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Chapter 5 Robert's Lament

At home, the kids were going wild, cheering while watching a video.

Robert Blair, the youngest, threw his hands up and shouted, "Mommy's the best! She totally turned it around!"

"Mommy's amazing," Sophia Blair, the middle child, said, clenching her fists and doing a little dance.

The video showed Alice putting Nova in her place.

Alice had no idea her precious son had secretly set up a hidden camera.

Henry Blair was just worried his mom might get picked on her first day at work. He never thought it would actually happen, and that some mean woman would bully his mom!

"That guy helped the mean lady bully Mommy. He's just as bad! I won't let him get away with it!" Henry said, clenching his tiny fists.

"That guy... why does he look so much like Robert?" Sophia said, staring at the video in shock.

Henry compared Zachary's face in the video with Robert's, furrowing his brows and thinking, 'Mom never told us about Dad. Could this guy... Could there be a connection? I need to find out.'

With that thought, Henry pulled out his phone and started searching for info on Zachary.

The first news article that popped up was a hot topic:

"An accident occurred at Happy Tots, a company under RME, on September 20th. It is reported that the accident was caused by using substandard steel pipes, leading to a foundation collapse. The incident resulted in a worker suffering spinal injuries and severe head bleeding. The worker is currently in a coma in the hospital. We are here to interview the president of RME..."

"The guy who looks like Robert is on TV! Henry, do you think he could be our dad?" Sophia asked, unsure.

"Our dad must love Mom a lot. It can't be him," Henry replied.

Henry frowned, feeling like things weren't that simple, "We need to check this guy out. Robert, you're coming with me to Happy Tots from the news to see if we can find any clues. Sophia, you stay home and cover for us. If Mom comes back, let us know right away."

"Got it, captain. Mission will be completed!" Sophia said, standing up straight.

After making the plans, Henry set off with Robert.

Meanwhile, in Zachary's office, Nova, hearing Alice's design concept, lost it and, not caring about her image, was about to fight her.

"Alice! You bitch, how dare you humiliate me!" she yelled.

But before Nova could attack, Zachary stopped her and told his assistant to take Nova away.

Then he looked at Alice, "I can double your salary and let you pick any managerial position. Let's just drop this."

"Mr. Hall, you're so diplomatic. You knew the game was lost and had Nova taken away so she wouldn't have to kneel and apologize to me, right?" Alice mocked.

Zachary's face stiffened a bit. He never planned to agree to the bet. If Nova hadn't agreed first, it wouldn't have come to this. She didn't think it through and ended up paying for it.

He had no choice but to handle it this way.

"I can make it up to you in other ways," Zachary said.

"I only want Nova to kneel and apologize to me!" Alice insisted.

"If you keep this attitude, I don't mind making the name Stelln Jewel disappear from the jewelry industry forever," Zachary said coldly.

Alice's face turned icy, and she stared at Zachary, "Are you threatening me?"

She hated being threatened more than anything.

"Yeah, you could say that, and you know I can do it. Now, just tell me, will you compromise or not?"

"Mr. Hall, there's an urgent matter!" Terry Perez burst into Zachary's office, panting and looking at the two in a standoff.

Zachary frowned, "What is it?"

If it weren't for the fact that this assistant was arranged by Zachary's grandfather, he would've kicked him out for such a reckless act.

Seeing an outsider next to Zachary, Terry quickly shut his mouth and walked briskly to Zachary's side.

"Mr. Hall, the person in charge of Happy Tots just called. The troublemaker is back," Terry said, catching his breath and ready to continue, but Zachary cut him off, "Don't bother me with such trivial stuff..."

Before Zachary could finish, Terry pulled him back a few steps and whispered, "Mr. Hall, this time it's different! He has a kid who came to Happy Tots and is demanding to see you!"

It was urgent, and Zachary couldn't think about anything else. "Take me there."

The two hurriedly left, and as they ran, Zachary said to Alice, "We'll talk about this later."

Alice watched them leave in a rush, feeling puzzled.

