Category: Taking Twins Abroad After Divorce Novel (Amanda and Miles Franklin novel)

Seeing how restless their mother looked, Alvin and Elliot asked deliberately, “Who’s Miles, Mommy? Why are we hiding from him?”
Amanda slowly returned to her senses and stroked their heads, smiling as if everything was fine. “He’s no one important. I just have a bit of a personal grudge against him. I want you both to hide if you ever hear his name, okay?”
The two boys nodded. “Okay, Mommy.”
After Amanda looked away, they glanced at each other curiously.
What could’ve happened between Mommy and Daddy? It all seems like a huge misunderstanding.
As Amanda continued to ponder over what could be happening on Flora’s side, the boys spoke again.
“Mommy, we left in such a rush back there. If that guy becomes suspicious, he might check the surveillance cameras and find us easily,” Alvin reminded.
The woman tensed up instantly. “Oh, God. I totally forgot! What do I do?”
I was so focused on running away that I forgot about the cameras! Miles might already be here.
I can’t stay here. I have to take the kids home right now.
Seeing the way their mother reacted made the boys turn away to conceal their smiles, and they only consoled her after they had suppressed the smiles on their lips.

“Don’t worry, Mommy. I’ll handle this.”
Elliot took his laptop and began tapping away on the keyboard.
It only took a while for him to hack into the restaurant’s surveillance cameras and wipe out every footage of them.
“I’m done!”
After deleting all the footage, the boy glanced up at his mother with twinkling eyes, eagerly waiting for her to praise him.
Heaving a long sigh of relief, Amanda pulled the two children into an embrace. “Thank goodness I have you. You’ve just saved me!”
Aware that she was still nervous, the boys let her hold them a little longer.
“Are we leaving now, Mommy? Or should we wait for Aunt Flora to come outside?” asked Alvin after Amanda had let go.
Having calmed down, the woman gazed at the entrance of the empty parking lot. “Let’s wait a little longer.”
The boys nodded in response.
Back inside the restaurant, failing to force a confession out of Flora, Miles could only quash the hostility that surged within him.
“Pardon my rudeness. Thank you for helping me find my daughter. Well, then, we’ll be off now. Enjoy your meal with your friends,” he stated coldly.
Then, he turned to the little girl. “Come, Lina.”
With a reluctant pout, Selina waved at Flora politely before walking toward her father.
Miles arched his brow slightly but said nothing more, leaving with the little girl and his group of subordinates.
Upon walking out of the building, he tried to carry Selina into the car, but the child avoided him with a huff.
Seeing that, Walter hurriedly stepped in and did the job.
The car began to move.
Seated at the back, Miles reached out to his daughter and placed her on his lap.
With nowhere else to run, Selina could only let herself be carried like a doll, although she continued her silent tantrum and refused to look at the man.
“Tell me, Lina, was there another lady apart from the one from just now?” the man asked gently.
The little girl glanced at him and grew more infuriated at the thought of that pretty lady having left her because of him.
Seeing her scowl deepen, Miles pinched her cheek in amusement. “I’m not even mad at you for running away from home, but you’re here getting all mad at me? Don’t you know how worried I was? Will you tell me why you ran away?”
Yet, the child shoved his hand away and turned her head to one side again, ignoring him.
Looks like she’s really upset.
The man pursed his lips in frustration, feeling at a loss as to what to do. “You don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to, but promise me that you won’t run away from home again.”
He then turned to Walter, who was seated in front. “Get the restaurant’s surveillance cameras.”
He clearly hasn’t given up.
“Yes, Mr. Franklin,” Walter responded helplessly.

There were now only two people inside the room.
Miles scanned his surroundings before his gaze fell on his daughter.
The little girl was still upset by Amanda’s sudden departure, so upon seeing her father, not only was she completely unafraid, but she even turned away with a huff.
A faint scowl appeared on Miles’ face.
Well aware that Selina was just as enigmatic and difficult to handle as her father was, this was a job for Miles’ assistant, Walter.
“Are you okay, Ms. Selina?”
The little girl merely glanced at him before furiously turning away once more.
Walter observed her. Noticing that she was safe and sound, he sighed with relief and turned to report to his boss.
With narrowed eyes, Miles turned to the woman beside his daughter.
Flora’s chest tightened as she met his gaze, and she secretly squeezed her own hands to compose herself.
“Where’s Amanda?”
Miles’ expression darkened as he took a good look at Flora’s face.
He could actually tell it was her?
Flora fretted internally while at the same time feeling relieved that her best friend had left in time.

