[I hope Mrs. Carter can bless us.]
Accompanying the message was a photo: a man and a woman entering a hotel together.
Though the image was blurry, Alessia recognized Dominic Carter immediately.
A faint smile graced Alessia's lips.
Three years ago, she had lost her memory, and a man claiming to be her grandfather had arranged her marriage to Dominic, leaving behind a bank card before disappearing.
With nowhere else to turn and her memory gone, she had simply gone through with the marriage.
Now it seemed she had inadvertently stood in the way of Dominic's feelings, which explained his apparent aversion to her.
As she hovered her finger over the call button, Bianca-her sister-in-law-came out of nowhere with a sinister smile.
"You've been married for three years, Alessia. When will you bless the Carter family with a child?" Bianca Carter's voice held a sharp edge. "But... uh, you are fat and ugly. My brother doesn't even fancy you, and he probably hasn't even touched you, right?"
Alessia winced at the blunt question, knowing there was truth in Bianca's words. Despite carrying the title of Mrs. Carter, she hadn't fulfilled its expectations. Even updates on her husband's whereabouts came through hearsay.
She pressed her lips together, her gaze fixed on the message on her phone.
Alessia chuckled softly.
Since their lives were so intertwined, she might as well lend fate a helping hand.
Half an hour later, Alessia had drafted a divorce agreement and made her way to the Ritz Hotel.
She barely had time to knock before the door swung open, and she was pulled inside by a pair of eager hands.
In the dim light, she met Dominic's fiery gaze.
Alessia sensed something amiss and attempted to pull away, but he held her firmly.
"Trying to escape? You encouraged grandma to have someone bring me pie-wasn't that your plan?"Dominic's voice was laden with accusation.
Alessia's heart sank as she realized his misunderstanding. Before she could explain, Dominic's lips descended upon hers.
...
Early morning.
Alessia woke up, yesterday's memories flooding back.
Thinking of Dominic's misunderstanding, she felt somewhat helpless.
She had come to discuss divorce, but now things had turned out like this.
Alessia glanced at the man still sleeping, her eyes slightly narrowed, her lips tightly pursed. His usually sharp facial features seemed softened.
Decision made, Alessia got up, put down the divorce agreement, paused, rummaged through her pockets, and finally pulled out a coin.
She pressed the coin onto the divorce agreement and added a note: "You're welcome!"
The next day.
Carter's Group, CEO's Office.
An assistant handed a document to Dominic. "Sir, this was found in the hotel suite."
A divorce agreement?
Dominic took it, his gaze darkening. He didn't believe Alessia would be willing to divorce.
Wasn't this what she wanted? Monthly allowances in the millions, quarterly luxury items, and clothes?
It was just a game of cat and mouse, and she'd probably come back in a few days.
At that moment, the assistant spoke again, "Old Madam called, saying Mrs. Carter left this morning, wearing clothes from three years ago when she first came to the Carter family. She didn't take her bank card or phone."
"..."
"I checked the bank card's transactions, and the money inside hasn't been touched."
How could this be?!
Dominic fell silent, his deep gaze changing.
Seeing Dominic's expression, the assistant plucked up the courage and handed over the note and coin. "There's also these, left by Mrs. Carter."
Leaving things for him?
It was just a pretense.
Dominic sneered, but when he saw the elegant handwriting on the note, a coldness appeared on his face.
"Alessia La Rosa!"
What did she take him for?
One cent?!
Was he only worth one cent?
"Find her! Even if you have to turn the entire city upside down, find her!" Dominic clenched the coin, his face dark.
...
Five years later.
Toronto Pearson International Airport.
A little girl in a pink princess dress, as cute as a doll, sat on a suitcase, pushed out by another little girl in the same princess dress.
Alessia followed behind, revealing a porcelain-smooth face.
She wore a simple white shirt, jeans, and tied her hair into a neat ponytail. With delicate and beautiful features, she exuded a cold temperament.
Alessia narrowed her eyes, looking at the city she had been away from for so long.
Five years had passed, and she had finally returned.
"Mommy, is this the city where you were born and raised? It's so beautiful, just like you! Even the air smells sweet!" Eleanor blinked her clear eyes, full of curiosity about everything around her. Her features were eight points similar to Alessia's, especially her eyes.
"Yeah!" Alessia replied, opening her phone to contact the car that was coming to pick them up.
"Mommy, where are we going now? Are we going to find Daddy?" Eleanor tilted her head, continuing to ask curiously.
"No, your daddy went to outer space to fight monsters and won't be back for a hundred years!" Alessia casually replied.
Before Eleanor could express her opinion, Chris, who was pushing the suitcase, sighed helplessly, "Mommy, we're five years old now, not three!"
