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5. Handsome Rich Man

Handsome Rich Man

“Mom…”

“Lucy, is... is that you?” Eirene paused for a moment, her worried voice rising in urgency.

“Baby, where are you? Are you alright? No, tell me your location; Mom is coming to get you.” Lucy sighed in relief, worried her mother might do something reckless, but hearing her voice reassured her.

“Mom, donno where I am, but am fine,” Lucy replied, trying to comfort her mother. She even made a humming sound to reassure her, although she wanted to make a video call; unfortunately, the landline wouldn’t allow it.

“Did anyone kidnap you?” Eirene's question made Lucy go silent. She had much to share but also many doubts. “Mom, I don’t like Robin. Can you break up with him?” Lucy asked.

“Alright, just tell me what you can see around you,” Eirene pressed on, focused solely on finding her daughter.

“Nothing much—just some trees and a small walkway,” Lucy said, peering through the glass. she looked at the place where she saw Samuel leaving earlier. “Can you be more specific? Any sounds like a car or anything?” Eirene continued.

“Just some birds chirping; there’s nothing else,” Lucy replied.

“What about the place where you’re staying?” Eirene asked, doing her best to gather clues that could help locate Lucy. Stella might be able to assist if she managed to get any hints.

“It’s a two-story building, but it’s not as big as Beatrix,” Lucy answered. She hadn’t explored the house thoroughly, but it didn’t seem particularly large.

“Mom, listen to me.” Lucy realized she was wasting time and hadn’t communicated what she wanted to say. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Park cleaning the kitchen—far enough away that she wouldn’t hear Lucy’s whispers.

“There’s a good-looking rich man; I think he likes me and has fallen for me. Just wait for me to make a run with his money!” Lucy said with an innocent smile that belied her ambitious thoughts. She had been considering this since this morning when he didn’t punish her for the knife wound on his neck.

“What are you saying? No, let me talk to that man!” Eirene exclaimed. She knew her daughter was prone to dramatics, but this was too much; Lucy's life might be at stake.

“I also think that’s the case,” a gentle and pleasant voice said, making Lucy jump.

“Mom, I’ll call you back,” Lucy hurriedly disconnected her phone and, without wasting a second, dialed a random number. Only then did she place the landline back down and alertly look at the man standing with a box and a coat in his hand.

Leonard observed her rapid actions and smiled. He didn’t say anything; to put her at ease, he took a seat beside her and donned his doctor’s white coat in front of Lucy.

“Are you a doctor?” Lucy asked, still on high alert. She didn’t know how much he had heard but was certain he caught the main part of their conversation. Would he betray her in front of that man?

“What do you think?” Leonard replied as he opened his box and took out his stethoscope. “Let me check you real quick,” he said, proceeding with his examination as if it were routine.

“What is your name?” he asked while cleaning her wounds.

“Lucia Beatrix,” Lucy replied calmly. Leonard examined the bloodied cotton and then looked at Lucy, noting her calm demeanor, which made him frown.

“How old are you?” he inquired again.

“Five.”

“Do you know Samuel?”

“Who?”

“The man who brought you last night.”

Lucy fell silent; she didn’t know how to respond. ‘Did he bring her?’ she wondered, thinking about the bald man who had purchased her.

“Mind your own business, You sneaky old man,” Lucy snapped after pausing for a few seconds, making Leonard smile slyly. He simply closed his box and then asked again before standing up, “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Lucy shook her head while staring at him; her eyes clearly conveyed, ‘Don’t say another word.’ Leonard took a chocolate out of his pocket and offered it to her, but Lucy made no move to accept it. Smiling helplessly, he left it on the counter and walked out.

“Hey, I checked on that little girl,” Leonard called Samuel after getting into his car.

“How is she now?” Samuel asked.

“Completely fine; she just has some shallow wounds that will heal without any scars. Although she does seem a bit large for a five-year-old,” Leonard said, causing Samuel to fall silent.

“Ah, she is five.” Although Samuel’s words sounded relieved, his tone was undeniably heavy. “Well, is she… I mean… you know…?” Leonard was trying to say something that would provoke him.

“No, she is not! If she is five, then NO!” Samuel disconnected the call with a bang.

“Sir, may I come in?” Samuel's assistant asked while knocking on his office door.

“Yes,” Samuel replied. After Leonard’s call, he felt a pang of jealousy in his chest.

“Mr. Park asked me to deliver this,” the assistant said.

“All right, tell Victor to come when he’s free,” Samuel said, taking the documents handed to him.

It didn’t take long for Victor to arrive.

“I want you to return Lucy to her mother personally,” Samuel instructed. His suspicions about Lucy had been cleared; there was no need to keep her any longer.

“Sir, she could be kidnapped again if left with her mother,” Victor cautioned. Noticing Samuel’s doubtful expression, he explained, “Her kidnapping wasn’t that simple; they targeted me.”

“She is an orphan. Eirene picked her up from her hometown. What could a five-year-old have done to offend anyone?” Samuel asked, having just reviewed her details. It was noted that Eirene had adopted her deceased friend’s child from her hometown.

“I’m not sure, but think about it: she carries the Beatrix name and lives on Beatrix's property. The time and place of her kidnapping were in a crime-free area. As soon as they realized I was looking into her case, they tried to ambush me, without checking my background like they were in hurry to take care of her.”

Samuel fell silent; Victor had made some valid points. “I spent quite a while there, and they are not people we can cross just because of a child.”

“Yes, but…” Victor wanted to continue. “Let’s wait until she is better. I can’t do more than that.” Samuel knew Victor was a ruthless person, but at the same time, he had seen a gentler side of him.

Arthur Beatrix was not only the finance minister but also owned numerous companies and real estate businesses worldwide. Seven years ago, Samuel had offended him, and the aftermath had been very difficult.

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