This guy’s energy is so unbearable! I feel like I could suffocate.
Who knows what might happen if Amanda were still here?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! Who are you guys? You sure are rude to barge in without even knocking.”
Concealing her emotions and unleashing her best acting skills, Flora pulled the little girl into her arms while staring cautiously at the men in front of her.
The crease between Miles’ brows deepened. “That’s my daughter you’re holding. Were you the one who called me?”
Flora stilled briefly. “Yes, it was me,” she answered rigidly.
Miles stared at her expressionlessly before scanning every detail inside the room.
She does sound like the woman over the phone.
But does she think she can fool me?
Besides, the state of this room is an obvious attempt to hide something.
Sure, there are only two sets of plates and cutlery on this table, but three of the chairs look like they’ve been moved.
There’s no way the workers at Dionysus Courtyard would make such a mistake. There must’ve been people sitting there before I came.
Also, all this food definitely isn’t meant for just a woman and a child.
After glancing around, he set his eyes on Flora again.
The woman suddenly had a bad feeling.
The next second, she watched as Miles took a phone from his assistant and swiped on the screen before peering up at her.
Soon, the phone Amanda had passed to her began to ring.
Having been caught off guard, Flora nearly jumped in fright, but she hurriedly composed herself and glanced at the phone for a moment before lifting it up and rejecting the call. “Since you’re her father, you can take her with you,” she commented, meeting the man’s gaze.
Then, she caressed the little girl’s head, placed her on the ground, and nudged her in Miles’ direction.
Miles’ brows furrowed slightly as he took two steps forward.
Thinking he was coming over to retrieve the child, Flora was about to let out a sigh when she suddenly heard the man speak to her in a skeptical tone.
“You seem to have quite the appetite, miss. To think you ordered a whole table of food just for yourself and a little girl.”
The man casually stopped next to the table, his words seemingly implying something.
Flora fell silent.
After holding her breath for a moment, she forced a smile. “My appetite isn’t any of your concern. Besides, I ordered this much food because I’ve invited my friends over. They just haven’t arrived yet.”

Miles raised an eyebrow. “And you’ve begun digging in instead of waiting for them to show up?”
As his words fell, the man glanced at every dish on the table.
Flora felt like she was about to die.
It took her yet another while to collect herself before flashing him another distant smile. “I’m really close with these friends, so they don’t mind me eating first. They’re used to it.”
Not waiting for him to speak again, she took a deep breath. “Look, sir, I found your daughter and kindly informed you about it. I even made sure she didn’t go hungry. It’s fine if you don’t thank me, but why are you interrogating me like I’m a criminal? What have I ever done to deserve this?”
Despite sounding indignant, the woman was screaming at the top of her lungs deep down.
Please stop asking me questions.
I’m going to end up spilling the truth at this rate!
Who could ever put up with this guy’s presence?
Meanwhile, Amanda waited in the parking lot, holding hands with a child on each side as unsettlement swirled within her.
She knew Miles too well to understand that even the smallest clue would be enough to rouse his suspicions.
I wonder how long Flora can hang on.
If our cover gets busted…
What should I do if that happens?
The woman couldn’t seem to find an answer no matter how hard she tried.
Suddenly, she pursed her lips and scoffed at herself.
What am I even scared of?
He probably never wants to see me again after what I did to him back then.
Even if he saw me, he’d probably pretend not to know me or just think of me as an eyesore.
And look at me scaring myself like this before even seeing his face. Seriously?

Dionysus Courtyard was one of the best private restaurants in Hofcaster. Every dish served was exemplary, and the place only accepted the most high-profile clients. Reservations also had to be made at least one month in advance.
Flora had managed to book a table yesterday using her connections.
The restaurant’s interior was exquisite; a screen separated every table, each room’s entrance was made of wood, and the building didn’t have a roof. When night fell, the chandelier above gave off a very antique and quintessential vibe, and one would feel as though they were dining under the moonlight.
The small group made their way into the building and seated themselves at a corner table.
It wasn’t long until the waitstaff arrived with their food.
Worried that the little girl would feel uncomfortable, Amanda gave her all her attention, feeding her and wiping her mouth at every opportunity.

