Chapter 27

“Sir, are you really Lola’s brother? And you’re here to take her back?” Xander’s voice trembled, his hands nervously rubbing his thighs. The memory of Daxon’s arrival during Ivy’s beating of Lola gnawed at his conscience.

His eyes drifted over Lola, whose clothes were worn and faded, patched in several places. Had he known Lola’s brother was coming, he would have ensured she was better dressed. He hoped this wouldn't jeopardize their "compensation" discussion.

Xander said, “Well, that’s good. As you can see, our place is… small. Lola’s been living here, and… well, it’s been tough. It’s probably best for her to go with you.”

Seeing Xander’s evasiveness, Ivy’s frustration flared. She yanked him forward, then shoved him aside; but facing Daxon directly, her bravado faltered. She pulled Xander back for support.

Daxon watched their bickering in silence before asking, “Who did you buy her from?”

Annie was his sister, but bringing her back was only the beginning. He would hunt down everyone involved in her sale.

Xander and Ivy froze, their minds momentarily blank. Why is he asking that? they wondered.

Receiving no answer, Daxon repeated, “Tell me who you bought her from, and I’ll let this go.”

“Uh… it’s been over ten years. How am I supposed to remember that?” Ivy forced a smile, attempting to deflect. She was greedy, yes, but even she knew the rules: never betray the seller.

Sensing Daxon’s rising anger, Dustin interjected, “Say it. You want to keep stalling? Want me to deal with you?” Dustin was powerfully built, his face rugged and muscular. A single glare from him could reduce a child to tears.

Xander and Ivy, quick to bully the weak but cowering before strength, trembled under his gaze. Xander stammered, “Sir, I swear, I really don’t remember.”

Desperate, Ivy shifted to an emotional appeal. “Sir, we have nothing to do with Lola going missing. Over the years, we’ve raised her from a three-year-old to the teenager she is now. We never let her go hungry or without clothes. We’ve done right by her.”

Her boldness grew as she spoke, her eyes shifting to Lola. “Lola, tell him, isn’t that true?”

Lola froze under Ivy’s gaze. The fresh pain from her beating throbbed, and Ivy’s “kind” eyes unleashed a torrent of years of fear and trauma.

“Y-yes. Mom has been… very good to me,” she muttered, forcing a smile.

Daxon saw through the lie. He wasn't easily fooled by fear-induced falsehoods.

“Relax,” he murmured, gently ruffling Lola’s hair, his deep voice calm and reassuring. “I’m here now. From now on, no one will ever hurt you again.”

The warmth of his hand brought Lola a rare sense of safety. For the first time in a long time, her clouded mind cleared, and reality set in. Tears streamed down her face as she buried it in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

Daxon remained silent, quietly patting her back.

With his boss comforting his sister, Harry stepped forward, drawing Xander and Ivy’s attention. He glanced at the well-fed boy in the corner and a sly smile touched his lips. “The boy looks healthy,” he remarked casually.

Handling families who favored one child over another was easy—use the child as leverage.

“What do you want?” Ivy’s face paled. She scooped Roland into her arms, holding him tight. “If you lay a finger on my son, I’ll never let you get away with it, even if it kills me.”

Xander stood beside her, his face contorted with anger. Roland was their only son, the heir to the family name. Nothing could happen to him.

Harry chuckled. “No, don’t misunderstand. We live in a civilized society—we’re not going to do anything rash.” His next words, however, made Xander and Ivy’s hearts leap. “I just think the boy deserves a better environment to grow up in. It’s a shame he has to live in a place like this.”

What does he mean? Xander and Ivy exchanged a glance. Could it be they’re going to give us some money? It seemed logical. They’d raised Lola for over a decade. Surely, her brother would offer compensation.

Seeing their interest, Harry shifted tactics. “Xander, Ivy, you both work at Gracewater Industrial Zone, right? I have a feeling… if you lose your jobs, I’m not sure little Roland will be rocking those designer sneakers anymore.” He continued in a slow, deliberate tone. “Maybe you’ll even have trouble putting food on the table.” “Who knows?” Harry added.

Ivy’s eyes blazed with fury. “You think you can threaten us and take her without paying a dime?”

She was pulling no punches now. She knew these wealthy people prioritized their public image above all else.

Harry’s smile didn’t falter. “If that’s the path you choose, we’ll press charges for child abuse. You’re looking at a minimum of two years in prison.”

A flicker of fear crossed Ivy’s eyes. She knew exactly how she’d treated Lola. But greed fueled her recklessness. “You think you can scare me? If I hadn’t bought her, that little brat would have died on the streets! I fed her, clothed her, and put up with her for years. If I don’t get six hundred thousand dollars, you’re not taking her anywhere!”

The price had jumped from three hundred thousand to six hundred thousand dollars in a minute.

“And if you don’t pay up, I’ll call the cops myself!” Ivy, realizing she’d underestimated them, nervously glanced at the stone-faced bodyguards. Hugging Roland tightly, she took a step back, fearing violence.

“Go ahead, call them. Who’s scared of you?” A female voice came from the doorway.

Lola wiped her tears and turned. A crowd had gathered, familiar faces from the neighborhood. The woman who spoke was Sophia, the kind neighbor who often gave Lola food.

Outside, whispers buzzed through the crowd.

“I can’t believe it—Lola was bought? I knew something was off. No one treats their real child like that,” an old man said.

“Ivy’s been horrible to that girl, and now she’s demanding money from her brother?” another woman sneered.

“Oh, gross. Her shamelessness knows no bounds,” a woman with a baby commented.