Chapter 257: Chapter 257

"Anna, you say you’ve been gone all these years without contacting the family? Do you know I’ve been trying to find out about you all this time, very worried about you!"

When William Sutton mentioned worrying about her, Anna Thornton couldn’t help but sneer, "Worried about me?"

"After all, we’re still family."

"I know there’s some misunderstanding between you and my sister, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s your stepmother. I’m your uncle; after your father’s death, you have no relatives left in this world. If I don’t worry about you, who will?"

Seeing William Sutton’s hypocritical face, Anna Thornton felt nauseated. He seems to have forgotten how she got the scar on her head.

The vengeance from four years ago had been etched in Anna Thornton’s mind. If William Sutton didn’t leave Aethelgard today, she would find a way to pay him back.

But she was in a hurry to find Lola and had no time to tangle with him.

Anna Thornton shook off William Sutton and got into the elevator. When she arrived at the location, she could hear sounds of things being smashed from behind the room door.

What’s going on? Anna Thornton quickly knocked on the door!

If the door didn’t open in three minutes, she would call the police. Follow current novᴇls on novel·fire.net

At close to three minutes, with her fingers dialing the emergency number, the door finally opened.

The person who opened the door for her was Lola.

Anna Thornton crouched down, nervously inspecting the child for any injuries.

Lola also stared intently at her, seemingly trying to discern if her anxiety was genuine.

"Are you hurt? Are you feeling unwell?" Anna Thornton asked the silent little boy.

Lola shook his head: "..."

But Anna Thornton clearly saw the room in disarray, with a thick rope on the floor, already cut.

Anna Thornton also noticed marks on Lola’s delicate wrists where the rope had been tied.

"Where’s your mom? Not here?"

"I knocked for so long before the door opened. Was it because you were tied up with the rope?"

Little Lola lowered his head and fell silent.

This scene in Anna Thornton’s eyes was a real depiction of a child enduring domestic violence, too afraid to speak out.

No wonder this child was withdrawn; unfortunate families are the root cause of children’s psychological repression.

"Does it still hurt? Auntie can blow on it for you."

Anna Thornton’s maternal instincts kicked in, gently blowing on Lola’s wounds with heartfelt concern.

The little boy seemed a bit unused to it, his small hands flinching slightly.

Yet he couldn’t resist the maternal-like softness, blushing from his ears, his little face tense, both serious and shy.

The tender moment inside the room was suddenly interrupted by an unwelcome guest.

Lola noticed a shadow peeking outside the door and instinctively furrowed his brows.

"Take me away," he said to Anna Thornton.

The childish voice suddenly echoed, and Anna Thornton was startled to see the little one had let down his guard: "Oh? You can talk!"

"They’re coming back soon; take me away!"

"The ’they’ you’re talking about? You’re referring to your parents?"

Lola had no patience to keep explaining to Anna Thornton, his small hand clutching hers as he held onto his skateboard, pulling Anna Thornton outside.

This kid was clever, even knowing exactly how to escape.

He led Anna Thornton straight to the parking garage by elevator, recognizing her sports car, and when she unlocked it, he hopped in with his skateboard.

"Quick, drive!" Lola urged Anna Thornton once inside.

Anna Thornton passively drove away from the hotel, pondering whether this counted as abducting someone else’s child now.

But there’s something no one might believe: Anna Thornton felt it was the three-year-old little one who had actually abducted her instead.

Once her car exited the underground garage, William Sutton’s shadow emerged from the sidelines.

Anna Thornton had left a lasting impression on him, making him think of her all these years despite the scar on his head.

Having finally met her today, how could William Sutton let her go easily?

He secretly followed Anna Thornton, but didn’t expect to follow her to his own hotel room.

William Sutton hid outside the door, seeing Anna Thornton meeting Lola. Alarm bells rang in his mind.

He had been hiding outside, eavesdropping, but didn’t dare reveal himself, afraid Anna Thornton would suspect his relationship with Lola.

Feeling desperate, he urgently called Holly Sutton in Veridia.

"Holly, something’s wrong. Guess who I ran into early this morning? Anna Thornton, that little rascal, found the hotel we’re staying at and has met Lola!"

"What? You said Anna Thornton met Lola? It’s all your fault and my sister-in-law’s for taking the child to Aethelgard to make money. Haven’t I warned you not to let him be too exposed?"

"It’s not my fault! The work arrangements for the kid have always been handled by your sister-in-law. She sees dollar signs, thinking the kid’s good looks can earn a lot while he’s still young. Your sister-in-law doesn’t know Anna Thornton, so it’s unexpected how they managed to meet. Do you think Anna might have already discovered Lola’s identity?"

"Impossible! I made sure she saw for herself when she gave birth and witnessed the child born lifeless. She wouldn’t suspect. As for Lola, he’s just a three-year-old! It’s even more unlikely he knows his own origins! Just remember not to appear in front of Anna Thornton again, and don’t let her know about your relationship with Lola. I’m arranging for you to take Lola back to Veridia today. Remember, Lola is your son!"

Anna Thornton left the hotel with the little one but had no idea where to go.

Yet Lola was calm, even sitting in the back seat munching on a thick book.

It seemed like being with Anna Thornton, he didn’t care where they went or fear being betrayed after leaving the hotel as if Anna Thornton would sell him.

Of course, Anna Thornton wouldn’t bully the child.

As an understanding adult, she always considered the child’s opinion in matters: "Lola, how about I take you to the hospital for a thorough examination?"

This little one, now willing to speak, still didn’t say much.

Clearly the adult here, yet Anna Thornton felt he was the one in control.

On the other hand, children being precocious is undoubtedly due to complex experiences, making Anna Thornton empathetic.

Thinking about how Pop, also three years old, still struggled with speaking clearly, while Lola was already working in the entertainment industry.

Ultimately, it’s the parents’ negligence that treats the child as a cash cow, which led to Lola’s guardedness around every adult on set.

"If you really suffered any abuse from your parents, we need solid evidence from the hospital to help you," Anna Thornton continued to persuade, "how about this: after a hospital check-up, I’ll buy you candies, okay?"

But Lola stuck to his stance: "No!"

"Then I’ll buy you toys? Do you like model cars? Or planes?"

"..." Anna Thornton felt disdained once more.

This little one was too set in his ways, her usual tactics with Pop simply couldn’t convince him.

The atmosphere in the car grew awkward until Anna Thornton heard a ’gurgle gurgle’ sound.

She glanced at the embarrassed Lola in the rearview mirror, noticing him stiffly trying to turn his face away to alleviate the embarrassment.

"Lola, haven’t you had breakfast yet? What do you want to eat?"

"Listen, you can’t sit like that now; that’s how adults sit. Kids need to sit properly in the child seat next to me, or I won’t take you to eat."

Once Anna Thornton found a breakthrough, she attempted to threaten the child, a tactic that seemed to work every time.