Alvin and Elliot sat next to them. Seeing Selina indulge in the food melted their hearts, and they tried their best to peel as much shrimp as they could for her.
Selina never stopped chewing as she kept her focus on the growing pile of food before her.
“Did you hear what happened? The Franklin family’s princess has gone missing! The family’s scoured the entire city for her, but they still can’t find her.”
Suddenly, a voice could be heard coming from the table next to them.
The next person to speak sounded warier. “She couldn’t have been kidnapped, could she? Whoever’s done it sure has nerves of steel. Who would ever dare lay their hands on her? She’s Miles Franklin’s precious little girl! They must be tired of living.”
Amanda’s movements slowed down visibly at the mention of Miles’ name, and she began to space out.
The conversation resumed anyway. “Right? The little princess might be mute and has never said a single word, but she still gets to live the best life. How lucky of her!”
Mute?
A look of suspicion flashed in Amanda’s eyes as she stopped moving.
Miles’ precious little girl is mute?
This child I picked up hasn’t spoken a word.
Judging from her behavior and clothes, she does look like someone from the Franklins.
And that man over the phone! His voice…
At the thought of this, Amanda suppressed her astonishment as she turned to the child on her left.
Seemingly having noticed her gaze, the girl glanced up at her with eyes full of puzzlement.
As soon as their eyes met, Amanda felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
“This kid… She can’t be Miles’ daughter, could she?”
Flora put down her cutlery and stared at the child for a few seconds. “That’d be too much of a coincidence, wouldn’t it?” she asked hopefully.
As Amanda’s best friend, she knew everything the former had gone through for the past six years.
This girl looks like she’s around five or six, which means she’s about Alvin and Elliot’s age.
If she really were Miles’ daughter, that means he would’ve had a child with that first crush of his right after Amanda divorced him.
That guy just couldn’t wait, huh?
Amanda really deserves someone better than him.
Not knowing what her friend was thinking, Amanda recalled all the events that had ensued after she met this child. The more she thought about it, the more certain she was that the little girl seated next to her was Miles’ daughter.
“I’d say we’ve hit the jackpot this time,” she remarked with a grimace.
Seeing how sure the woman looked, Flora felt her heart sink as she gazed at the confused-looking child. “What should we do, then? Miles’ probably on his way now!” she whispered.
Amanda began to panic.

A brief moment later, she handed her phone to Flora. “Take my phone and act like it’s yours. I’ll get Alvin and Elliot out of here. We’ll be waiting for you at the parking lot.”
Flora nodded in understanding.
Still, seeing the little girl remain perplexed made Amanda’s heart ache. “I’ll leave this little one to you.”
She then turned to her own two children. “Let’s go.”
The two boys followed her obediently without question.
Upon walking past the little girl, Amanda felt a soft tug on her sleeve.
Looking conflicted, she turned to the child, only to see the latter gripping onto her sleeve tightly, looking extremely flustered.
Seeing the girl’s distraught expression really tugged at Amanda’s heartstrings.
Regardless of whatever had happened between her and Miles, she knew this child was never to be blamed.
Eventually, she comforted the little one, “I have to go now. This lady here will take good care of you, so wait right here, okay? Your daddy will be here soon.”
With that, she forced the child’s grip off of her and strode out of the private room, never looking back.
At the same time, Flora hastily instructed the staff to take the three used sets of plates and cutlery away.
Not long after the waitstaff had done as told, the wooden door was pushed open.
A group of bodyguards dressed in black stood in two rows, making a path in between them.
Seeing that, Flora instinctively straightened her back and gazed at the entrance, trying her best to appear calm.
Then, she watched as a frosty-looking Miles made his way into the room.

Miles glared at her silently for a few seconds.
Meanwhile, Samantha dug her nails into her palm to stop herself from revealing her real emotions.
“You’d better not be lying.”
Miles averted his gaze a while later and turned to Walter. “Did the police get back to you?”
Walter’s voice was grim. “Not yet.”
He glanced at Miles carefully and asked, “Could someone has kidnapped Ms. Selina?” Concern was evident in his voice.
The girl was Miles’ darling daughter. She was well-adorned in the Franklin family and thus became the target of many of Miles’ rivals. Previously, she was nearly kidnapped.
Now, she was nowhere to be found, and even the police couldn’t find her anywhere. Hence, Walter couldn’t help but think of the worst—someone had kidnapped her.
Miles’ gaze turned as dark as thunder. “Increase the manpower and expand the search area. I want to see her by the end of today!”
“Got it!” Walter responded loudly.
He felt a chill go down his spine when he realized his employer was about to blow his top.
Miles had just spun on his heels to leave when his phone rang.

Right now, he wasn’t in the mood to talk on the phone. Pulling out his phone, he was about to reject the call when he realized it was from an unknown number.
Recalling Walter’s earlier words, Miles scowled and answered the call.
A female voice rang out. “Hello.”
Hearing that, Miles narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Why does this sound just like her voice?
The figure he spotted that afternoon at the airport flashed across his mind.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” Amanda repeated dubiously after a while.
Miles came back to his senses and replied curtly, “Yeah.”
His answer was only one syllable, so it was too short for Amanda to recognize his voice.
Amanda heaved a sigh of relief after hearing his response. “Hello. I’ve run into a little girl who gave me your phone number. You must be her father, right? Are you free to pick her up now?”
Her voice rang in his ear clearly and resonated in his mind.
The more she spoke, the colder Miles’ gaze became.
When she stopped talking, Miles’ eyes were practically blocks of ice.
It’s her! It has been years since we last met, but there’s no way I’d have mistaken her for someone else! Amanda Dickerson, you’re finally back!
Gritting his teeth forcefully, Miles lowered his voice deliberately and asked, “Where are you?”
“We’re at Dionysus Courtyard. We’ll wait here with her. Will you come to the restaurant to pick her up?” Amanda answered at once.
“Yes. I’ll head there right away.”
With that said, Miles cut the line and ordered, “Get the car. We’re heading to Dionysus Courtyard.”
Not knowing why his employer grew furious all of a sudden, Walter replied in the affirmative hastily.
Amanda stared at her phone as the screen dimmed. Strangely, she felt nervous for no reason.
The man’s voice sounded hoarse. Why does it sound familiar?
As Amanda couldn’t figure out an answer, she stopped deliberating over the matter.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Flora asked.
After all, they had been waiting outside for some time. She continued, “I’m starving. Let’s head in for dinner. We can bring her out when her father arrives later.”

