?Chapter 1656:


    Jones family estate.


    When Christina walked through the door carrying a little mixed-race girl, the whole family stared in surprise. Christina had run out of options — the police had no records or files on the child, and it appeared the girl might not even be legally registered. She wouldn’t let go of Christina for a second, and if anyone tried to pull them apart, she would burst into tears. After discussing it with her father, Christina decided to keep the girl with them for now while they searched for her parents.


    “Wait — you went out for errands and came back with a child?” Florrie asked, staring as though she couldn’t believe her eyes.


    Christina sat everyone down and exined how she had found the girl.


    “You said she’s silent… Maybe she’s autistic?” Etta suggested. “Or maybe her family abandoned her on purpose?”


    “She isn’t autistic,” Christina replied immediately. Her certainty made the rest of the family curious at once.


    Realizing they were all staring, Christina forced a smile. “I used to volunteer at an orphanage, remember? I learned the signs back then, and she doesn’t fit the profile.” Seeing their concerned expressions, she quickly changed the subject. “Let’s just get that notice posted — her parents are probably worried sick.”


    “If they actually cared, they would’ve made sure she had legal papers,” Etta muttered.


    “Either way, finding them is the priority. We’ll deal with the rest after that,” Christina said, giving Etta a firm look. A small frown appeared on her forehead as a strange thought urred to her.


    “I’ll snap a photo and let Bain handle the search,” Hurley said. He pulled out his phone and took a clear picture of the girl’s face. Since the child was clinging to Christina, she ended up in the frame as well. Hurley sent it off with instructions for Bain to find the girl’s family immediately.


    “She really is a little doll,” Beth said, giving the girl a warm smile.


    “She’s cute, sure — but she’s terrified,” Florrie added. “She’s been clinging to Bonnie like a shadow this entire time.”


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    Jones Group.


    Bain was working when the message from his father arrived. At first nce, the connection between Christina and the little girl was so striking he almost mistook them for mother and daughter. The way the child clung to his sister made him uneasy — she was cute, but that didn’t give her the right tomand all of Christina’s attention. He decided her family needed to be found right away.


    Bain replied to his father and was about to close the app to set up a missing child notice when he paused. Why did this girl’s face look so familiar? He was certain he had never met her, yet he felt a deep, instinctive dislike.


    At first, he assumed he was simply annoyed that a stranger was taking up his sister’s time. He zoomed in on the girl’s face and stared. The irritation was moreplicated than that — her features looked strikingly like those of his biggest rival, Alban Martel.


    That exined it. He had initially worried he was just being petty, but his gut had recognized the resemnce before his mind caught up. In the past, he had asionally encountered others whose mannerisms or appearance reminded him of Alban. It wasn’t rare, but it always left him with a strong and immediate sense of distaste.


    Bain instructed his team to begin the search at once.


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