Chapter 675
Chapter 675
Natasha paused briefly, slightly taken aback. Without turning to look at him, she asked in a calm voice, “Isn't Thalia your friend?”
“So you're doing all of this because of us, Nat?” Anthony answered with another question.
“That's not the sole reason,” Natasha replied.
“Then what else is it for?”
“She saved me in the past too,” stated Natasha.
“Are you referring to the time when you were in the hospital?” Anthony pressed.
Natasha nodded in response. “You can say that.”
Blinking at her, Anthony commented, “You sure repay every good deed that you've received, Nat.”
Natasha did not respond.
At that very moment, there were new motions on the computer screen.
A few video clips popped up.
“Is it ready?” Natasha asked.
Everyone's attention was turned to the computer screen.
Anthony clicked on the videos and watched them carefully.
“It's Thalia,” Anthony announced. “She's still wearing the same clothes that she wore when she left.”
Upon hearing that, Natasha immediately followed up with a question. “Can you find out where she is now?”
“Let me try searching for the time of her last appearance.”
Anthony pulled aside the videos one by one until there was only one video left in the center of the screen. The video was taken most recently. The person in the video had changed her outfit, but from her gait and posture, one could easily deduce that the person in the video was Thalia.
“Found it!” Anthony suddenly exclaimed. “Here.”
Natasha leaned closer to the screen. When she confirmed Thalia's familiar silhouette in the video, she knitted her brows. “What is this place?”
The three children were instantly intrigued. They shoved their faces closer to the screen, and Benjamin squinted. “This place looks a little familiar...”
“I think so too. It does look familiar,” Anthony affirmed.
Natasha turned to look at them curiously.
Benjamin quickly whipped out his phone and started scrolling through it. After a brief moment of searching, he showed the others his phone screen. “Look at this.”
Benjamin had pulled out a photo from his gallery. The background of the photo was exactly the same location where Thalia was spotted in the video.
Anthony looked at his brother. “Where is this?”
“It's the hotel that we stayed in when we first got here,” answered Benjamin.
Realization dawned on Anthony. “No wonder the place looks so familiar.”
“So, has Thalia gone back to the hotel to stay there?” Benjamin asked.
“I think so. I remembered when we first arrived, Thalia told us she would stay in that hotel every time she came here.”
Benjamin bobbed his head. “That rings a bell, for sure.”
All the while, Kenneth had been listening in on their conversation. When he heard the boys' conclusion, he took out his phone. “I'll give Spencer a call right away.”
“Daddy, wait,” Anthony called out to him and stopped him.
Puzzled, Kenneth looked down at the boy.
Staring up at him, Anthony explained, “Thalia probably left because of some problems between her and Spencer. I know what she's like. Since she has decided to leave, that means she has probably decided to never cross paths with him. If Spencer suddenly shows up at her location, Thalia will hide somewhere else, and that'll make her impossible to find!”
A crease appeared between Kenneth's brows as he listened to Anthony's analysis.
Natasha nodded. “Anthony's right.”
“Then what do you guys propose we do?” Kenneth asked.
“Perhaps I can go meet Thalia in person first to have a chat,” Anthony suggested.
“Thalia cut off the signal on her phone to forbid the three of us from contacting her. Will it really make a difference for you to see her in person?” Benjamin asked.
“It's worth a shot. We can come up with something else if it doesn't work.” Anthony shrugged nonchalantly.
“I'll go with you,” Natasha offered.
Anthony turned to look at her and nodded. “What about Spencer?”
“We'll go to her first. Kenneth, you can inform Spencer, but make sure that he doesn't exacerbate the situation with any rash actions,” said Natasha.
With a curt nod, Kenneth left to make the phone call.
“Let's go.” Natasha stood up and looked at Anthony and Kenneth. Her firm tone left them no room to hesitate.
“Nat, let us tag along.” All of a sudden, Denise spoke up. “I'll just sit in the car and not disturb you.”
Natasha looked at Denise and Benjamin. Denise's request reminded her that she had not brought them out ever since they arrived. She had neglected them, as she was occupied with other things. Her gaze softened. “Come on. Let's go.”
With that, the four of them headed outside.
Meanwhile, Kenneth had just gotten off the phone with Spencer. As he was heading downstairs, he suddenly remembered something and immediately hurried to the garage.
However, when he arrived, Natasha and the rest were already waiting for him inside the car.
Guilt flickered across Kenneth's heart as he saw the car that was parked at the side. He quickly walked over and got into the car.
Natasha and the three children were already seated inside the car.
With a hired driver at the wheel and extra room in the spacious car, Kenneth got into the backseat as well.
When he got into the car, Kenneth immediately focused his gaze on Natasha. Natasha's head was lowered as she scrolled through her phone. It was impossible for Kenneth to gauge her thoughts and emotions.
Turning his gaze to Anthony, Kenneth signaled the boy wordlessly with his eyes.
Frowning slightly, Kenneth announced, “I've given Spencer a call. He'll be heading there now too, but he'll wait for us downstairs.”
“Okay,” Natasha responded with a nod.
Kenneth still could not figure out Natasha's feelings. He was unsure about whether she was angry. As he walked over, Anthony immediately walked to the seats at the back, making room for Kenneth beside Natasha.
Kenneth plopped down next to Natasha and looked at her. “Nat—”
“I'm gonna take a short nap,” Natasha cut him off. “Wake me up when we've arrived.”
With a single sentence, Natasha managed to shove all the words Kenneth wanted to say back into his throat.
Having nothing else to say, Kenneth merely nodded. “You can rest your head on my shoulder.” Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
“There's no need for that. Dave's car comes with a sleep function.” As she spoke, Natasha pressed a button, causing her seat to incline backward. She then closed her eyes to sleep.
Kenneth turned his head around to look at the three kids sitting behind them.
The children stared back at him with similar expressions.
Kenneth frowned.
Wanting to ask them a question, Kenneth opened his mouth before closing it again. It was not a question meant for Natasha to hear. Unfortunately, she was right next to him, and there was no way to know if she had actually fallen asleep.
Kenneth took out his phone and created an impromptu group chat with just the four of them. He asked: What is going on?
All three of the kids' phones rang at the same time.
Kenneth instinctively turned to look at Natasha, worried that she would notice something was amiss.
With mild panic written on their faces, the children quickly turned off the notifications of the group chat before continuing the conversation in the chat.
Anthony was the first to reply: How do I put this? There's no easy way to say it.
Benjamin's reply followed: Yeah. It's hard to tell.
Denise wrote: I want to clarify that I have no idea what's going on.
Words eluded Kenneth.
It was obvious that they were feigning ignorance.
Kenneth asked: Cut it out. What on earth is going on?
Anthony replied: Daddy, you betrayed us this morning, but now you want to obtain information from us? This isn't a very friendly way to ask for a favor.
Kenneth retorted: Didn't you guys betray me too?
Benjamin interjected: But it was you who started it, Daddy!
Anthony agreed: That's right!
Kenneth was once again at a loss for words.
There was no counterargument that he could give.
After a brief pause, Kenneth changed his approach. He asked: Okay. What do you two want?
Anthony began: Two conditions.
Kenneth bargained: At most one each.
Benjamin accepted happily: Deal!
Anthony agreed: Fine. I'll allow it.
Kenneth asked: So, what's the request?
Denise interrupted: Hold on. Do I get a share too?
Kenneth put an end to Denise's idea immediately. He replied: This is none of your business.
Denise pouted.
Kenneth repeated the question to Anthony and Benjamin: So, what's the request?