All Too Late

Samuel felt extremely annoyed.

On his way to the park to find Kathleen, he had been pondering. Does Kathleen really not want to spend the rest of her life with me? It can’t be. She loves me. How could she not want to be with me?

Samuel figured he was overthinking.

After all, as long as he did not mention Christopher’s plan, Kathleen would not know a thing.

Kathleen and Federick went to look for Madeline separately.

When Samuel found her, she was shouting, “Madeline? Madeline?”

Even though she knew Madeline would not respond even if the latter heard her, she still could not help but give it a try.

“Kathleen!” Samuel walked over.

Kathleen was stunned momentarily. “Why are you here?”

Then, she shifted her gaze toward the more than twenty bodyguards standing behind Samuel.

So he’s brought his men here.

Walking over, Kathleen took out her phone. “Please add my WhatsApp. I’ll create a group and send the girl’s photo to the group. Her name is Madeline, and she has autism. She hates the crowd, so you can search in places where there are fewer people. Don’t leave any corner unsearched. Update the group once you’re done searching a particular area so that we can sort it out. Understand?”

The men nodded in response.

“Another thing. Don’t touch her after you guys find her. Just make sure that she is safe, and contact me right away. I will go over to wherever you are,” Kathleen uttered again.

“Yes, Mrs. Macari.” The crowd nodded.

Upon hearing that, Kathleen was stunned momentarily.

Lowering her head, she created the group chat on WhatsApp and invited everyone into it, including Federick.

“Invite me in too,” Samuel said.

Kathleen rolled her eyes at him before inviting him in.

Kathleen texted: @Federick Please send Madeline’s photo here and tell everyone what she is wearing today to make it easier for everyone to find her.

Federick did not expect Kathleen would summon so many people.

Without hesitation, he sent the photo in the group chat.

He then texted: Madeline is wearing a red dress with white bottoms, along with a pair of red leather shoes today. Her hair is tied into a ponytail, and she’s holding a doll in her arms.

After that, he sent a photo of the doll as well.

Kathleen texted: All right, everyone. Let’s go find her separately.

After receiving the information, everyone started the search immediately.

again: Thanks,

searching as

“Do you want to say

he want to say that I’m being

to find her.” Samuel’s tone

“Yes.” Kathleen nodded.

we looking around

is within this area,” Kathleen

of activities, she should have been to more places,

you mean we

be accompanied by paranoia.” Samuel stared at her. “They usually have certain preferences

brows. “Let

day is today?”

“Sunday,” Kathleen replied.

to be her schedule for today?” Samuel

was supposed to go to the charity home,” Kathleen answered, “but because Federick had something

stared at her curtly. “I just said that she has paranoia. What do

along the road to the charity

tightened his grip

drove while Kathleen sat in the passenger seat, looking out the car window for

fell gradually, and it became more difficult to search for Madeline even with

worry that Madeline might have gotten

on a second.” Suddenly,

immediately stepped on

approached an old lady. “Where did you get this doll

the river behind,” the

“Sell us this doll, and tell us the specific spot you

lady’s eyes lit up instantly.

grabbed her

a river and pointed at

thanking the old lady,

on the direction, we should head backward

her

and it was getting dark. She wanted to walk home,

felt that Samuel’s words made

at all for he was

doll, they walked in the

sky had turned darker by then, and the

his phone as a torchlight with

Kathleen’s hand was cold.

which gave

a long while, they arrived at a

were several large cement

seemed to have seen something as the light from the

pointed with