Inside the Mercedes-AMG S 63, Zachary watched the live footage anxiously and urged, "Faster!"

When Zachary arrived at the Happy Tots children's photography department, he saw a middle-aged man holding a crying child, who kept shouting, "Henry! Help!"

The man had a knife pressed against the kid's neck, with blood seeping from the tip. "You heartless bastards! My son worked here for six months and didn't get a penny. Now he's in the hospital, needing money for treatment, and you keep brushing me off! If I don't see your boss today, I'll kill this kid!"

"Henry, help me, I'm scared..." Robert stretched out his hands, calling for Henry.

Henry wanted to save him, but several adults held him back. "Let me go, I need to save my brother."

Seeing the tense situation, Zachary quickly said, "I'm the boss here. If you have any issues, talk to me. The child is innocent, let him go."

"My son worked for you for six months without getting paid, and now he's in the hospital. I've been coming here every day, but your people ignore me. Today, I took your son hostage. We're both fathers! If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll kill your son and let you feel the pain of losing a child!"

The man quickly noticed the resemblance between Zachary and the kid and, given their usual cold treatment, he was even more convinced that the hostage was indeed the son of the Happy Tots boss.

"He's not my son. This has nothing to do with him. Whatever you need, just tell me!" Zachary tried to explain.

He had only had one accidental encounter five years ago, and that was with Nova. As far as he knew, Nova hadn't gotten pregnant. This child just happened to look like him.

"Kid, see that? Your dad doesn't want you! He won't even acknowledge you! Now, call for your dad to save you," the man said viciously to Robert.

"He's not my dad. Henry, I'm scared!" Robert cried.

"Are you still pretending? If you don't call, I'll cut your face to pieces." The man's fierce look made Robert cry even harder, seeing him as a terrifying monster.

The man slapped Robert's butt, "Will you call now? If not, I'm doing it!"

Robert, being only five years old, was terrified and cried out loudly for help, "Daddy, save me! I'm scared! Daddy, I'm so scared!"

Hearing Robert call him daddy, Zachary was momentarily touched, awakening some deep-seated emotions. A complex mix of pain and worry surged within him.

"Don't be afraid. Daddy's here." Zachary felt an uncontrollable urge to protect this innocent little boy.

"So you finally admit he's your son! You lousy father!" the man said viciously.

"Take it out on me. The child is innocent. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!" The word "daddy" still echoed in his ears. Zachary now only wanted to protect this poor little boy.

"My son got injured working for you. He's on the brink of death, and you haven't even paid a cent for his medical bills? You're truly heartless!" The man was emotional and incoherent, driven to desperation by his circumstances.

"I'll cover all your son's medical expenses! I won't short you a penny of his wages! Just don't hurt my son." Zachary knew he couldn't provoke the man further and quickly said.

"You're a father, and so am I! But I'm not as rich as you, so I can only save my son this way. I need to see cash right now," the man said, choking up.

Zachary shouted, "Bring the money!"

Terry handed over a black briefcase, which, when opened, revealed stacks of hundred-dollar bills.

"Here's a million dollars. If you have any other issues, tell me, and I'll solve them. Just don't hurt the child!"

Seeing the money, the man finally released Robert, collapsing to the ground, and the knife fell from his hand as he silently cried.

Zachary quickly stepped forward, holding Robert in his arms and softly comforting him, "Don't cry! Daddy's here."

Seeing Robert cry had felt like a stab to his heart. Now, holding the child, he felt a warm sense of relief. Zachary spent ten minutes calming Robert down.

During his crying, Robert had inadvertently pulled at Zachary's hair several times, holding a few strands in his hand and dropping some on the ground. Henry walked over and pocketed the hair.

Terry then approached and asked, "Mr. Hall, how should we handle this assailant? Should we call the police?"

Zachary hesitated for a moment and then waved his hand, "No need. Let him go save his son. Also, isn't the salary supposed to be paid monthly? How did this happen?"

Terry hesitated.

Zachary said, "There must be something wrong. Investigate it thoroughly. And also, look into Stelln Jewel."

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