"You let my son go! Let him go!" Mrs. White screamed and cried, chasing after them, only to be blocked by the Thompson family''s bodyguards.


    Unable to save their son, Mr. and Mrs. White were helpless and furious.


    Mr. White turned and pped Karina hard across the face.


    "You useless thing! Didn''t you see them take your brother away? If anything happens to him, I''ll never forgive you!"


    Karina clutched her face, looking hurt and tearfully at Noah.


    Before their divorce, even though their rtionship was strained, Noah would still protect her from her parents'' bullying.


    As expected, Noah stopped and turned to look at her.


    Karina''s eyes lit up as she looked at him expectantly. But Noah only gave her a cold nce and said, "I''m giving you one day to pack your and Nic''s things. The flight is tomorrow afternoon. If you don''t get on that ne, you can stay in Istra and join your precious brother in prison. Nic can do without a mother."


    After delivering his ultimatum, Noah turned and left.


    Kevin was thrown directly into a city jail cell. The driver he had hired had already been arrested and had confessed that Kevin had ordered him to hit Nic with the car.


    Kevin''s crime was attempted murder-for-hire. The evidence was irrefutable and the circumstances egregious, so the police had already transferred the case to the courts, awaiting a trial date.


    When Mr. and Mrs. White learned their son was facing a prison sentence, they panicked, crying and causing scenes, trying to pull strings and bribe officials to get him out.


    But who would dare release a man the Thompsons had hand-delivered to a cell? It would be professional suicide.


    Mr. and Mrs. White used to take out their frustrations on Karina, but Noah had already sent her and Nic to Xerovia.


    Karina didn''t really want to leave Istra, but the alternative was prison, and she didn''t want that, so she had no choice but to go.


    Karina held Nic''s hand, walking slowly toward the security checkpoint.


    Noah hade to see them off personally.


    Nic didn''t yet understand what a farewell was. Holding her mother''s hand with one hand and her father''s with the other, she thought they were all going on a trip together, and was smiling brightly.


    "Daddy, where are we going?" Nic asked, looking up with a happy smile.


    "To Xerovia," Noah said, looking down at her with a gentle smile.


    "It''s a wonderful ce. The environment is nice, and the city is beautiful. Just like here, it has the best schools, hospitals, and amusement parks. And Nic will make lots of new friends."


    "Yay! I''m going to make new friends!" Nic giggled happily.


    Noah walked them to the security checkpoint and then let go of Nic''s hand. “Go on. Call me when the nends."


    “Okay. I will,” Karina nodded, her spirits low. She pulled Nic toward the checkpoint.


    "Daddy, Daddy," Nic reached for Noah, but Karina roughly yanked her back.


    "Stop yelling! Daddy isn''ting


    with us. He has a new wife now, and


    he''s about to have a new baby He doesn''t want me, and he doesn''t want you anymore," Karina shrieked at Nic, venting her emotions.


    "You''re lying! Daddy would never leave me! Waaah!” Nic burst into tears,


    frightened by her mother''s sudden outburst.


    "Cry, cry, cry, that''s all you know how to do. What good are you for anything else?” Karina snapped.


    A fresh wave of agonizing sobs tore


    from Nic''s throat as she


    wrenched herself free, throwing her small body at Noah and clinging to


    histed as if he were the only solid


    his leg


    thing left in her world.


    "Daddy, please! I''ll be a good girl, I promise! I''ll help you, and I won''t get sick


    anymore! Please don''t leave me behind!"