The implication was that this lie needed to be upgraded.
Alessia was speechless.
Sometimes, it wasn't a good thing for children to be too smart!
"Oh Mommy, one lie leads to countless more lies. Even if Daddy is a bit shorter, a bit fatter, a bit uglier, and not presentable enough, his existence can't be erased!" Christian continued lecturing like a little adult, opening his small arms and considerately picking up Eleanor from the suitcase.
On the other side, Chris's remarks successfully caught Dominic's attention.
Dominic emerged from the VIP channel and heard Christian's voice.
Indeed, girls were livelier. Unlike Christopher, who might not say three words in a day.
He looked towards the voice, only seeing the back of the little girl, unable to see her face, but he saw another little girl wearing the same princess dress as her.
The girl's face was cute and lovely, especially her big blue eyes, which sparkled and were exceptionally lively.
They must be identical twins, both equally adorable.
Dominic thought, his gaze falling on the mother of the little girls.
She was an excessively beautiful woman!
Alessia seemed to feel someone staring at her, looked up, and met a pair of deep and familiar eyes.
It was him!
Dominic Carter!
What a small world.
Alessia felt a moment of guilt, but soon recovered.
She had lost weight long ago, and Dominic wouldn't recognize her at all.
Five years ago.
After leaving the Carter family, she had intended to look for her grandfather.
She didn't expect Dominic to be searching for her all over the city, and there was even another group of people looking for her.
She gave birth prematurely in a storm and managed to get to the hospital and gave birth to three children at the risk of her life.
But those people were not planning to let her go!
She tried her best, but in the end, she lost her first child.
After that, she was depressed for a long time and lost a lot of weight. To ensure the safety of her remaining two children and avoid those people, she had to leave temporarily.
But after five years, she still couldn't let go of her firstborn.
So, she resolutely decided to return to the country.
Her thoughts gathered, and Alessia stared fiercely.
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she hugged Christian tightly.
She couldn't let Dominic see Christian's face. After all, Christian's face was like a miniature version of Dominic!
***
Dominic was inexplicably stared at, furrowing his brows slightly.
"Where's Chris?"
"He's already been picked up from the old house and taken to Forest Hill!" The assistant responsed.
Dominic nodded and walked away with long strides. "Let's go."
However, as he passed by Alessia and her daughters, he subconsciously glanced sideways.
"Wow, that uncle just now had such a handsome back. I think he can be our dad!" Eleanor exaggeratedly looked at Dominic's back.
"Daddy!" Christian echoed.
Alessia was shocked and quickly covered Christian's mouth, turning around and quickly walking away in another direction.
Dominic, who was sitting in the car, turned his head and happened to see Alessia holding Christian and Eleanor leaving. He squinted his eyes.
Did someone just call him daddy?
Dominic frowned slightly, instructing the driver to drive.
It wasn't until they left the airport that Alessia finally let go of Christian.
"Mommy, be gentle, my wig is about to fall off!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the wig on Christian's head fell to the ground.
Christian immediately transformed from a cute little girl into a dazzling little boy.
Alessia rubbed her forehead, looking at Christian helplessly.
When she gave birth, she had two boys and one girl.
However, the eldest son was lost, leaving only the second son Christian, and the youngest daughter. Eleanor
Christian was extremely fond of his sister and accepted wearing girls' clothes unconditionally to cater to Eleanor's taste. He even came up with reasons confidently.
He argued that since they were twins, although they didn't look the same, they had to wear the same clothes!
Children's happiness was the most important thing, and since they were still young, Alessia just let them be.
Before returning to the country, Alessia had already purchased a house in Forest Hill.
At 7 o'clock in the evening.
Alessia settled down with her two children in Forest Hill.
After unpacking, she walked to Eleanor's room with medicine.
She pushed open the door and saw her daughter lying obediently on the bed: her pink pajamas covering her small head, her little bottom raised, her body curled up, her eyes big and bright.
"Mommy, is it time to take the medicine?" Seeing Alessia come in with medicine, Eleanor stuck to her like a little cat.
The little one took the medicine, her eyebrows furrowing, but she still obediently drank the whole cup.
Alessia watched her stick out her little tongue, her big bright eyes slightly curved, and her heart melted.
She skillfully handed her a piece of candy.
The porcelain-smooth face of the little one instantly relaxed, and she kissed Alessia on the cheek, "Thank you, Mommy!"
Alessia's heart softened into a puddle as she rubbed her little head.
When the three children were born, Eleanor's body was the weakest, and she even had fetal poison.
Later, Alessia discovered that this fetal poison had actually been passed on from her.
