<h4>Chapter 361: No!</h4>


    "Sir, we have news," the assistant said, stepping into the room with a tense expression. "A woman matching Miss Melody’s description was seen at the supermarket about fifteen minutes ago. The witness tried to approach her, but she denied being Melody. They said she looked frightened—on edge. The person got suspicious and decided to follow her from a distance. They’re concerned she might be terrified because of the kidnappers or whatever she’s gone through."


    Richard Thomas immediately looked up from the file he’d been reviewing. His brows knit together, and his hand instinctively reached for his phone. "Where is she now?" he asked, already anticipating the answer.


    "Thest update we got is that she’s still in the area, but they think she might be nning to leave soon. Our team is in touch with the witness as we speak. They’re worried she might bolt before we can get there."


    Richard stood up, not wasting a second. "Then let’s not sit around waiting. Ask the driver to bring the car forward now. I want it at the entrance in the next two minutes."


    "Yes, sir," the assistant replied already turning to leave and issue the order as Richard started to call Marianne while walking towards the elevator.


    Marianne’s phone was unreachable. He frowned. Why did her phone have to be unavable today of all days.


    Richard stared at the screen for a second, then tucked the phone back into his coat pocket with a muttered sigh. No point wasting time. He’d try againter.


    "Go straight to the address the witness shared," he instructed. "Don’t wait. And alert the police on the way- quietly. Tell them to be discreet. If it really is Melody, I don’t want her frightened off.


    "Yes, sir," the assistant said as the driver immediately started to drive.


    Once in the car, Richard tried Marianne’s number again. Still nothing. The call rang once, then went to voicemail. He disconnected and looked out the window, his fingers tapping against his thigh. He wanted Marianne to be there. Melody would befortable with her. But her phone was not reachable. Where was Marianne.


    For a moment, he thought of calling the driver. The driver could take his phone ot Marianne so that he could give her the good news. But then he paused, in the middle of dialing the number.


    Could it really be Melody?


    His heart thudded once, sharply. Then again. If she really was, then he should’ve made the announcement sooner. The press release, the interview and the public plea, he had postponed all of it, wanting to respect Marianne’s decision to keep things private for a few days.


    She hadn’t wanted Melody’s face stered across every screen. But maybe that had been a mistake. If her face had been out there, someone might have recognised her earlier. Helped her. Or scared off whoever had her.


    What if she’d been wandering around this whole time? Alone? Afraid?


    His jaw tightened.


    Then again... what if it wasn’t Melody at all? What if the person at the supermarket was just someone who resembled her?


    No. It was better to not make the call and raise Marianne’s hopes.


    He exhaled through his nose, frowning at the thought of that person being someone else. Maybe he should have sent someone else first. An investigator. Someone trained to verify these things before getting directly involved. That would’ve been the safer choice.


    But then he shook his head.


    No. No, it was better this way.


    If it was Melodyhis daughter—he wanted to be the one to bring her home. Not another face. Not a stranger. If she was scared, confused, or hurt, he wanted her to see someone she recognised.


    Besides, if it turned out to be nothing, he’d deal with it quietly.


    He leaned back into the seat and closed his eyes for a moment. Just for a moment.


    The phone in his hand buzzed again,and he looked at it eagerly., hoping it was Marianne. But it wasn’t. It was the field team. He quickly answered."Yes?"


    "Sir, we’re about ten minutes from the location. The woman is still near the area. She stepped into a small café but hasn’t ordered anything. The witness is outside. She hasn’t tried to run."


    Richard sat up straighter. His grip tightened around the phone.


    "Good. Keep eyes on her. Don’t let her out of sight. I’m almost there."


    He hung up, staring out at the road ahead. Whether it was Melody or not, he would find out in the next few minutes. And if it <i>was</i> her no one would take his daughters away again. Not this time. Not ever.


    Mnie sat in the corner booth of the café, her hands wrapped around the same untouched cup of tea she’d been nursing for the past ten minutes. She knew she was being watched.


    She could feel the presence outside as the woman who had followed her from the supermarket hadn’t tried to approach again.


    And in her ear, Dr. Jung’s voice continued to give out instructions, "Richard Thomas is going to reach you soon. So far, he has made no other calls except ones to Marianne. I made sure the connection didn’t go through. And my people have kept an eye on her. Until now, she is unaware of the news and other things. So, she won’t be interfering for now.


    "If you feel threatened by Richard, for whatever reason, call me. Immediately. I’ll get Adam and have him intervene if necessary. But until then, remember the n. You’re confused. You don’t remember anything. Not even him. Not your name. Not the past. You are fragile, frightened. You don’t know who to trust. You only know your name is Melody because the person who kidnapped you told you that. YOu escaped from there and found Dr Jiang and he said he would bring you to your parents. But then, the kidnapper attacked again. Okay?"


    "To make sure there is no funny busines happening with Richard as well, Adam will be informed of your location as soon as Richard Thomas reaches you. Remember, even if you see Adam,you do not break character. You don’t react. Let them all believe you are lost to them. That’s the only way to protect yourself and to leanrn the truth. Do you understand? You have to find whoever it is that wants to harm you before Cadence reaches you."


    Mnie, continued to nod through the instructions and was about to say that they needed to inform Adam first when she spotted the man at the entrance. Richard Thomas was here.


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