Amanda shot her a grin. “All right. Let’s go in.”
She squatted down again to the little girl’s height to meet her gaze. “Are you hungry? Do you want me to bring you in for dinner? Your daddy should be on the way here. When he arrives, I’ll bring you out. Will that do?” she asked.
The little girl stared at her for a few moments, seemingly reluctant.
“If you don’t want to come in, I’ll wait here with you,” Amanda added patiently.
Hearing that, Alvin and Elliot chimed in, “We’ll wait with you too, Mommy!”
Flora slapped her forehead in exasperation. “Am I the only one starving here? Little girl, we’re not bad people. No bad person will treat you to a meal in an expensive restaurant! You must be hungry, too. Come on in with us. There’s no need to be stubborn.”
Everyone’s gazes fell on the young girl.
As Alvin and Elliot were also hungry, they stared at the little girl expectantly.
Biting her lip, the little girl came closer to Amanda and reached out to tug at her sleeve. She then gave a careful nod.
“You don’t have to force yourself,” Amanda told her gently, seeing through the girl’s thoughts.
The little girl shook her head yet again.
Seeing that, Amanda patted her head affectionately. She took the little girl’s hand and led her into the restaurant.
Flora held the boys’ hands and watched as the little girl trotted beside Amanda obediently. She teased, “She was wary of us just a while ago, but she’s gotten close to you now.”
With a sigh, she lamented, “Indeed, good-looking people are always favored.”
In response, Amanda grinned and held the little girl’s hand tightly without responding to Flora’s teasing words.

The same thought popped up in Amanda’s mind. Is this little girl a mute?
Her sympathy for the little girl increased. In a gentle voice, she asked, “Can you give me your hand?”
With that, she stretched her hand outward.
Despite staring at her timidly, the little girl seemed to be less rigid after hearing her words.
Amanda waited patiently for the little girl to accept her hand.
After a long hesitation, the little girl finally reached out to take Amanda’s hand cautiously.
Seeing that, Amanda held her hand gently and helped her up. She didn’t forget to check the little girl again for any injuries.
Because of her action, they got physically closer to each other.
The little girl felt soft and fluffy. She even smelled like milk.
Amanda couldn’t help but recall her daughter, who was a stillborn baby.
If she were to grow up well, she’d be around this little girl’s age.
As that thought surfaced in her mind, Amanda was overcome with heartache and regret.
As if sensing her emotions, the little girl stayed put and gazed at her quietly.
I know I shouldn’t talk to strangers, but this lady is really pretty. Strangely, I feel the urge to get close to her.
At that moment, Flora remarked, “Oh, what an adorable young girl. She’s as adorable as our boys!”
Amanda nodded in agreement. “I believe she got lost. Let’s send her to the police station and see if we can get in contact with her family.”
Right after she said that, the young girl gave her a slight tug.
Amanda looked down in confusion.
The little girl was shaking her head profusely, her eyes turning red. She seemed like she was about to dissolve into tears any minute.
Clearly, the little girl didn’t want her to do that.
Seeing the girl’s distraught expression really tugged at Amanda’s heartstrings.
She had no other choice, though. If she didn’t send the little girl to the police station in time, she might be accused of kidnapping the latter.
Amanda was in a dilemma.
“All right. We don’t have to go to the police station.” She squatted down and tried to negotiate with the little girl. “Do you have your parents’ phone number? I can call them so they can come here to pick you up.”
The little girl stopped shaking her head, but she slumped in dejection instead.
As she didn’t respond, Amanda assumed she didn’t have her parents’ number. She was about to send her to the police station when the little girl moved.
Amanda watched as she pulled out a pencil and a post-it note. She then scribbled a phone number with the word “Daddy” behind it before handing the note to Amanda.
After taking the note from her, Amanda punched in the number belonging to the little girl’s dad.
“Oh, she’s indeed mute,” Alvin and Elliot muttered under their breaths.
Amanda stiffened and shot her sons a warning look. “Don’t be rude to her.”
The boys straightened their backs and gave the little girl guilty smiles.
Glancing at them, the little girl inched nearer to Amanda instinctively and reached out to grab the corner of Amanda’s dress.

