so you probably touched some of my spit. I'm cleaning it off," she said like it was obvious.

Skylar pressed his lips together, embarrassed enough to want the ground to swallow him.

Sandara kept wiping, then lifted his wrist and sniffed lightly."Mhm. Smells pretty nice," she said casually, handing his hand back.

Skylar wondered if he'd just met someone... not very bright. Maybe even a fool.

Up front, the driver and assistant exchanged stunned looks.It was the first time they'd ever seen their boss let a woman touch him-without flinching. And his expression... a mix of irritation, shock, and something like a man who'd kicked steel and refused to admit it hurt.

Weird. Completely weird.

...

At the hospital entrance, the assistant hurried to open the door for her.Sandara stepped out and thanked him politely.

But the moment Skylar's car pulled away, her sweet, harmless smile disappeared.She took out her phone.

"Hello? Did you threaten him properly? He just drove off."

"He left?" Ryan lifted a brow. "Was my intimidation that weak?"

"Obviously. Useless. Next time you need a face‑change expert, don't call me," she shot back, ready to hang up.

"Don't! My Goddess, I was wrong. I'll fix it!"

Her tone instantly softened into a sweet laugh. "Good. I'll be waiting, darling."

The word darling made goosebumps crawl up Ryan's arms.

Not long after Skylar left, his personal phone rang."Mr. Addams," a deep voice said, "seems like your daughter doesn't matter much to you after all."

Skylar's face darkened. "You're courting death."

Ryan chuckled. "If I die, no one cures your daughter's aphasia. So listen carefully. Stay by that poor girl's side. Protect her. Comfort her. Take care of her fragile little heart."

And he hung up.

Fury flashed in Skylar's eyes-sharp, cold, impossible to contain.Someone dared to use his daughter against him?

"Find him," Skylar said. "Dig through the earth if you have to. Bring me this Dr. Eclipse."

"Yes, sir!" the assistant stammered.

"If he knows my every move..." Skylar narrowed his eyes.He was either nearby.

Or-

...

In the hospital hallway, Sandara pushed open the ward door quietly.

"Mom!" Emily and Joe rushed at her, wrapping their little arms around her legs.

A real smile pulled at her lips. She crouched and kissed both kids on the cheek.

Joe leaned close. "Mom, did they bully you at the police station?"

Sandara ruffled his hair. "Your mom? No one can bully me."

On the bed, Grandpa Wellington suddenly went into a coughing fit.

"Grandpa!" Sandara hurried over.Didn't the doctor say he was fine? Why was he coughing like he was dying?

"Sandara..." His trembling hand grabbed hers. "I don't have much time... The farm... only you can take it over..."

"Grandpa, stop talking like that," she said gently.

He looked half‑dead, eyes barely open, voice thinning like he was fading away."Promise me... you'll run the farm..."

Sandara's eyebrow twitched.Here we go.

Her instincts said he was acting again.

But it had been seven years. Maybe it was time to stop running and take back what was hers.

"Okay, Grandpa. I promise. I'm not leaving this time."

"Really?" His eyes lit up immediately, all trace of weakness gone.

Sandara exhaled.Yep. Definitely acting.

"Grandpa, your acting is getting worse," she muttered, dragging a chair over.

"I don't care. You agreed. That's what matters," he said stubbornly.

"Yeah, yeah." She picked up an apple and started peeling it for him.

Just then, a doctor walked in and asked to speak to her in his office.

Sandara set the apple down. "Kids, stay here with Great‑Grandpa. Don't run around."

"Yes, Mommy!" they chirped.

...

Outside the hospital, a black luxury car stopped.The assistant stepped out and opened the door.

After a moment, Skylar got out and walked in.

"Mr. Addams," the assistant whispered, "Sandara's grandfather is on the sixteenth floor."

Skylar didn't respond. He stepped into the elevator.

When the doors opened, he walked out and spotted a tiny figure standing alone in the hallway.

His expression softened immediately.

He crouched and lifted the little girl into his arms."Sweetheart, why'd you come to the hospital by yourself?"

The girl froze, staring at the stranger holding her.

She'd only gone downstairs to buy ice cream with Great‑Grandpa's pocket money...How did she end up in a strange man's arms?

Kidnapper.

