yton was livid, his anger boiling over.


    "All those lessons your folks drummed into you, might as well have been told to a brick wall! You good-for-nothing!"


    Carl''s face darkened with rage.


    "You had the whole highway to yourself, but no, you chose the tightrope. Go ahead, be that way. I''ve said my piece. I''ve done my duty as a brother. Just don''te crying to me for helpter on! My conscience is clear, and I''m out!"


    With a scoff, Carl stood up and left.


    The rest followed suit, their egos inted, eyes filled with resentment and scorn.


    "Fine, if you''d rather face the music than enjoy the feast, see you at the shareholders'' meeting in three days!"


    They seemed to forget, who had been footing their bills all these years?


    And who was it that single-handedly founded Hawkins Sea-freight?


    They were living off yton''s hard work, yet now they dared to lord over him!


    Greedy and cold-hearted!


    Nothing but wolves in sheep''s clothing!


    yton remained seated, his lips pressed thin, his facial muscles trembling with fury.


    His assistant wanted to offer some words offort but couldn''t find the right words.


    yton was a man of courage and integrity, loyal and true-hearted. Yet, look where he found himself now!


    His daughter missing, his wife lost to her own mind, betrayed by his own kin!


    He had nurtured the Hawkins family for years, only for them to turn against him!


    A ssic tale of the farmer and the viper!


    The only hope to turn things around now was for his daughter to return.


    But could she? It seemed a forlorn hope...


    After a while, yton sent his assistant away and went back to his bedroom.


    He sat down by the bed, next to Pam, his tears falling freely.


    "Pam, these heartless people... I treated them like family, and they treat me like dirt! They''re nothing but ungrateful wolves!


    "I''m not upset about the money, but losing Hawkins Sea-freight means it''ll be even harder to find our daughter. If we don''t look for her, who will remember our Irene?"


    "Where could she be? I''ve searched so many ces, why can''t I find her?"


    "Pam, I miss Irene too. She''s always been so timid, afraid of the dark! Every time I think of her alone and scared in the dark, my heart aches.


    "She''s our baby girl, not someone else''s. Will anyone else care for her as we do? What if she encounters someone bad? Without us to protect her, can she grow up safely?


    "Our Irene, is she still okay? Is she still alive? I... I..."


    yton''s pain overflowed as he spoke, a grown man of over fifty, sobbing uncontrobly.


    His heart was shattered.


    The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Tarquin and Elysia arrived at Oceanopolis airport.


    "Let''s head to Dock 1 first!" Elysia said as soon as they disembarked.


    Dock 1 was where she had disappeared as a child. She had heard that her mother went there every day to wait for her.


    Her mother would arrive before dawn and leave only at sunset,e rain or shine.


    Eager to see her, Elysia couldn''t wait.


    Tarquin understood her feelings. "Okay!"


    He arranged for the bodyguards to take their luggage to the hotel they had booked in advance and then took Elysia and the kids to Dock 1.


    On the way, the children chattered excitedly, curious about the new city and looking forward to meeting their grandparents.


    Elysia was silent, her fists clenched tight, clearly nervous.


    Tarquin took her hand into his, warming it, trying to ease her tension.