However, Amanda didn’t notice that as she was busy double-checking the phone number before making the call.
Back in the Franklin residence, Miles strode into the mansion angrily. “Is Lina back?”
The butler came to welcome him. Wearing a worried expression, he said, “No. I didn’t see Ms. Selina around.”
After saying that, he realized the temperature surrounding his employer had dropped drastically.
Miles’ lips thinned as he furrowed his brows.
I’ve searched everywhere I could. Where could she be? Did something happen to her?
As that possibility occurred to him, a faint gleam of malice shone in his eyes. It appeared as if he wanted nothing more than to destroy the entire world.
Right then, a lady clad in thick makeup hurried into the mansion and asked anxiously, “Miles, I heard Lina went missing? Is it true? Did you find her?”
The lady was none other than Samantha, the one whom Miles wanted to marry previously.
Nevertheless, Miles kept his authoritative aura before her. “She’s still missing. Now that you’re here, I’d like to know what you told Lina this afternoon. Why would she run away from home for no reason?”
Samantha seemed surprised to hear his question as she stared at him incredulously. “Miles, what are you saying? Are you saying I did something to Lina?”
Seemingly hurt, she added, “I did nothing to her! Never mind if someone else misunderstands me. You’ve seen how I treated her dearly over the years! Even though Lina treated me coldly, I didn’t mind and took good care of her. I never yelled at her. No way would I do something to make her run away from home!”
With her red-rimmed eyes and innocent expression, she was trying hard to convince Miles that she had nothing to do with Selina’s disappearance.
Deep down, she wanted nothing more than for the mute little girl to disappear forever.
Indeed, she was harsh to Selina that afternoon. She also told the little girl that she would give birth to more adorable children after she married Miles.
By then, Miles would no longer adore Selina.
As Selina couldn’t talk, Samantha wasn’t afraid that the former would complain about her behavior to Miles.
However, she had no idea that Selina would end up running away from home.
This is great! It will be better if she can’t return. That way, I won’t have to see her again!

Amanda’s heart lurched to her throat and remained there as she hurried out of the airport. She kept turning at her shoulder to confirm he didn’t come after them.
Fortunately, his figure remained nowhere to be seen even after they exited the airport.
Amanda could finally heave a sigh of relief.
The kids found it strange that she kept turning her head to glance behind them.
As Amanda seemed anxious, they knew it wasn’t the time to ask questions. Without a word, they allowed her to drag them out obediently.
“Amanda! Alvin! Elliot!” A woman called from afar.
The three of them lifted their heads and saw a lady dressed in a suit, waving at them happily as she made their way to them.
Amanda relaxed gradually at the sight of the woman. Flashing a smile, she said, “Flora, it’s been so long!”
Flora Sandoval was her best friend back in university and was currently working as a doctor in her own family’s hospital.
Shortly after, Flora came to a stop before them and flung her arms around Amanda. “You’re finally back home. I’ve missed you so much!” she said in a friendly manner.
Amanda chuckled and replied, “I’ve missed you, too.”
They’ve been in touch over the years online but rarely got the chance to meet each other in real life.
After giving her a hug, Flora squatted down and pulled the boys into a hug. “My babies, do you miss me?”
Alvin and Elliot giggled adorably before answering in unison, “Of course we do! Aunt Flora, we even dreamed of you. You’re still as pretty as ever!”
“How sweet of you!” Flora beamed happily after hearing their praise.
Amanda’s guard was still up. She glanced at the gate of the airport and said calmly, “Let’s go. We can talk back home.”
Flora gave the boys a peck each on their cheeks before getting to her feet. After placing the luggage in her car truck, she ushered them into her car and sped away.
At the same time, Miles appeared at the gate of the airport.
“Cancel my schedule overseas,” he told his assistant, Walter Livingston.
Walter gave a brief nod in acknowledgment. “Mr. Franklin, we’ve widened the search for Ms. Selina. She’s young and can’t go far. Don’t worry.”
Ms. Selina is Mr. Franklin’s darling daughter. It’s more crucial to find her. His work overseas isn’t as important in this situation.
Miles’ gaze turned dark as he strode toward the Maybach parked by the road.
Soon, the car drove away.
An hour later, Flora’s car arrived in Drens Garden. It was a residential area full of mansions.
Amanda had asked for Flora’s help to rent a place, and this was the house that Flora had gotten her.
The four of them hopped out of the car and entered the new house under Flora’s lead.
“The surroundings seem nice. I like this place.”
Satisfied, Amanda turned to look at Flora. “You’re quite efficient, huh?”

