Miranda''s next words froze her hand as she stroked the child''s soft skin, sending a chill up her spine.


    "The night it happened, the child was at home."


    ...


    The night it happened.


    The nanny was at the house, taking care of the child.


    Sophia was shattered inside. When she returned home, she dismissed the nanny immediately, wanting to keep the family scandal under wraps.


    Little did she know, the argument would escte into a criminal case.


    Themotion was so loud that it alerted the neighbors. The door wasn''t fully closed, so it easily swung open.


    When the neighbor entered, they were greeted by a horrifying sight.


    Theodore Chasey in a pool of blood. Beside him sat a three-year-old clinging to a stuffed toy, covered in blood from head to toe. His eyes were wide and clear, yet he didn''t cry or make a sound, as if in shock.


    The child''s mother stood over him, knife raised, ready to strike again.


    Had the neighbor not arrived in the nick of time, that night might have imed not only Theodore Chase''s life but also that of the little boy.


    M''s heart tightened at the story. "But why? How can a psychiatric evaluation find her normal after that?"


    Clearly, the child''s mother was not in her right mind.


    Miranda shook her head. "The case was handled carelessly back then. Plus, she confessed, so it was wrapped up quickly."


    M couldn''t wrap her head around it.


    Miranda continued, "Anyway, my advice is not to get involved with the kid. I admire his mother in some ways, but let''s be clear-she''s not someone to mess with."


    "In another six months, she''ll be out of prison."


    "With how ruthless she can be, she''s no pushover. Getting entangled with this family is too risky."


    "And besides..."


    Miranda hesitated but finally voiced her concerns, "The child went through such a traumatic event and didn''t react normally. Who knows if he''s mentally stable? He''s a hot potato, and he''s from the Pembroke Family. Why get involved?"


    M frowned as she listened.


    She thought the child seemed rather clever. Even though his family''s situation was tragic, at the end of the day, he was a victim.


    And now, it was toote to back out.


    She sighed, "The child was just kidnapped and is still shaken. He clings to me and cries if I''m not around. Besides, he''s already suffered psychological trauma in the past. If I abandon him now, wouldn''t that just add insult to injury? But once he recovers, I''ll step back."


    With a mother-inw whose mental health was fragile, M understood psychological issues all too well.


    They could be mild.


    Or they could be deadly.


    Miranda understood some of this and relented, "Fine, just as soon as he calms down a bit, send Nathaniel back. Don''t you already have enough on your te?"


    M nodded earnestly.


    Eugene, who had stayed silent throughout, watched as M reassured Miranda. A faint smile yed on his lips.


    That was his sister, and how lucky he was to have her in his life.


    His brother didn''t know what he was missing!


    ...


    Later that afternoon, Eugene went to the hotel to pick up meals.


    Hospital food was nd and unappetizing, so they had ordered meals from outside, including a special nutritious recovery meal for the child.


    M gently woke the child.


    He was covered in injuries, making it difficult for him to eat. As she prepared to


    feed him, her phone rang suddenly on the bedside table.


    Miranda nced at the screen, her expression shifting slightly before handing it to M.


    "It''s Adrian calling," she said.


    M was taken aback, quite surprised.


    She had been waiting for Adrian to call her during the holidays to wish her well,


    but the call never came. She hadn''t expected him to reach out now.


    "Mommy," the child mumbled, half-asleep, as he clung to her.


    M soothed him with a gentle touch before deciding to answer the call.