?Chapter 1336:


    Just as the familiar outline of her neighborhood came into view, Hadley’s phone pierced the quiet with a sharp ring.


    “Hello?” Hadley answered the call, her voice softening instantly. “Oh, Joy, sweetheart.”


    “Mommy, are you done with work?” Joy’s small, eager voice bubbled through the line.


    “Yes, love, I’m all done. I’ll be home soon to get you ready for your bath, alright?”


    “Okay!” Joy chirped. “Mommy, I’m out walking with Melba. We’re waiting downstairs so we can go home together!”


    “Sounds perfect,” Hadley replied, a smile tugging at her lips.


    In the background, Melba’s voice floated through, gentle but firm. “All done, Joy? Time to say goodbye to Mommy.”


    “Okay…” Joy began, but her voice cut off with a sudden, sharp cry. “Ah!”


    “Joy!” Hadley’s heart lurched, her grip tightening on the phone. “Melba!”


    Joy’s scream tore through the line, raw and frantic, before the call went eerily silent.


    “Hello? Melba!”


    Hadley’s voice trembled as she clutched the phone, her face draining of color as though she had glimpsed a specter. “Hello? Melba, are you there?”


    The line remained open, but the familiar voices of Melba and Joy had eerily faded into silence.


    “What’s wrong?” Eric’s brow furrowed with concern as he gently took Hadley’s hand, his steady grip anchoring her spiraling panic.


    “Joy is in danger!”


    Hadley’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with terror. Instead of pulling away, she clung to Eric’s hand with desperate strength, herplexion ghostly pale. “They’ve gone after Joy!”


    Eric’s expression darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes. He tightened his hold on her hand and swiftly retrieved the phone with the other. “Phillips, it’s me. Joy’s in trouble. Head to Milnd Road immediately—seal off every entrance and exit. Check the surveince footage and scrutinize every suspicious person and vehicle!”


    His voice was sharp,manding, as he ended the call and dialed another.


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    “Cordell, it’s me…”


    Hadley watched him, her heart pounding, anxiety etched into every line of her face. When Eric hung up, she grabbed his arm. “What is happening? Is Joy… is she…?”


    “She’ll be okay,” Eric assured her, though worry gnawed at him. He couldn’t let his fear show—not now.


    He enveloped Hadley’s trembling hand in his. “I swear, Joy wille back to us unharmed.”


    They were nearing Milnd Road, and as their conversation unfolded, the car slipped into the neighborhood.


    The entrance was a hive of activity, security booths and the apartment building surrounded by a fleet of cars. Phillips had rallied the Scott family’s bodyguards.


    Eric ushered Hadley out of the car, urgency in his stride.


    “Mr. Scott!” Phillips rushed over to them at once.


    “What is the situation?” Eric asked, his tone clipped. “Any leads?”


    “We’ve spotted them,” Phillips replied, his nod grim. “But then they slipped away. We couldn’t catch them in time.”


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