Flora arched a brow. “I’m your neighbor. The owner of this house moved to the capital and wanted to rent this place out. I happened to stumble upon it. Whenever we’re free, we can visit each other’s places.”
Amanda’s lips curved as she bobbed her head in agreement.
After she unpacked their stuff briefly, it was time for dinner.
Hence, Flora brought them out for dinner.
She had just driven into the restaurant’s parking lot and was about to park her car when a little girl ran out of a dark corner.
Flora slammed on the brakes before her car could hit the little girl. In shock, she stared at the little girl who had collapsed to the ground.
Amanda’s heart was racing at the near accident, too. She turned to make sure her boys were fine before opening the door to get out.
There was a young girl around five years old mere inches away from the car. She sat on the ground, clearly in a state of shock.
Amanda felt her heart soften at the sight. She made her way to the girl carefully before asking, “Hey, are you hurt?”
The young girl had a fair complexion and looked sweet with her hair braided up. She had a tall nose, huge eyes, and delicate features. Dressed in a pink fluffy dress, she hugged an expensive doll in her arms.
Hearing Amanda’s voice, the little girl regained her composure and shook her head shyly. She didn’t forget to eye Amanda warily.
Amanda’s heart stirred as she observed the little girl silently. After confirming that the little girl was unharmed, she heaved a sigh of relief inwardly and reached out to help the little girl up.
She had just stretched her hand out when the little girl cowered back in fear.
Amanda’s hand paused midair. Flashing an assuring smile, she explained, “Don’t worry. I just want to help you up.”
Glancing around, she asked doubtfully, “Where are your parents? Why are you alone?”
The young girl hugged her doll tightly and shook her head without uttering a word.
Amanda’s brows snapped together, for she had no idea how to communicate with the girl.
Flora and the boys soon got out of the car.
Alvin and Elliot shared a curious look when they noticed the little girl remaining silent the entire while.
She looks cute. Why isn’t she talking? Could she be a mute?

Amanda hurried to Mitchell’s office.
After pushing the door open, she spotted the little ones inside. They were sitting on the couch in the office and swinging their legs nonchalantly.
The boys lit up at the sight of Amanda. Scrambling off the couch, they ran toward her excitedly. “Mommy, you’re finally done! I thought you’d be staying in the laboratory forever!”
“Mommy, you’ve worked hard! Are you tired? Sit down. I’ll give you a massage.”
They led Amanda to the couch so she could take a seat.
As Amanda took in their concern, she suddenly felt it was worth it to get yelled at.
“Look at how obedient you are. You weren’t like this when you hacked into my computer earlier!” Mitchell huffed angrily behind his desk.
Alvin declared, “It was all your fault, Professor Morgan! You kept asking Mommy to work overtime. Look, she’s getting malnourished!”
“That’s right! Mommy’s an ordinary human being. How could you ask her to work day and night?” Elliot chimed in as he kneaded Amanda’s shoulder.
His temper spiking, Mitchell gave a bark of laughter and responded, “You’re too overprotective of her! Everyone in the research institute does the same!”
With that said, he shook his head and turned to Amanda. “How did your research go?”
Amanda shot him a grin. “It went smoothly. I’ll send the data to you later.”
She paused before asking, “Have you restored the data in your computer?”
Mitchell ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “It has been an hour, but I still can’t restore anything.”
Amused, Amanda patted Elliot’s hand. “Elliot, go restore Professor Morgan’s computer. Don’t be naughty. What if he loses some important data?”
Elliot immediately replied, “That won’t happen. I prepare a backup and various security levels every time. He won’t lose a thing!’
As he said that, he trotted over to Mitchell and restored the latter’s computer.
The little boy’s fingers typed on the keyboard furiously and produced lines of codes.
A few minutes later, the computer screen blinked and returned to normal.
Mitchell took one look at his computer in admiration. He had to admit his mentee’s sons were geniuses.
At a young age, Alvin was already a medical genius. He was capable of differentiating thousands of herbs and showcased his talent in medicine. He also had a sharp eye for investments.
Elliot, on the other hand, was interested in programming. He was now a little hacker who was very sensitive to numbers. Like his brother, he also did great in investments.
Besides, both of them were adorable and considerate.
Thus, he couldn’t bring himself to yell at them whenever they kicked up a fuss. Instead, he could only vent his frustrations on Amanda.
Amanda immediately offered an apology. “I’m sorry, Professor Morgan. Please don’t blame the kids for their naughty acts.”

