Chapter 1238 - 1178: Searching

Nightfall descended, engulfing the entire Hotel in lockdown.

The summer camp was also forced to cancel, even the police became involved. Adrian Desmond sealed off every exit of the Hotel and searched exhaustively but failed to find Sienna Johnson.

Adrian Desmond hadn’t eaten a grain of rice, not a bite of food, all day.

Felicity’s mom continued to help take care of Sheehan and Hugo; as night fell, Pauline Briggs received the news and came with Samara.

"Adrian, what’s exactly going on?" Pauline Briggs crossed the police barricade and approached a weary-faced Adrian Desmond.

"Mom, you’re here."

Pauline Briggs was filled with worry, "Where are Sienna and Claire? They were just fine, how could they have vanished?"

If she knew this would happen, she wouldn’t have let them join the summer camp.

"I can’t say for sure right now. Please take care of Sheehan and the others. Hugo must be hungry too," Adrian said with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

Pauline Briggs said, "I’ve already called your grandpa; your Uncle will be here soon. Rest assured, everything will be fine."

"Mm." Nonetheless, Adrian Desmond trusted no one with the search.

After speaking, Pauline turned around and discreetly wiped away tears, "Samara, come, let’s see how Curly and the others are doing."

Samara glanced at Adrian, full of worry but not knowing how to comfort him.

"Mm." Samara followed her mother to care for the children, as that was all she could do now to support her sister and brother-in-law.

...

Curly and Hugo started crying upon seeing their grandmother.

"Grandma, Aunt, my mom and sister have gone missing..." Curly clung to Pauline Briggs’ waist, crying, while Samara cried alongside her.

Unusually, this time Pauline Briggs didn’t join in crying; her eyes simply reddened.

With her daughter missing and her granddaughter gone, Pauline looked at the three children and strove to be strong.

Melly held Hugo, who pouted with tear-stained cheeks.

Pauline asked, "Did he have any milk?"

Melly replied, "Hugo is used to breastfeeding and won’t accept formula; I gave him some fruit juice."

Pauline took Hugo, comforting him, "Hugo, you miss mommy, don’t you?"

Hugo reacted to the word "mommy", instinctively looking about after hearing his grandmother call "mommy" and burst into loud cries upon not seeing familiar faces.

Hugo was alright during daylight but when nighttime came, it was essential for Sienna to soothe him to sleep. Now, it’s his bedtime, yet mom and sister are missing.

Hugo cried loudly, thinking perhaps it would draw his mother near.

"Hugo, be good, Mommy will be back soon."

Pauline knew she couldn’t be of help, and along with her daughter, took Curly and the others to their Hotel room for rest.

Melly appeared grave, and after Sally woke up, she started looking for Claire Desmond, blaming herself over losing Claire.

Melly was worried about both Sienna Johnson and little Claire; the child was so small, how could she endure this?

Melly had the Hotel prepare dinner for everyone, but none of the adults had any appetite.

"...Curly, look Sheehan is hungry, could you help Sheehan eat a little?" Melly coaxed.

Curly continued sobbing, glanced at the always quiet Sheehan, held his hand, sat at the table, and fed him.

"Sheehan, it’s time to eat."

Sheehan didn’t eat, asking, "Mom...Cat?"

Cat referred to Claire.

Because Claire was born skinny and small like a kitten, Sheehan always called Claire ’Cat’ and Hugo ’Pig’.

"Mom took Claire out to play. Be good and eat well, Mom will be back."

Curly fed Sheehan, who was hungry, and obediently ate as Curly fed him bite by bite.

Hugo remained restless, crying and hard to calm; as Samara was thoughtful, she brought over a can of formula, made formula for Hugo, and the little one, very hungry, finally started to eat.

"Little rascal, eat slowly." Pauline watched her grandson gulping down milk, her heart silently weeping.

After an exhausting day, the children were also worn out. Pauline soothed the kids to sleep, had the bodyguards and Melly keep watch, then headed downstairs to find Adrian Desmond, to inquire about the situation.

Upon reaching downstairs, she heard some women gossiping.

"...See, even rich people aren’t above this; haven’t they been targeted?" Albert’s mom remarked with schadenfreude.

"..."

"That Sienna Johnson is so pretty. Do you think the kidnappers, aside from wanting money, might..."

"Albert’s mom, you shouldn’t speak nonsense."

Albert’s mom raised her voice, "Who’s speaking nonsense? Haven’t you watched the news? Some time ago Olkgan’s real estate tycoon’s daughter, wasn’t she kidnapped, raped, and murdered? Oh dear, it was so tragic."

That rich girl’s murder video was even posted online; the tycoon was furious to the point of fainting."

Pauline felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this, as the tears she’d held back began streaming down.

Her daughter finally prevailed through suffering, only to face such a misfortune.

"Enough already..." The women gossiping with Albert’s mom nudged her arm upon seeing Pauline and silently walked away.

Pauline entered the lobby where Adrian had been standing; Adrian was nowhere to be found.

was there, and she walked over, asking, "15, where’s Adrian?"

"Sixth Master went back to his room."

Hearing this, Pauline became a bit upset, "What’s he doing back in the room? Sienna and Claire are missing now!"

"Sixth Master has been constantly searching for Madam."

With 15’s words, Pauline’s expression softened slightly.

"Pauline..." Annan Briggs rushing in, with Brother Abram Briggs trailing behind.

Pauline saw her two brothers and burst into tears, "Big Brother, Second Brother, Sienna and Claire may have been kidnapped... wheeze wheeze..."

"Don’t worry, on the way here, I’ve already asked friends at the Police Department to help with the search..."

Abram Briggs also soothed, "Pauline, everyone is looking, don’t worry, they will be found."

Thinking about what those two women said earlier, Pauline couldn’t feel at ease.

"Where’s Adrian?"

"Just mentioned he went back to the room."

"You go take care of Curly and them. We’ll find Adrian." Annan Briggs directed.

"Alright, big brother."

Annan Briggs spotted some friends from the police forces and went to greet them, "...Apologies for the trouble, this time, please put in extra effort. Once found, I’ll personally express my gratitude."

"No trouble at all, it’s our duty."

Annan Briggs said, "Our family’s patriarch is of advanced age; finding the little darling grandchild missing spiked his blood pressure. Please do try your best."

The team had already swept the hotel thoroughly without locating anyone, yet Adrian insisted on continuing the search. They were long since impatient.

Upon Annan Briggs’ words, they took note of the Briggs Family’s standing, decided to search once more, aiming not to fail because it would lay no blame on them.