Chapter 5

Sarah shrieked, the first to follow me.

Mr. Davis reacted, his roar almost piercing my eardrums.

"Prioritize my daughter's safety!"

He and the bodyguards, supporting a stumbling Grandma Margaret, followed me through the winding corridors.

The fake Lily in my arms let out an even more desperate wail.

[Chloe can't find Lily! She can't ruin my plan!]

Brenda was blocked by a large group of bodyguards and couldn't keep up with me.

Blood was still flowing from my forehead. I exerted all my strength, distinguishing Lily's increasingly faint baby voice.

[Such a choking smell of smoke, I can hardly breathe.]

[Am I... destined to die here?]

Her choked sobs tightened my heart.

Driven by adrenaline, I burst into the hotel kitchen like a woman possessed.

Under the terrified gazes of the staff, I held the fake Lily in one arm and frantically yanked open every cabinet.

"A place that's hot and smells of smoke... it must be the kitchen..."

"Lily, cry out! Tell me where you are..."

But in my ears, apart from the fake Lily's malicious curses, I could no longer hear Lily's baby voice.

My chest ached with anxiety, and my eyes were stinging.

Lily, just hold on a little longer. I'll save you soon.

Mr. Davis, who had caught up, stood a short distance away, his gaze terrifyingly fierce.

"If my daughter gets burned by the fire, I'll make you pay with your life!"

My eyes were swollen with desperation, but my voice was trembling yet firm.

"She's not your daughter!"

"Your biological daughter is in one of the kitchen cabinets! You have to believe me!"

"Please, help me look! She's about to lose consciousness!"

Sarah was already crying hysterically, completely drained. She ran her hands through her disheveled hair, pleading with me.

"Chloe, name your price! We can give you anything! Please, just let go of my daughter!"

My mind was solely focused on finding Lily.

One cabinet door after another was forced open, but inside were only food and various kitchen utensils.

Amidst the clatter and bangs, Lily let out one last weak whimper.

[I think I hear Chloe's voice...]

[Chloe, save me, I'm right in...]

Before Lily could finish, I followed the sound and spun around, looking at a dish cabinet in the deepest part of the kitchen.

"Lily's in there! Go save her!"

My chest was heaving, my only thought to rush over there.

But behind me, two strong bodyguards lunged at me simultaneously.

One snatched the fake Lily and returned her to Mr. Davis.

The other clamped down on me, making my bones creak.

In desperation, I could only appeal to Sarah again.

"Sarah, please, take a good look at this child!"

"I'm sure you can tell the difference between her and your own daughter!"

Sarah was about to breathe a sigh of relief. Hearing my words, maternal instinct made her subconsciously glance at the fake Lily.

She looked at the little red face, her brow furrowing slightly.

Brenda, seeing this, eagerly tried to pull Sarah away.

"Don't listen to her crazy talk; she's a lunatic. It's too hot in here; Lily will be uncomfortable. Let's go now."

Sarah saw the child's red face and eventually let Brenda pull her away.

My body felt weak, my mind a blank slate. I couldn't think of anything else.

However, while no one was paying attention, Grandma Margaret, leaning on her cane, walked to the dish cabinet, half-believing, half-doubting.

Seeing her raise her hand, full of indecision, I croaked out, clinging to a last, slim hope.

"Grandma Margaret, just one look, please, just one look..."

"Your Davis family's precious baby is in there. Whether she lives or dies depends entirely on you..."

Mr. Davis could no longer stand my raving.

"How dare you curse my daughter? My daughter is perfectly fine!"

Brenda, hiding in a corner, sneered.

The fake Lily even let out a strangely sinister giggle.

[I knew Mr. Davis wouldn't doubt me.]

[Go peacefully, Lily. From today on, the Davis family's billions are all mine!]

Seeing Grandma Margaret's raised hand fall again, tears and blood blurred my vision, plunging me into utter despair.

Lily, I'm so sorry. Not only did I fail to save you, but I've also ruined myself.

"Lock Chloe in the freezer! I'm going to..."

Just as the bodyguards were about to forcibly drag me away, Grandma Margaret squinted and peered into the crack of the cabinet door.

The next second, her pupils constricted, and she shrieked in terror.

"Don't go! There's... there's really a baby hidden inside!"