Please don’t yell at me, too. I can’t always be their scapegoat, can I?
Mitchell chuckled at her reaction. “Don’t worry. I didn’t summon you here to yell at you. I have a task for you. Listen, I’ve been planning on setting up a research institute back in the country. It will be focusing on traditional medicine. However, I’m still busy here and can’t leave for now. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to send you back!”
Amanda had no idea he would say that. She froze and hesitated.
Go back home?
She never thought of going back to that place again after leaving six years ago.
After all, she didn’t have a family or someone she cared about back there.
Besides, she had grown to love Yowhayton.
Her first reaction was to reject the offer. “Professor Morgan, I—”
Mitchell interjected, “Amanda, I know you don’t want to head back, but I hope you’ll consider my suggestion. You’ve been my student for years, so I believe you know how wide and profound traditional medicine is. There aren’t enough herbs here for you to do your research. In Clusia, you’ll have all the herbs you want. You can use and study them freely. Most importantly, many hidden and prestigious families are in possession of ancient medical skills in Clusia. I remember you’re interested in that, right? That was why I made the suggestion for you to return to Clusia. You have a bright future ahead of you. Besides, you’re different now. No matter what happens, or who you run into, I believe you can handle everything calmly, right?”
At his words, Amanda fell silent.
He’s right. I’ve changed into a completely different person now. I can face all obstacles without fear. Besides, it has been six years. Perhaps that man is already married to his first crush. Why am I afraid?
With that thought in mind, Amanda took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. “All right, then. Professor Morgan, I’ll listen to you and return to Clusia.”
Mitchell beamed. “I’m glad you made up your mind quickly. Don’t worry. I’ll ask Katerina to come with you. I’ll also arrange a team to help you out there.”
“Great. Thank you, Professor Morgan!” Amanda gave a curt nod.
As they were conversing, Alvin and Elliot shared a look. They could sense each other’s excitement.
Mommy’s finally returning to Clusia!
In fact, the two of them had been dying to head back for ages. After all, their father was back there. They wanted to see him in person. Of course, they also wanted to teach him a lesson for deserting his wife and children.
Two days later, Amanda and the boys landed at the international airport in Hofcaster.
Amanda was finally back in Clusia after six years.
After disembarking the plane, they walked out of the hallway. Just then, Elliot squeezed his legs together and tugged at the corner of Amanda’s skirt. “Mommy, I need to pee now.”
Amanda and Alvin giggled at the sight of his urgent expression. “Okay. Let’s go, then.”
She reached out to ruffled Elliot’s hair.

At once, Elliot trembled violently. “Stop it, Mommy. I’m going to pee my pants!”
With a chuckle, Amanda led him to the door of the restroom.
Alvin then brought him inside while Amanda waited outside with their luggage. She didn’t forget to send her professor a text to inform him about their arrival.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
“Idiots! How could so many of you fail to keep an eye on a little girl? What use are you if you can’t even complete such a simple task?”
There was a hint of fury in the man’s melodious, deep, and rich voice. It was pleasing to the ears.
Amanda’s hands, which were initially typing out a message on her phone, froze instantly.
Six years had passed since she last heard this voice, but she still found it eerily familiar.
Looking up, Amanda spotted the tall figure some distance away.
Standing not far off was a tall man. His black suit accentuated his long legs and added a touch of elegance to his figure. Even in the crowd, he was eye-catching.
Amanda could see his perfect side profile from her line of sight.
His tall nose and sculpted features were the envy of many. In fact, he looked so handsome that other men paled in comparison to him.
Miles Franklin!
Amanda’s heart clenched at the sight of him.
She had no idea she’d run into him on the day of her arrival.
The feelings she had buried deep in her heart emerged temporarily, but she quickly put a lid on them.
Her gaze turned frosty.
She could finally appear calm before him.
Right then, the boys emerged from the restroom. “Mommy, we’re done!” they declared cheerfully.
Amanda snapped out of her reverie and nearly had a heart attack.
The first thought that popped up in her mind was that she needed to leave right away. I can’t let Alvin and Elliot see him. They bear a resemblance to him. If they bump into each other, he’ll definitely realize something’s wrong!
Amanda refused to get involved with him yet again.
Flustered, she urged, “You’re done? Come, let’s go. You don’t want your godmother to wait, do you?”
Without waiting for a reply, she dragged her luggage away.
Halfway through his phone call, Miles heard a familiar voice and turned at his shoulder.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar female figure.
Amanda Dickerson? Is that her? She’s back?
Miles ran after her immediately, but her figure had already disappeared into the crowd.
As his gaze turned dark, Miles was about to explode with rage.
She left the country so resolutely and even abandoned the kid. There’s no way she’s back!

