Chapter 552

Teresa’s heart lurched. “What’s going on? Michael is missing? Since when? Where could he be? He hasn’t wandered off in ages. Could he just be hiding at your home, playing hide-and-seek?”

Miriam’s voice trembled as she said, “I’ve searched every corner of my house, but there’s no sign of Mike. I don’t even know when he slipped out. I just went out with Edward for less than two hours, and now Mike is gone. I really should’ve installed security cameras at home.”

Teresa had surveillance cameras installed at her place, but Miriam didn’t.

“I’m coming over now. We’ll talk in person,” Teresa said, then hung up. She was already on her way to Miriam’s place. She floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward.

Her car narrowly passed another vehicle on the opposite side of the guardrail. It was rush hour, the streets jammed with cars. In all that chaos, no one noticed anyone else.

Teresa didn’t notice the Maybach, nor did Jonathan—who was inside talking to Michael–notice her.

Teresa soon pulled up at Miriam’s apartment complex.

As soon as Miriam saw Teresa, she completely broke down, bursting into uncontrollable tears. Clutching Teresa’s hand, she said, “What do I do? I didn’t mean to. Mike’s gone.”

After all the times Miriam had helped Teresa look after Michael, this was the first time she’d ever lost Michael, and it happened right at home. Consumed by guilt, Miriam was left speechless.

Teresa tried to stay calm as she comforted Miriam, “If he ran off on his own, he probably went to look for Jonathan.”

Miriam gasped, “What? What could Mike want with Jonathan?”

Teresa said, “I’m not sure either. It’s just a guess.” She thought, ‘Every time Michael sneaks off, it’s always to find Jonathan. Otherwise, he’d never just run off for no reason.’

Time was of the essence. Whether Michael had gone to find Jonathan or not, Miriam and Teresa decided to go and check it out.

They split up–one heading to the Horizonlead Group headquarters, the other to Forlisle Rose Estates, where Jonathan often stayed, to search for him.

Teresa went to Forlisle Rose Estates, but the gate was locked. Realizing Jonathan wasn’t home yet, she headed to Luviston Estates instead. Along the way, she received a call from Miriam.

Miriam said, “The security guard said Jonathan had already left. He drove off in his car an hour ago.”

Teresa asked, “Then did you ask if there was a kid in his car?”

Miriam replied, “The security guard said he only saw Jonathan’s driver at the wheel, with no one else in the car.”

Teresa’s heart dropped. She thought, ‘Mike didn’t go to Jonathan? Then who the hell did he go to?’

At that moment, a mother’s terror coiled around Teresa–a suffocating noose of panic, tightening and wrenching until she felt she couldn’t breathe.

However unlikely it seemed, Teresa still decided to call Jennifer. She asked, “Did you take Mike?”

Jennifer retorted, “Why would I take Mike? Did you dump him at Miriam’s place again?”

Teresa said, “Just tell me, is Michael with you?”

Jennifer said, “Is Mike missing? I told you so. You just had to leave him with Miriam—you didn’t listen to me.”

“Is Michael there or not? Cut the crap, will you?” Teresa snapped.

Jennifer froze, momentarily at a loss for words.

Teresa drew a sharp breath, not wanting to waste another word on her. “Mike is not with you. Screw it–I’m calling the police.”

“What? No. You absolutely cannot call the police. Wait, hello?” Jennifer shouted. But the line had already gone to a busy signal. She frowned.

Teresa gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing. She had no idea where else Michael could be.