Over the years, she had prepared many medicines to help the little one, but only temporarily stabilized her condition.
This was also why Christian was so protective of her sister, afraid that one day, her sister would disappear suddenly.
After drinking the medicine, Eleanor jumped off the bed and went to pick up the Barbie doll placed by the window. When she raised her head, her big blue eyes lit up.
The little one pointed to the opposite room, turning back with surprise, "Mommy, look, Chris is in the opposite room!"
Alessia frowned and got up, walking to the window, following Eleanor's finger.
The branches of the American sycamore trees extended to the windowsill of the opposite room, where there was no light on, making it impossible to see the interior clearly. However, the curtains were not drawn, allowing the moonlight to filter through.
Apart from this, there was nothing else, and the supposed Chris didn't seem to exist at all!
"Hey, where's Chris? Why isn't he here?" Eleanor asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Mommy, what are you guys looking at?" Christian walked in with short legs and saw Mommy and his sister looking out the window.
Alessia looked at the suddenly appearing Christian, feeling relieved instantly.
"Christian, we thought you snuck out again," Alessia said with a mix of concern and relief.
Toronto wasn't like being abroad. In Toronto, there was Dominic!
Although Forest Hill was far from the Carter family's old house, and Dominic was unlikely to appear here, Alessia still subconsciously worried.
Fortunately, Christian didn't run away.
It must have been too dark outside, and Eleanor must have seen it wrong. Alessia dismissed the thought and casually closed the curtains.
In the opposite room, a small figure was hiding behind the curtain. A pair of eyes as black as obsidian dimmed when they saw the curtains across the room being closed.
The villa opposite was usually vacant, and he didn't have the habit of drawing the curtains.
Today, however, he unexpectedly found someone living there. He was intending to draw the curtains, but he couldn't help but be attracted-He had never seen such a cute and obedient girl before, especially the girl's mommy, who was as beautiful and gentle as he imagined!
If only mommy could pat his head, that would be great!
Unable to resist his inner desire, he left the window and took out a crumpled photo from under his pillow, holding it carefully in his hands.
By the moonlight, the figure in the photo could vaguely be seen. It was none other than the plump Alessia from five years ago!
"Master..."
Suddenly, the voice of a servant came from downstairs, followed by the sound of knocking on the door.
Christopher immediately hid the photo back under the pillow.
Opening the door, Dominic stood at the doorway.
"Daddy!" Christopher called out with a cold little face.
"Come downstairs for dinner!" Dominic nodded expressionlessly.
Their faces were like they were carved from the same mold, with identical expressions.
At the dining table, Dominic wore a well-tailored black suit, paired with high-quality handmade black leather shoes. His long legs crossed elegantly, exuding a sense of nobility with every movement.
Silent during meals and silent when resting; this was the rule of the Carter family.
Only after finishing his meal did Dominic look at Christopher. "I was in a hurry on this trip and didn't bring you a gift. What do you want?"
Christopher's obsidian-like eyes brightened. Thinking of the mommy of the little girl in the opposite room, he clenched his little fists and earnestly said three words, "To see Mommy!"
"No!" When Dominic heard the word 'Mommy,' Alessia's face flashed in his mind, and a trace of disdain appeared in his eyes. He spoke solemnly, "I've said it before, don't mention this word!"
Christopher fell silent, his little face tense as he went upstairs and hid at the staircase landing, listening to the movement downstairs.
However, after waiting for a long time, he didn't see Dominic come upstairs. The disappointment on his small face became even more apparent.
At this moment, he heard Dominic downstairs answering a phone call, followed by the sound of the door opening.
Christopher trotted to the balcony and indeed saw Dominic's car driving out of the garage.
A touch of desolation flashed in Christopher's eyes. Sure enough, his father was angry, and his father would never coax him.
If only mommy were here!
He wanted to find mommy!
On the other side, Alessia had just walked out of Eleanor's room when her phone vibrated with an anonymous email.
[Miss La Rosa, do you want to know the whereabouts of your son? Come to the Bar Chef.]
Alessia squinted her eyes.
She had received such emails before.
The reason she returned to the country this time was because a week ago, she received an email claiming to know the whereabouts of her firstborn.
She checked the IP address, and the IP address of the email was in the country.
Unexpectedly, just after returning to the country, such an email came again.
This time, the address for a meeting was directly set, showing that the other party was well aware of her itinerary.
Except for her assistant Sophie, no one knew about her return to the country. Who could this person be?
Alessia's eyes turned cold. Regardless of who the other party was, she had to go to the Bar Chef.
...
Queen West neighborhood, Bar Chef.