“Miles, I’ve been married to you for three years, but we’ve never been a real couple. I’ll give my blessing to you and your first crush by giving up on our marriage. Tomorrow, you’re free to go after her. But for now, just make it up to me for my feelings for you all these years, please?”
She knew this was a despicable move, but she had loved him for too long. All the years, she had suffered greatly, and now, all she wanted was a little consolation.
“Amanda, how dare you!”
Miles Franklin clenched his jaw as his fury sprang to life. His handsome face was as black as thunder.
How dare she scheme against me?
“I’m afraid of nothing…”
The next day, Amanda woke up at dawn. Tamping down on her discomfort, she got out of bed pulled out the divorce agreement she had prepared from the drawer and placed it on the bedside table. Before leaving, she gazed at the man in the bed.
“Miles, I’ll set you free. From today onward, we shall go on separate ways. We will have nothing to do with each other from now on,” Amanda murmured.
She averted her gaze and turned to leave.
Her heart was full of bitterness and anguish as she stepped out of the Franklin residence.
Amanda had loved Miles for seven years. She had had a crush on him since her teenage years, so her biggest wish was to be his wife. Alas, Miles despised her the moment she married him.
Back then, his grandfather was critically ill and needed a joyous occasion to hopefully ward off the bad luck. As luck would have it, she was selected to be Miles’ wife.
Her greedy father and stepmother immediately agreed to the marriage.
She could still remember how delighted she was as she waited for the night of her wedding. Yet, when Miles showed up, there’s a disgusted expression on his face.
“Amanda, I’ll have you know that the person I want to marry is Samantha Hogan. I never wanted to marry you! Only Samantha has the right to be my wife. You’re not good enough for me,” he declared.
Amanda knew that Miles wasn’t obliged to love her.
However, she still held on to the hope that the man would warm up to her one day.
In the past three years of their marriage, she did her best to be a good and caring wife.
Every night, she’d prepare dinner so he could come home to freshly cooked meals.
No matter how late it was, she would only go to bed in peace after his return.
If he got drunk at social events, she would take care of him meticulously instead of leaving him in someone else’s hands.

Whenever he got ill or hurt, she would be more worried than anyone else.
Every winter, she would switch on the heater and fill the bathtub with hot water for him. In the morning, she’d wake up earlier than usual to warm his clothes up so he wouldn’t feel the cold.
Nevertheless, he never loved her, and he never would.
The day before yesterday was Amanda’s birthday, but Miles went to the hospital to keep Samantha company.
It was then that Amanda finally understood that her one-sided feelings would never be reciprocated.
She would never make Miles fall for her, for his heart belonged to another woman.
Thus, Amanda decided to give up.
Miles only roused by ten in the morning.
The first thing he wanted to do after getting up was to choke Amanda to her death.
Miles was the CEO of Franklin Group, known for his acuteness. No one in the corporate world was his match. Thus, he had never fallen for that woman’s.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to fall for that woman’s trap!
Simmering with anger, he glanced around the room but didn’t see Amanda anywhere. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the document on the bedside table.
“What is this?”
Miles’ brows furrowed as he picked up the document with the words “Divorce Agreement” printed in bold text on the front page.
His gaze narrowed dangerously.
First, she resorted to that despicable trick to make us a real couple, but now she wants a divorce. Ha! How many tricks does she have up her sleeves?
Miles refused to believe that Amanda wanted to divorce him for real.
Getting to his feet, he put on his clothes and strode downstairs furiously. “Did you see Amanda?” he asked the butler, Marc.
Taken aback, Marc replied swiftly, “Mr. Franklin, Mrs. Franklin left home with her luggage before dawn.”
Hearing that, Miles halted in his tracks in surprise.
Six years later, at Virus Medical Research Institute, Yowhayton.
Amanda had just stepped out of her laboratory when her assistant, Katerina, told her, “Dr. Dickerson, Professor Morgan needs to talk to you. He wants to see you in his office.”
After staying up the entire night, Amanda was feeling drowsy. However, upon hearing Katerina’s words, she snapped out of her daze as her mind cleared.
“Did he say anything? Don’t tell me my little rascals destroyed the research results again?”
“Apparently,” came Katerina’s answer.
She shot Amanda a sympathetic look.
Amanda was an efficient and capable woman. At a young age, she became the mentee of Mitchell Morgan, the best professor in the medical world. With her outstanding capabilities, she was never reprimanded for her work.
Nevertheless, that didn’t stop her from being the scapegoat for her naughty sons.
Katerina comforted her, “You spent three days in the laboratory, so Alvin and Elliot were worried about you. They spent their days bumbling around in Professor Morgan’s office. I think he got a few new white strands of hair from the trouble they caused.”
Hearing that, Amanda felt an incoming headache. She couldn’t help but find the situation funny, too.
Six years ago, she left the Franklin residence and headed overseas without hesitation.
Initially, she wanted to further her studies but soon discovered she was pregnant.
Back then, she was caught in a dilemma on whether she should abort her children. When she arrived at the hospital, she changed her mind, for she couldn’t bear to part with her children.
In the end, she kept her children.
Amanda was pregnant with triplets—two boys and a girl.
During her delivery, her baby girl was born without any signs of life due to a lack of oxygen, and only the boys survived. She nicknamed her sons Alvin and Elliot.
The thought of her genius sons gave Amanda utter bliss.
However, she slumped her shoulders when she recalled she was about to get reprimanded, thanks to the boys.