"Odd?" Daniel narrowed his eyes. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Just... just a feeling I have," Chris said quietly. "Have you had any recent dealings with the Newhouse Group? If so, I suggest you take it slow."

Daniel looked at Chris. A special forces soldier's intuition was usually accurate. If Chris was mentioning a problem, it must be significant.

"Yes," he replied in a deep voice. "I have two collaborations with the Newhouse Group but haven't signed any agreements. I'm currently investigating them in secret."

Chris was taken aback. "Uncle Daniel, you suspect..."

"I suspect irregular financial transactions within the Newhouse Group, not specifically Jodie. Why do you feel something's off about her?"

Chris organized his thoughts and summarized his previous encounter with Jodie, as well as her being with Maisie's mother.

"She's a wealthy heiress. Why would she be with Maisie's mom and even appear at the rehab center at the same time? Isn't that strange?" Chris spoke frankly. "That day, I happened to visit my comrade, and later, I asked him about them. My comrade said... the name they registered to visit was Owen Squire!"

"Jodie visiting Owen?" Daniel found it incredulous.

"Yeah, that's what I can't figure out. What's the connection between them?"

Daniel fell silent, his expression even more somber than before.

He patted Chris's shoulder, thanked him for the information, and asked him to go upstairs first. Then he stood downstairs, smoking.

His mind was scattered, filled with scenes since he met Maisie.

She had nothing, willing to sell herself to him for her family's sake. She was willing to sacrifice everything for her family, but how did her family treat her in return?

Cindy saw her as a cash cow, showing her no care from childhood. As for Owen, his vices included everything, and he had caused her to miscarry for money, pushing her into the abyss.

Only Nicole treated her slightly better, but that kindness was tinged with weakness. If Nicole couldn't even protect herself, how could she protect her?

Maisie had grown up in such an environment yet remained resilient and optimistic. Even when pushed into the mud, she managed to crawl out unyielding time after time.

Was she truly related to them? Hadn't she herself said, "Sometimes, I really wonder if I'm truly my mother's birth daughter!"

Daniel's heart clenched, his finger slightly burned by the cigarette. He suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and hurriedly extinguished the cigarette.

After everyone left, Daniel went upstairs alone.

Maisie was tidying up in the kitchen. Seeing him, she first looked worried and then huffed a laugh.

"Where did you go?" she called out to him. "Look at how many times I called you!"

Only then did Daniel take out his phone. It was on silent. During the time he had been standing downstairs smoking, Maisie had called him more than ten times. "Daniel!" Maisie pinched his cheek. "Did you go to the other side of the world to buy snacks?"

Also, where were the snacks? He came back empty-handed!

Daniel looked apologetic, chuckling, as he embraced her.

Maisie had already set up a bed for him in the study.

Tigger seemed puzzled by his overnight stay, whining persistently at first. After a while, it got used to it, refusing to sleep in its own bed and insisting on sleeping on its dad's lap. With a few books in her hands, Maisie turned to close the door for him.

"This late, and you're still planning to read?" Daniel asked.

"I want to write my new book soon, so I need a little more reading for inspiration." She smiled. "Also, Toph just brought these sketches. I need to take a look."

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