Approaching midnight, the nightlife here is just beginning.
Alessia still wore the simple outfit from daytime, just adding a black coat on top.
Her skin was pale, her features deep and delicate. The black color accentuated all her facial features perfectly, like a dark elf. As soon as she appeared, she attracted many curious gazes.
"A whiskey, please!"
Alessia went straight to the bar, ordered a drink, and sat down at the most conspicuous spot.
She lowered her brows, hiding her anxious expression.
If someone had invited her to meet, they would surely give a signal.
"Miss, are you all alone?"
As soon as Alessia sat down, a chubby man walked over, his gaze boldly roaming over her, making her feel nauseated.
It was obvious this man was here for leisure, not to send emails.
Alessia coldly uttered two words, "No time!"
The man hesitated for a moment, not expecting to be rejected so quickly. Unwilling to give up, he showed off the expensive watch on his wrist. "Miss, don't be in such a hurry to refuse. Let's chat, maybe then you'll have time."
Alessia lazily swirled the drink in her hand, impatiently saying, "Not interested!"
"You're just here to hook someone, but pretending otherwise!" Rejected again without mercy, the man obviously couldn't bear losing face, spat out in anger before leaving.
Alessia didn't care. Right now, she just wanted to know where her firstborn was.
The priority was to find the person who sent the email.
She sat for a while, several people came to chat up, but unfortunately, none of them were the person she was waiting for.
Alessia took a sip of her drink, her gaze scanning the bar downstairs with disappointment, then shifting to the second floor area.
In the VIP booth on the second floor, through the bright glass, a man in a wine-red suit was leisurely appraising Alessia.
"Dom, guess who this woman will leave with tonight?"
Beside the man, Dominic leaned back in his chair, his gaze coldly fixed on Alessia downstairs.
He remembered this woman! He had just met her at the airport during the day, never expecting to encounter her at the bar at night.
This woman actually left her two children behind in the middle of the night to come to the bar for fun?
A hint of disgust flashed in Dominic's eyes. He raised his glass, took a sip, and coldly uttered a word, "Boring!"
"How can it be boring? Everyone likes beauties, but we know, you only like Miss Fraser!" Benjamin Dupont joked.
Growing up together, he naturally knew Dominic's strict self-discipline, never indulging in women, living a life akin to an old cadre.
If it weren't for finally getting news about the psychologist Riley Sinclair, he wouldn't have appeared at Bar Chef tonight.
This Riley was also strange. She had kept a low profile since becoming famous, and eight years ago, she suddenly disappeared without a trace.
It wasn't until recently that her whereabouts resurfaced. They heard she had been looking for someone all along!
The music stopped.
The men and women twisting on the dance floor all dispersed. Alessia picked up her drink and followed the scattered crowd upstairs.
Compared to the noisy first floor, the second floor was much quieter and more chic, with a full glass decoration style that allowed the entire first floor to be seen from above.
Alessia walked around the second floor and soon saw a familiar figure in the middle of the crowd.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, the man's usually steady gaze showed a hint of confusion. His white shirt collar was slightly open, legs crossed, exuding a fatal laziness mixed with dominance. Even among the crowd of handsome men, he was exceptionally eye-catching.
Why is he here?
Could it be that Dominic is the one who sent the email!
Alessia tightened her grip on the glass.
Quickly, she dismissed the thought.
If Dominic was the one who sent the email, he had the opportunity to cause trouble for her at the airport, or it was just a coincidence.
However, if that's the case, then who in this bar is the one who sent the email?
Alessia furrowed her brows, then heard her phone vibrating again.
Another anonymous email arrived, accompanied by a photo taken just now when she was sitting at the bar.
[Miss La Rosa, you really keep your promises!]
This person is in the bar!
A feeling of being watched suddenly arose, Alessia felt uncomfortable, and she raised her head to look around.
At this moment, it seemed like the person on the other end of the phone had read her mind.
With a buzz, her phone vibrated again, and another email came.
[Don't bother looking, I'm not in the bar. To show my sincerity, turn left when you leave, there's a surprise in the third trash can.]
The third trash can?
Alessia remembered the scene outside the bar when she arrived. She turned and walked downstairs, quickly operating her phone to take a screenshot of the IP address from the email and sending it to someone named M on her Whatsapp, along with a message:
[Find the exact address of this IP and lock it!]
Upstairs, in the booth.
Benjamin let out a long breath as he watched Alessia leave without hesitation. He leaned back on the sofa, a smile on his lips, and looked at Dominic, saying, "That woman just kept staring at you. I thought she was interested in you"
Dominic frowned, recalling the woman's unabashed gaze, feeling annoyed.
