hy on earth did you scribble something like that all over my

stuck out her lower lip in a stubborn pout. "I will never tell you th

pressive, though it came with a

helped you, then at least tell me

Olivia shot bac

but to take you back with me," Dani

s that threatened to spill over the mo

wered her to the

nd without a second thought, and bolted forward as fast as her littl

e murmured, "Run, Ol

ly watching her dash off inste

caped did he take a few long strides forward,

cked her legs wildly before realizing th

nning," Daniel said

d out her cheeks, and lowered her head, looki

e, he found her somewhat adorable. He led her over to his car and ge

ogether tightly, refusing

th this child?" Isabel asked, her br

fuses to say anything else. Archie,

supposed to do with the l

erson was nearby. There was no way he could si

. "We'll wait for the police to get in touch wi

her whole world

hat he would really take her away. The thought that she mi

moments earlier was now crying. He had never been good with children and absolutely hated it when they cried in f

" he asked, his voic

both hands. "A bad man caught me!

attered. She sobbed so fiercely th

ment before saying, "Once your mother

as she lifted her tear-streaked face and

wondered if the whole cr

l me why you wrote those things

ith wide, stubborn eyes, her expression making it clear that

ruthless competitors, found himself completely h

ken away left Leo and As

him back. In a steady voice, he said, "We look a bit like Dad. If we show ou

Olivia?" Asher

rst," Leo replied, s

de tightly and covering it with both hands, a

artwatch began to rin

when she realized the child

" Asher scratched h

said, already acc

ht with worry. "Leo, Asher, where are you?

uttered, far too nervous t

Wright," Leo explained calmly, ev

silent for a full ten seconds before the meaning of his words fi

ed, panic choking her words. At last, sh

plied,

as she realized that, at least, the situat

herself to remain steady. "Come bac

o and Ashe

lia's phone rang again, this t

ling crept in

led slightly a

came through the line. "

lied, her voice ti

ghter is

at once, and a cold shiver ran do

l with her. Come and tak

urched in panic. "I already know what happened. Let's discuss this ca

frown. The woman's voice on the ot

was extremely emotional; she would cry, quiet down briefly, and then

ve no intention of harming a child. But you

te those words on his car for no reason.

that, he hung

milia's heart. She wanted nothing mor

she abruptly stopped. She couldn't fac

e auction house. If they met again so soo

, he would immediately learn

couldn't allow

back and forth bef

rove to the Horizon Hotel wi

already explained the en

son to go inside an

his will work?"

dison's hand tightly. "I'm relyi

es, Madison gave her hand a reassuring sq

he hotel, carrying herself with the firm resolve

d Asher, silently hoping that every

..

tel suite, covering her face with both hand

ing her with a deep frow

g several places, returning with

ap of sweets. "This is y

Kids like candy. Maybe you

asked, clearl

longed to Daniel, since he had been t

om his seat, walked over, and then l

olding her with one arm

ed her tear-reddened eyes toward him

ach you that crying won't so

le to stop. "If I stop crying,

el replied

ether, but the tears kept s

soften. He picked up a piece of candy a

ly that she didn't want it. Her heart hurt because she couldn'

tears still rolli

an eyebrow. "W

ying. He tried

nd. At last, he said,