Chapter 264
When he heared the words, Edwin’s dark eyes sparked with intensity. “Where is she?”
“We haven’t pinned down her location yet, but we found a picture of a little girl taken by a reporter
during a dance recital,” came the response.
“Send me the picture, now,” Edwin urged. His voice wasced with impatience.
A notification from WhatsApp buzzed on his phone, and he tapped it open. His eyes were instantly
zing with a mix of shock and recognition.
The birthmark on the girl in the photo was eerily simr to the one his mother bore. It was perfectly
situated on the girl’s beautiful shoulder des.
The photo captured only her silhouette. Her face was obscured, but the girl’s graceful posture was
undeniable – a slender waist, long legs, and the elegant curve of a neck glistening with beads of
sweat.
A satisfied smile yed at the corners of Edwin’s lips.bIf this was indeed his sister, she seemed to
be living a life of grace and poise.
He quickly instructed hispanion to continue the search for the girl. A beacon of hope was now
illuminating their once directionless quest.
Suddenly, Heidi burst into the room. Her entrance was as abrupt as a summer storm. She snatched
the phone from Edwin’s hand, her face a mask of sorrow and reproach. “Edwin, they’re all picking
on me, and you won’t even defend me. Not even grandma takes my side. Doesn’t anyone love me
anymore?”
As she wept, her eyes identally caught a glimpse of the photo on Edwin’s phone. Her heart
skipped a beat. Had her brother already found a clue?
A sh of coldness flickered in her eyes, swiftly veiled by her tears. Pretending to have seen
nothing, she clung to Edwin’s arm, ying the victim.
“Why is it that Ian can ept ra despite her inability to have children, but he rejects me and
humiliates me in front of everyone? I’m so embarrassed.”
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Edwin was unmoved by her wailing. His expression was one of disdain. “Isn’t this all your own
doing? You know exactly what kind of man Ian is. If it weren’t for my and his friendship, do you think
you could have deceived him for three years and still be okay?”
Her argument deted like a punctured balloon. Heidi hung her head in forlorn silence, with tears
streaming down her face.
“Enough. I’ll have someone drive you home. Don’t embarrass me any further,” Edwin said,
unceremoniously dismissing her with a wave of his hand as a driver escorted Heidi away.
The birthday banquet was still underway when Ian, seizing an excuse, took ra and left early.
Throughout the journey, ra pretended to sleep. Her eyes were firmly shut, but the fluttering of her
lashes betrayed her pretense. Ian didn’t call her out on it. His warm palm securely held her small
hand, feeling the chill of her fingertips and the tremble of her heart.
With a tenderness that ached, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and whispered huskily by her ear, “I’m
sorry, ra.”
His neglect had inadvertently caused her to endure such pain, and he couldn’t bear to think of the
burden she carried alone. He had thought his absence during her near-fatal hemorrhage was the
worst blow, but now he realized the depth of her wounds went far deeper.
When he remembered his past harsh words, and the weight she bore in silence, Ian’s eyes
moistened, and his throat was tight with emotion.
His breath, warm and shaky, caressed ra’s ear as he kissed it gently. “ra, why didn’t you tell
me? Why bear this all alone? Do you have any idea how much it breaks my heart to hear this
news?”
A hot tearnded on ra’s cheek, prompting her eyes to fly open. She met Ian’s gaze. His face
was etched with grief. She felt as if a thorn had pricked her heart. Her own tears followed, and her
voice was choked with emotion.
“Ian, I didn’t mean to deceive you. I thought the herbal treatments would help, but the doctor said
there’s been no improvement. She mentioned this isn’t something that can be resolved overnight.”