Chapter 1515

There was a sudden silence on the phone. Lily sighed, resigned. "Jeez! That little boy must have done something bad again!"

"Galen, can't you be a little kinder to Grandpa?"

"I have been very kind!" Galen retorted, convinced of his own goodness.

Dominic's voice boomed from a distance, "You little brat, where have you run off to? Hey, why are you holding the phone? You..."

"Mommy..." Galen said.

Lily heard Dominic grumble, "What mommy? She's busy and has no time for you! Anyway, if your mommy finds out you peed on my bed, she'll kick your little—"

"Mommy..." Galen emphasized, finally getting Dominic's attention.

"What the…" Dominic's voice turned gruff. "Hello?"

"Old man," Lily said, "Have you reached Burnwken? Hmm, the signal's not bad!"

Dominic, assuming Lily was already there, replied throatily.

Lily answered, "No, I haven't left the country. I'm still in Kingsland."

The physician bellowed, "What? What do you mean you haven't left the country? Are you playing with me? Did you leave your child with me to enjoy your freedom? Come back quickly and take the little brat away!"

"Grandpa, I'm not going," Galen announced innocently.

Lily then heard Dominic's voice, softer now, "No, no, I'm just trying to scare your mommy."

Lily was speechless. 'Well, thank you for trying to scare me!' she thought.

"Old man, I have something important to tell you," she said solemnly.

"What important things? Isn't your son important too?" Dominic shouted. "How come you've become so wishy-washy? Just when the hell are you leaving? The sooner you leave, the sooner you can come back. What are you stalling for?"

"I won't be going for the time being. I'll let Galen stay at your place for a few days, and then after I've handled my affairs, I'll pick him up." She paused, then said gravely, "Also, I think something might have happened to Austin."

"A few days? He can't even stay for one more day! Let me tell you—" Dominic began, then stopped abruptly. "What were you saying? Who?"

"Austin. Something might have happened to him."

He mumbled, "That little… what could happen to him? Stop trying to scare me. I don't give a shit about him." Though he sounded tough, Lily sensed his worry.

"He's gone missing, and I think he might still be inside the research institute, even though I couldn't find him. That place has increased its security, and…" Lily trailed off.

Dominic, thinking the signal was breaking up, asked hurriedly, "Hello? Hello? What security measures? What happened to the research institute?"

Lily said hastily, "Let's leave it at that. I'll meet you later." She hung up decisively.