Chapter 276

Jonathan thought he heard someone calling him. He turned, scanning the crowd, but saw only unfamiliar faces.

“Everything okay, Mr. Lynn?”

“I thought I heard someone call out.”

“Really? I didn’t hear anything. Maybe you misheard.”

Jonathan turned back, dismissing it. Michael was frantic, his small face crumpled as tears welled. He was sure he’d seen Jonathan. His heart raced with excitement and urgency; he wanted nothing more than to rush over. But the crowd ahead was thick with adults, their tall figures blocking his way. Being so small, he couldn’t keep up with their long strides, and soon he was swallowed by the sea of people.

Teresa had only turned away for a moment to grab a milkshake. In those few seconds, when she turned back, Michael was gone.

“Michael!” she screamed, her voice cracking with panic. She frantically looked around, but there was no trace of him. The milkshake slipped from her hand, splattering on the ground, completely forgotten.

Teresa’s face turned ghostly pale. A wave of fear and helplessness, unlike anything she’d ever felt, washed over her. This unfamiliar city, teeming with strangers, felt suffocating in the dim evening light. She stumbled forward, searching desperately for Michael.

“Excuse me, have you seen my son? He’s about three feet tall, fair-skinned, with a bright, sunny smile,” she asked every passerby, gesturing to describe Michael’s appearance. But no one had seen him.

Tears brimmed in Teresa’s eyes as she shakily pulled out her phone. She found a photo of Michael and showed it to one stranger after another, her voice trembling as she asked for help. But every response was the same—shaking heads and murmured apologies.

Teresa turned, her gaze sweeping over the growing crowd behind her. All she saw were unfamiliar faces. She stood frozen, utterly lost and overwhelmed. Michael was all she had left; he was her whole world.

“Mom!” A soft, familiar voice suddenly called out.

Teresa froze, her heart skipping a beat. She stared ahead, her eyes locking onto a group of college students walking toward her, Michael’s tiny hand in theirs.

“Mom!” Michael called again, his voice trembling with relief as he ran into her arms.

In that moment, Teresa felt the full weight of her child in her embrace. Her precious boy finally returned. The crushing fear and despair that had consumed her moments ago began to fade, replaced by overwhelming relief and gratitude.

Teresa crouched down, grabbed Michael’s hand, and smacked his palm sharply. “Where on earth did you go? Didn’t I tell you not to wander off?”

“Mom, I saw Mr. Lime! I wanted to find him, but… but I couldn’t.” Michael whimpered, pulling his hand back and rubbing his teary eyes with his sleeve.

Teresa let out a deep sigh, her frustration and relief mixing. She clutched his hand tightly, as if afraid he might vanish again, and stood up to thank the students who had helped.

“Oh, it’s no big deal. We’re just glad we could help,” one of them said with a smile.

“Yeah, we saw this little guy looking lost and thought we’d help him find his mom,” another added.

“There are so many people here. You really need to keep a close eye on your child,” someone else advised kindly.

“I understand. Thank you so much,” Teresa said, her voice filled with gratitude.

She pulled out some cash from her wallet, pressing it into their hands despite their polite refusals. “Please, take this. It’s just a small token of my appreciation.”

The students hesitated, glancing at each other. But seeing her teary eyes and insistence, they finally accepted, albeit a bit sheepishly.

“Take good care of your little one, okay? Don’t let go of his hand again—there are too many people around,” one of the students reminded her.

“I will. Thank you all again,” Teresa replied with a grateful smile.

As the students walked away, Teresa’s relief turned to frustration. She knelt down and gave Michael a sharp smack on his bottom. It was the first time she’d ever hit him. “If you ever run off like that again, I won’t take you out anymore.”

“Mom,” Michael clung to her leg, his small body shaking with sobs. “But I really saw Mr. Lime! I miss him so much. Why can’t he be my daddy? Mom, I just want a daddy.”

Teresa’s chest tightened at his words, a pang of guilt and sorrow washing over her. She bit her lip, gripping his hand even tighter.

Jonathan had already reached the area near the square when he overheard a group of young men chatting behind him.

“Man, that mom we just saw was stunning! If she didn’t have a kid, I’d totally hit on her,” one of them said.

“Yeah, but you’d have to get her husband’s approval first,” another joked.

Jonathan turned slightly to glance at them. Catching sight of his face, one of them suddenly widened his eyes. Then the group walked away in silence.