Chapter 5

Esther took the lightly fragranced handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face, interrupting Jasper. "It's not important now. I just want to find my kids." Esther knew that once she found her children, she would never stay a second longer by Bradley's side. She would leave with them forever and never see him again. Looking at Esther's thin appearance, Jasper comforted her, "You're too weak now. Take care of yourself so that you can take good care of your kids when you find them." Jasper's phone rang, showing only a single letter "Y" as the caller ID. "Esther, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first. I've packed some daily necessities in these suitcases and prepared a phone for you with my contact information added. Just text me if you need me." Given Jasper's busy schedule running the Searle Group, their friendship was precious, as he still made time for her. "Jasper, please find out about my children for me," Esther pleaded. Jasper promised, "Expect good news from me." After Jasper left, Esther opened the suitcases. He had thoughtfully included clothes and a bank card with her ID number as the password. Before Jasper's arrival, Esther had been watching television, trying to understand through the programs what had transpired in the last five years. Now, with the phone Jasper had given her, she searched for information on the Warner Group, the Ansteys, the Searles, and everything else she wanted to know. A few hours passed, and she took a shower and changed clothes. As she opened the door of her hospital ward, she saw a female bodyguard in a black suit standing outside. "Ms. Quill, how can I assist you?" Esther looked at the bodyguard and said, "I'd like to visit my mother's grave." The bodyguard politely replied, "I'm afraid I've received orders that you can't leave the ward. Please return now. If you have any other requests, I'll do my best to fulfill them." Esther fell silent and dialed a series of digits she had memorized. "Bradley Warner, are you locking me up like a criminal?" Bradley sneered on the other end of the line. "The law might forgive your crime, but you're unpardonable to me." The word "unpardonable" felt like a blow to Esther. It was as if an invisible hand had clutched her heart, and she saw darkness. "Ms. Quill!" "Doctor, Ms. Quill fainted." The doctor was worried that Esther's condition would affect the upcoming surgery, so he administered an IV drip on the spot. Esther was groggy from the fever and wanted to give up, but the thought of her children, whom she had never seen since birth, filled her with the will to live. In her hazy state, she saw a thin boy in black pajamas with dinosaur prints standing by her bed, hugging a husky plushie. "Son?" She extended a weak hand to touch the boy's face. "Are you my son?" Hearing Esther's sleep-talking, Felix thought she was addressing him and cutely replied, "I'm not…" Despair and pain filled Esther's feverish face when she heard that. He wasn't her son? Then where were her children? "Bradley, Bradley! Bradley Warner, where did you hide my kids? Bradley, give them back to me! Give them back to me!" Felix looked at the sleep-talking Esther curiously and placed the husky plushie beside her after a while. He left but sneaked back soon. Taking a fever-cooling patch for children from his cartoon pajama pocket, he gently stuck it on Esther's forehead. As he smoothed it over, he said, "You'll be okay after this…" He then pulled out a milk candy and carefully unwrapped it before putting it in Esther's mouth. Feeling parched and tasting bitterness from her fever, Esther was surprised to taste a sweet milk flavor. It cleared up her mind slowly, and when she saw the face so much like Bradley's, she asked in surprise, "What… What's your name?" How did this child resemble Bradley so much? Was he their son? Felix saw Esther had woken up and looked delighted. "You're awake? I'm Felix Warner." Struggling to sit up despite her high fever, Esther gazed at Felix with intensity and danger. She was so feverish that she saw the boy before her as her son, whom she had been forced to part with since birth. She wanted to embrace him as if to hold the treasure right in front of her. Before she could touch Felix, Liliane burst into the room, grabbing the boy and holding him in her arms. Looking at Esther in shock, Liliane accused her first. "Esther, I can understand if you hate me and resent me. But why are you hurting my son?!" Liliane scowled and handed Felix to the nanny, who rushed over. They left the ward, leaving a stab in Esther's already broken heart with their vicious words. "Your kids are dead. Don't even think about taking mine!" Liliane's words jolted Esther. She looked back in disbelief and asked, half-consciously, "He's your son. Then where are mine?" Liliane glared at the weak and delirious Esther, barking, "Stay away from my son!" Liliane's words snapped Esther out of her daze. She felt disgusted when she realized how close she had been to Liliane's son just now. "Liliane, do you know why your son's sick? It's retribution for your evil deeds!" Enraged, Liliane attempted to slap Esther, but the latter avoided it and grabbed Liliane's hair instead. A loud slap resounded through the room.