She remembered all those videos about traffickers pretending to be relatives.Even if the kid cried, the adults would say she was misbehaving.

Emily's little brain spun fast.

She didn't resist.She didn't cry.

She stayed perfectly still in the kidnapper‑uncle's arms... waiting for her chance.

Skylar pressed the elevator button, planning to take her down.

At the third floor, a couple stepped inside. The woman was complaining loudly.

Perfect.

Emily reached out a small hand-and slapped the woman across the face.

"Who hit me?!" the woman shrieked.

Emily pointed straight at the "trafficker uncle."

The woman looked ready to explode-but froze when she saw Skylar's ridiculously handsome face.

"You dare hit my wife?!" her husband yelled and swung.

The assistant caught the punch easily and shoved the man out when the doors opened.

He stumbled across the floor.

"You-!" the wife screamed. "Help! They're attacking us! Someone's gonna die!"

Skylar frowned.He tried to walk away, but she blocked him stubbornly as a crowd gathered.

Emily's eyes curved in satisfaction.Genius. Absolute genius.She'd tricked the trafficker into the mess.

"Take the child to the car," Skylar ordered. "I'll handle this."

The assistant carried her out."Stay here and be good," he told her.

She nodded sweetly.

The second he walked away-she opened the car door and slipped out.

Moments later, Skylar finished with the commotion and met the assistant outside.

"Where's the child?"

"In the car."

They opened the door.

Empty.

"Where is she?" Skylar's voice dropped, cold and dangerous.

"I-I'll check the cameras!" the assistant stammered and ran back inside.

***

Right then, Dr. Finn called.

"Skylar, your daughter is here at my office!"

"Turn around," Skylar ordered his assistant immediately.

They headed straight to the pediatrics building and entered Dr. Finn's office.

In front of the computer, little Cara sat with her tiny back straight, staring seriously at the screen.

The moment she heard the door open, she looked up-saw her father-then quickly closed the webpage she'd been reading.

"Cara!" Skylar hurried over.

He had clearly seen her closing that page.

He didn't need to guess. He already knew what she'd been looking up.

"If you want to come see Uncle Finn, Daddy won't stop you," he said gently. "But you have to tell me first, so I or the driver can bring you."

"You can't run off so far on your own anymore, okay?" His voice was soft, patient.

Cara lowered her head. Her delicate little face was completely blank.

"And another thing-you can't touch strangers' faces anymore, understand?" he added.

Cara looked annoyed. She pushed her dad's hand away and hopped off the chair.

Seeing this, Dr. Finn stepped over. "She probably finished all the case files I gave her before, so she came here on her own. You know she doesn't really know how to communicate with people."

That last sentence stabbed straight into Skylar's heart.

He slowly crouched down and took his daughter's tiny hand.

"Daddy was wrong. I shouldn't have scolded you. If you want to read cases and study medicine, I'll support you."

Then he turned to Dr. Finn. "Send me the latest files. I'll take them home for her. We have a literacy device at home."

"Alright." Dr. Finn nodded, pulled out a USB drive, and copied the newest medical cases onto it.

Then he crouched down and handed it to Cara.

"If you don't understand something, send me a message." He ruffled her fluffy little head.

Cara's lips finally pressed together in the faintest reaction.

Even that tiny expression filled Skylar with warmth.

As they were about to leave the hospital, Dr. Finn pulled him aside and whispered,

"Did you ever get in touch with Doctor Eclipse? Cara's desire to learn medicine-part of it is because she can't speak, but more importantly, she idolizes that doctor."

"Just imagine how happy she'd be if she could learn from her."

Thinking of how Cara had smiled just from receiving a USB drive filled with medical cases...

Skylar realized Doctor Eclipse wasn't just his daughter's only hope of a cure-she might also be Cara's source of joy and motivation.

"Take Cara home first," Skylar told his assistant. "And this time-keep your eyes on her."

"Yes, Mr. Addams!"

The assistant immediately picked Cara up in his arms.

Sandara had just pushed open the ward door when she froze.

Several senior doctors were standing inside-cardiac surgery director, neurosurgery specialist, chief of brain surgery...

This lineup made her heart jolt.

Grandpa?!

She rushed in, only to find her grandfather sitting up energetically, chatting away with the experts.

