"Ah, oh dear."


    Miranda nodded along, but something didn''t quite sit right with her. "Wait, aren''t you getting divorced? Why do you care about Lysander''s brother?"


    M casually replied, "His situation is a bit unique. I''ll exinter."


    Eugene had just finished setting up the fireworks and was walking over.


    Miranda was the kind of person who could forget everything once she started having fun.


    The trio eagerly lit the fireworks one by one, as brilliant bursts of color illuminated the night sky, creating an indescribable beauty.


    At the midpoint of their celebration, they even set up a spit roast.


    M and Miranda were busy lighting fireworks while watching the dazzling disy. They asionally epted pieces of roastedmb that Eugene handed over.


    Eating, drinking, and singing, they had a night full of joy andughter.


    The sky was filled with fireworks, washing away countless past burdens and weing new beginnings with a radiant glow.


    Laughter echoed through the night.


    Since they were in the countryside, far from the city, the three of them decided to stay at a local bed and breakfast after the fireworks.


    Having had a little to drink, M didn''t sleep very deeply.


    She woke up around five in the morning and, unable to fall back asleep, she decided to sit on the balcony with a cup of tea, waiting for the sunrise.


    The bed and breakfast was not far from the mountains.


    In winter, the sun rose slowly, casting a dim light over the horizon as the morning darkness lingered.


    M gazed out at the mountains, enjoying the tranquil silence of the early morning. She felt as if she were the only person in the world, bringing a calmness to her heart.


    After a few moments of quiet contemtion, her eyes caught a glimmer of movement.


    Curious, she looked more closely and saw a car moving slowly along a sloped mountain road some distance away from the bed and breakfast.


    Strangely, the car had its headlights on, and beams of shlight light flickered from the windows, as if searching for something.


    Probably some tourists who lost something, she thought.


    She shrugged it off and continued sipping her tea, waiting for the dawn to break.


    But after a while, she noticed something else. In the shrubbery closer to the bed and breakfast, there were branches swaying slightly.


    Thanks to her keen eyesight and the gradually brightening sky, she managed to see it.


    There were plenty of animals in the mountains, nothing unusual about that.


    Just as she had this thought, her gaze froze. After a violent rustle in the bushes, she saw a small figure dart past.


    Was that... a child?


    Why would such a young child be wandering around in the bushes at this hour? What if something happened to them? Where were the child''s parents?


    She thought of the car on the mountain road. Were those the child''s family?


    But they seemed too far away. What if they couldn''t find the child in time and something happened?


    As a mother herself, M couldn''t sit still. Without thinking twice, she hurried downstairs, jumped into her car, and drove toward where she had seen the movement.


    Being closer, she arrived at the spot sooner. Without waiting for the car from the mountain road, she dashed into the bushes, heading quickly toward where she had seen themotion.


    Soon enough, she spotted a child stumbling and limping as they ran.


    She called out, and the child sped up, only to trip and fall a few stepster, struggling to get up.


    M rushed over and scooped up the child, only for them to scream hoarsely and struggle fiercely.


    "Don''t be afraid, don''t be afraid. I''m here to help you. It''s okay..."


    She held the child close and gently patted their back to soothe them. Her gentle tone andck of sudden movements calmed the child somewhat, and they cautiously lifted their head, revealing a face covered in scratches.


    It was then M noticed the metallic scent of blood emanating from the child.


    At that moment, the child clung to her tightly, their voice hoarse and panicked, with a clear note of desperation.


    "Mom, mommy, please, help me. Someone''s trying to catch me, please..."


    M''s instincts screamed that something was wrong.


    Before she could react, several rough voices echoed from not far away. "Hey boss, there''s a car over here!"


    "Forget about that for now, just find the kid!"


    "The kid''s got to be around here somewhere!"


    "Damn it! Once we find him, I''ll teach you all a lesson for letting a little brat slip away!"


    Listening to the voices and feeling the child trembling in her arms, M''s heart sank. These weren''t the child''s family. They were kidnappers, weren''t they?