Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)

Chapter 2334

Emily took a deep breath, her voice steadying as she nodded, "I know. It's on me too. I should've kept a closer eye on Kya." Estelle frowned, "At the Lamont's, everyone let their guard down!"

No one could have anticipated Susanna stooping so low.

Estelle, trying to lighten the mood, said to Kya, "I just made a hammock in the backyard. Wanna go play?"

Kya, still a child at heart, was easily cheered up. She broke into a smile and reached out for Estelle to hug her.

Emily spoke up, "I'll give Charlie a call. He's out looking for Kya too."

"Alright," Estelle replied, taking Kya to play on the hammock.

*1*

Emily didn't tell Charlie over the phone about Susanna's bullying, but when Charlie found Kya, the marks on her neck spoke volumes, darkening his mood instantly. "What happened to Kya's neck?"

Estelle filled him in about Susanna.

Charlie was livid, his face turning ice cold as he handed Kya back to Emily and turned to leave.

"Charlie!" Emily called out after him, worry lacing her voice.

"Charlie!"

Magdalen also approached, her expression saying it all, "I've already given Susanna a piece of my mind. If you go now, you'll just be adding a few slaps to the punishment. I've handled it."

Charlie, fury bubbling in his chest, demanded, "Why would an adult bully Kya?"

"It's probably because she doesn't like me, so she took it out on Kya," Emily speculated.

Magdalen scoffed, "She probably got a reality check from Mr. Foster and decided to vent on Kya."

"On my daughter?" Charlie's eyes were cold as ice, "Fine. We'll see if Susanna can handle the consequences, or if the Murphys can!"

He whipped out his phone, calling Susanna's father.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

The call connected quickly, Hogan Murphy's cheerful voice coming through, "Mr. James? Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best!" Charlie's tone was icy, "Save your wishes. Get to C City, now!"

Hogan, taken aback by Charlie's tone, stuttered, "What's wrong?"

"Your daughter's mess!"

Hogan paused, "Susanna? What did she do?"

"You'll see when you get here!" Charlie ended the call abruptly.

After hanging up, Charlie looked at Kya, his heart wrenching with

pain.

He dialed his tech team ledet

the tracking chip ready?" belongs to

chip ready?"

The team leader, surprised by the work-related call during the holidays, replied hurriedly, "It's still in the testing phase!"

"It's been months, and you're still testing? If you can't handle it, you're fired!" Charlie rarely lost his temper like this.

The team leader's voice shook, "I'll have the team work overtime. We'll have it ready by the 15th!"

Months ago, Charlie had tasked

them with developing a satellite tracking chip accurate to the millimeter, with a user-friendly app for live location updates and photos. The chip needed to be as thin as a cicada's wing, invisibly adhering to the skin, waterproof, shockproof, and completely harmless to human health.

After Charlie's outburst, he took a moment to calm down before returning to Kya, his heart still,

aching at the sight of the marks on

her neck. "Were you scared?"

If Estelle hadn't shown up, and if Susanna had truly lost her mind, the thought was unbearable.

Kya, leaning on his shoulder, reassured him with her tender voice, "I knew Daddy would come to save me!"

Charlie's guilt deepened, "But Daddy didn't find you immediately."

"I won't wander off again," Kya promised sweetly. "If I stay with Daddy, you'll always find me."

Charlie's voice caught in his throat, "Daddy will always stay by your side."

Kya, comforting him in return, patted his back, "With Daddy here, no one can bully me!"