"Miss Wellington, this team was specially invited for your grandfather," came a deep, magnetic voice behind her.

She turned.

By the window stood Skylar-tall, long-legged, sunlight spilling over him like a thin layer of gold. Even the strands of hair on his forehead were haloed by the light.

His already striking features looked even sharper under the glow-almost unreal.

It was him.

Skylar.

And he had mobilized an entire team of experts... for her grandfather.

Looks like that call from Ryan really worked.

"Mr. Addams!"

Sandara immediately beamed. "Thank you so much! You're honestly the kindest, most understanding, most generous, flawless, perfect human being I've ever met!"

"..."

For a moment, Skylar's handsome face stiffened.

Once the experts finished and left, Grandpa Wellington hurried to introduce the noble-looking man in the room.

"Sandara, this is Mr. Addams of the Addams Corp-the owner of the hotel our farm works with. Hurry, pour him some water!"

"Okay!"

She poured a cup of plain water and respectfully offered it to him.

"Mr. Addams, I'm sorry-this ward only has boiled water."

Skylar lowered his dark eyes and reached for the cup-just as their fingers accidentally brushed.

Sandara yelped dramatically, flinching back.

The cup fell and hit the floor.

Hot water splashed all over him.

"Mr. Addams, I'm so sorry! I'm really, really sorry!" She panicked and reached to wipe him down.

His expression darkened-clearly displeased.

But when he looked up and saw her teary, flustered face, he forced down the anger and walked toward the bathroom.

"What were you thinking?!" Grandpa Wellington scolded.

"It's fine, I'll go help him," she said and hurried after him.

"Mr. Addams, let me fix it!" She bent down beside him, tilting her head to inspect the soaked area, frantically wiping with tissues.

"It's so wet..." she murmured apologetically. "Did... did anything inside get wet too?"

Inside?

Skylar's expression instantly dropped a few degrees.

The way she leaned in and stared-it looked very inappropriate.

He abruptly pushed her away.

Catching off guard, she slammed into the wall behind her.

She cried out softly, stars instantly filling her clear eyes.

Realizing he'd hurt her, Skylar's brows tightened.

"...Are you alright?"

She looked up, eyes shimmering.

"I'm fine. I'll keep wiping it for you, Mr. Addams!"

"No."

He turned away immediately, refusing to let her come closer.

"Are you angry?"

She leaned toward him again, blinking her watery eyes, her red lips pouting in guilt.

"It's all my fault. I can't do anything right..."

"..."

Skylar clenched his fist.

Was this woman... stupid?

"...I'm not angry," he forced out.

"But I soaked your whole body..." she sniffled pitifully.

"???"

He genuinely suspected something was wrong with her brain.

"I have things to do."

He pushed past her and strode out.

"Mr. Addams! Mr. Addams!" she called after him, pretending to be confused.

"What are you standing there for? Go after him!" Grandpa Wellington shouted from the ward.

"Mr. Addams is our farm's biggest client!"

"Alright, alright!"

Sandara grumbled and ran out.

Just then, two little kids came back.

"You two stay here with Great-Grandpa," she told them. "Mommy has to go!"

"Okay!"

The two children nodded obediently.

But when they saw their mommy run after a tall man toward the elevator, Little Emily's eyes widened.

"Kidnapper Uncle!"

"What are you talking about?" Joe turned to his sister.

Little Emily hurriedly explained everything that happened earlier.

Joe instantly understood.

That kidnapper uncle failed to abduct his sister...

so now he was trying to abduct their mommy!

"What if Mommy gets taken away?" Little Emily panicked.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of this kidnapper."

"Can you handle him alone?" she asked nervously. "Let me come too!"

"Your face is already too recognizable! Maybe that kidnapper likes pretty faces like yours and Mommy's!"

"It's okay! I can disguise myself!"

Little Emily dashed back into the ward, pulled out a realistic disguise mask from her bag, applied the special adhesive Mommy gave her, and-within minutes-looked like a completely different child.

No one would ever notice.

By the time the two little buns reached the hospital entrance, Mommy and the kidnapper uncle were already gone.

"Joe, what do we do? Mommy's missing!"

"Don't worry."

Joe pulled out the phone Ryan had given him and quickly tracked Mommy's location.

***