Benjamin continued his analysis, "But I thought about it, and I think there's a possibility. Perhaps she came here tonight just for you, making a high-profile appearance to attract your attention, then braking at the door, arousing your interest. Trust me, it won't be long before she appears in front of you!"
Benjamin concluded, throwing a flirtatious glance at him.
Dominic hesitated, but before he could speak, his phone rang.
It was from his residence!
Dominic answered, hearing the anxious voice of the maid on the other end. "Sir, Young Master has run away from home!"
Run away from home?
Dominic pursed his lips, his facial lines tightening.
Christopher had always been stubborn since he was a child, and although he had quarreled with him before, this was the first time he had run away from home.
Could it be that he was too strict?
Dominic couldn't help but doubt himself, but then he thought of Alessia, and his face darkened.
That woman had insulted him with a coin and then heartlessly abandoned their son. He had wanted to strangle her, so how could he allow Christopher to mention her again and again.
Dominic pursed his lips, greeted Benjamin, and stood up, leaving with his suit jacket.
Compared to the lively bar, outside was much colder.
Under the tree at the door, there was only one drunken man squatting on the ground, vomiting.
Following the instructions on her phone, Alessia found the third trash can ten minutes later.
Alessia didn't find the suspect, so she frowned and opened the trash can.
As soon as it opened, a strong smell of decay rushed out, followed by a yellow leather bag catching her eye. The leather was clean and neatly placed, clearly contrasting with the dirty environment.
She took out the leather bag, and as soon as she opened it, several photos appeared, accompanied by a note:
[Compilation of photos of abandoned infants lost by Toronto Hospital within five years. Miss La Rosa, can you guess which one is your son's photo?]
Alessia pursed her lips, carefully pulled out the photos, and identified them one by one under the street light.
Newborn babies all looked somewhat similar, and Alessia couldn't recognize which one was hers.
She felt like she had been played.
Just then, her phone rang.
As soon as she answered, a young and energetic voice came from the other end, "Boss, did you offend someone? The IP address is nearby you. I was about to lock it, and it got destroyed."
Even the tenth-ranked hacker in the world couldn't lock an IP address.
Alessia looked at the distant twinkling lights of the high-rise buildings, took a deep breath, and dispelled the exhaustion in her heart.
She replied, "Maybe!"
"Boss, what do you mean 'maybe'? " the voice on the other end asked in shock.
Alessia smiled bitterly. She had lost her memory long ago, who knew if she had offended anyone in the past?
For so many years, she hadn't found her grandfather who had gone abroad. Strange things kept happening one after another since she returned to the country.
Perhaps the person who sent the email was related to the time she left the Carter family five years ago, being chased after.
If these people found her, then there must be something they wanted on her. She wouldn't worry about them not appearing actively in the future.
Alessia stopped dwelling on it, coldly said, "keep tracking. I'm hanging up."
She put her phone back in her pocket, bought a bottle of water at the supermarket, and as soon as she came out, she found herself being followed.
Alessia took a few quick steps, weaving through the crowd deliberately in circles.
Wearing a black hoodie and a child's mask, Christopher rushed over, but had already lost track of Alessia.
Christopher blinked in confusion. The figure he saw just now, with just one glance, he recognized it as the neighbor aunt who had recently moved into the opposite house. Almost instinctively, he followed her.
He hadn't expected the neighbor aunt to walk so fast!
Forget it!
Christopher drooped his little head, feeling inexplicably disappointed, and decided to take a car to continue to the old house.
He wanted to ask Grandma about Mommy's whereabouts.
As soon as he took a step forward, he realized that his little hat had been grabbed from behind.
Then his body was lifted off the ground by someone.
It was the neighbor aunt!
Christopher's black grape-like eyes brightened.
"Christian, didn't you promise to stay at home and accompany your sister? Why did you come out again?" Alessia playfully flicked Christopher's forehead in punishment.
Christopher blinked silently.
Christian?
Stay at home with his sister?
Did the neighbor aunt mistake him for her son?
Right, he hadn't taken off his mask.
It must be because the neighbor aunt's son also wore the same clothes as him!
He wanted to say to the aunt, "You've got the wrong person," but he also felt that the neighbor aunt smelled really good.
Just like Mommy's scent in his imagination.
He couldn't bear to let go!
"Why aren't you speaking? Little guy, don't tell me you're still angry?" Alessia smiled and sighed helplessly, rubbing Christopher's little head affectionately before putting him down.
Christopher listened to Alessia's words anxiously, only nodding silently.
In his mind, he was still savoring the feeling when the neighbor aunt touched his head-warm, like sunshine on his body, so comfortable.