Chapter 1786


    Hertha''s fingers trembled as she was about to dial for the police when a woman''s voice chimed in.


    "Hey, are you guys looking for your kids?"


    Hearing the word "kids," Hertha instantly looked up at the neer - ady who often chatted with her mom over coffee.


    Before Hertha could respond, Kimberly nodded anxiously: "Yes, we''re looking for our kids. Have you seen them?"


    "I was just crossing the street over there and saw two kids who looked a lot like yours, Julian and Helena, hanging out with a man I didn''t recognize. I thought I was seeing things," thedy exined.


    With a strange man?


    Hertha''s heart clenched in fear. She urgently asked, "Where did you see them?"


    "Right by the KFC on the corner." Thedy gestured vaguely.


    KFC!


    Hertha''s mind raced to locate a KFC she often passed on her way to work. She had never been inside but knew exactly where it was.


    She immediately sprinted in that direction.


    "Hertha!" Kimberly called out, then quickly thanked thedy before chasing after Hertha.


    Hertha ran without stopping, her feet barely touching the ground until she reached the KFC. Once inside, her eyes darted frantically around. The ce was crowded, but none of the faces were familiar. Just as panic was about to set in, she spotted a familiar face in a corner.


    A strikingly handsome man with a devilish charm, his eyes sparkled with mischief, and his smile was utterly captivating.


    ric was hard to miss.


    And


    munchkins, happily gnawing on chicken drumsticks and fries, their


    de him, were two little feet swinging joyfully nee


    ith every bite. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    ric, with a roguishly tender smile, leaned in and asked, "Julian, Helena, enjoying your food?"


    "Mhm, yummy," Helena nodded vigorously, her beautiful eyes gleaming with joy as she looked at ric. "Eat up then. And do you love daddy?" ric gently ruffled Helena''s hair.


    "Love daddy!" Helena''s voice was bubbly with happiness, her eyes shining bright with adoration for ric.


    "And what about you, Julian? Do you love daddy?" ric then turned to Julian, who was busy with his chicken.


    Julian nodded, "Love, but daddy, you gotta make mommy like you too, or we can''t stay with you."


    The little boy was wise beyond his years.


    ric''s face lit up with a beaming


    smile as he tousled Julian''s hair, "Of


    course you''ll have to put in a


    good


    W me with your mommy...


    Ouch!"


    His sentence was cut short by a p on the head. Turning around with a grimace, ready to argue, his eyes met Hertha''s furious gaze. ric''s anger melted into a sheepish grin, "Hertha, you''re here..."


    With hands on her hips, Hertha grabbed ric''s ear, her voice filled with righteous fury, "ric, are you out of your mind? Who told you to take the kids without saying anything? Do you have any idea how scared my mom and I were?"


    e