Chapter 1785


    "Back off, buddy. Sooner orter, you''ll end up wrapped around somedy''s finger," ric teased, shoving him lightly to deflect the ribbing.


    He made his way to the dining table, aiming to soothe any tension with his grandparents. Luckily, they hadn''t brought up anything about kids this time. Otherwise, he was pretty sure Hertha would''ve knocked his teeth out right then and there.


    Dinner was a quiet affair for Remington and Beatrice, too. Both seemed lost in their own worlds, barely touching their food.


    After the meal, Ethan took on the duty of driving Remington and Beatrice home, while ric trudged back to his apartment, head full of thoughts.


    He kept going over the advice Remington had shared with him at dinner. To win Hertha''s heart, he needed to be someone her kids couldn''t live without.


    A light bulb went off in ric''s head. That was it! He finally had a clue!


    The old saying was true: there''s no substitute for experience!


    The next afternoon.


    Hertha was dozing off at her desk when her phone suddenly buzzed to life, waking her up. Squinting, she saw it was a call from her mom. Wiping the drool off her chin, she quickly answered, "Hello?"


    "Hertha, the kids are gone!" Kimberly''s voice tore through the phone, panic-stricken.


    Hertha''s brain buzzed. "What did you say?"


    Kimberly, trembling with fear, replied, "I was watching the kids y on the slide downstairs. I got distracted chatting with Mrs. Wilson from the next building over for just a moment, and when I looked back, they were gone! I''ve searched the entireplex, but I can''t find them anywhere!"This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing her mother''s ount, Hertha felt dizzy, her blood running cold with shock.


    The moment she heard the kids were missing, it felt like the sky had fallen.


    But she couldn''t afford to panic. Her mother was calling her for a decision, and if she lost it, all hell would break loose.


    Trying to keep herposure,


    Hertha said, "Mom, try to stay calm.


    Keep looking around theplex, and ask the security to check the CCTV footage. I''m on my way back now."


    "Alright, I''ll go to the security booth and ask them to check the footage," Kimberly said hurriedly, hanging up to rush to the security booth.


    Hertha bolted from herpany,


    barely making it a few steps before her manager stepped in her way.


    "Hertha, it''s not time to cloo War


    out yet.


    Thinking of leaving early?"


    Hertha looked up, her eyes wide and brimming with tears, her desperation palpable as she shoved past her manager. "Move! I''ll deal with the consequencester!"


    With that, she raced off like a shot.


    Arriving at theplex in record time, Hertha saw Kimberly still frantically calling out for Julian and Helena, panic written all over her face. Hertha rushed over, grabbing her mother''s arm. "Mom, any luck?"


    Turning to see her daughter, Kimberly''s face crumbled, tears streaming down as her hands shook. "No, nothing. We''ve checked all the security footage, but there''s no sign of where they might have gone..."


    Hertha felt numb, her mind a void. The thought of her children being lost was unimaginable.


    Trembling, she pulled out her phone, muttering, "I''ll call the police. They''ll help us find them..."