The girl shot Aurelia and Leopold a glance, muttering under her breath with clear annoyance, "Today's just my luck, running into a lunatic." "How dare you! You're the lunatic!" Megan snapped back, the thought of Leopold wanting a divorce twisting her insides into knots, her emotions beyond her control.

Aurelia sighed softly, "The pasta is so delicious, no sense in letting sfolks ruin your appetite." Megan glared at her fiercely. Just the sound of that voice, that tone, brought Aurelia to mind. It was too familiar.

"It's people like you, with your scandalous behavior, that kills my appetite," Megan retorted.

Jewel stepped in front of her, "Ease up, will you? Your temper's been off the charts lately. You might wanna see a shrink about that." Megan rolled her eyes and lowered her voice, "I'm fine, just super anxious. If it was your kid that had gone missing, wouldn't you be freaking out? It's been days, and the boss still hasn't found the kid?" No one around knew her, nor did they grasp the context of her words, so she didn't bother to censor herself.

Aurelia caught every word clearly, and it hit her hard, "What did Megan mean?" Which child was missing? Was it her own, or simpostor? She stole a glance at Leopold, who seemed unnervingly calm, much more so than she would have expected.

Megan's kid was missing, and he wasn't even shocked.

After taking a bite of her pasta, Aurelia pricked up her ears, listening intently.

Jewel said, "This is all too weird. Faye and the kid wouldn't just vanish into thin air. Feels like someone's pulling strings from the shadows. The boss is worried sick." "My child could be in danger? What if they're already..." Megan's voice broke, the tears starting to form, "It's my child with Leopold, our product of love." Jewel sighed, "Regardless, you better brace yourself for the worst. Faye and the kid might have met a bad end." At that, Megan burst into tears, "If I'd known it'd cto this, I should've gone to Stirling General for the delivery. At least the kid would be alive. What now? It's all over. That fraud can't even take a paternity test." "We might have to play it smart with the testing facility if it comes to that," Jewel suggested.

Their voices were low, but Aurelia's sharp ears caught snippets.

Was Megan's child harmed? That seemed impossible. Aside from AK Group, who would target a newborn? No wonder Megan hadn't rushed the paternity test because her own child was missing.

Aurelia leaned in slightly and whispered to Leopold, "You know about this?" Leopold didn't answer, his expression still calm, as if he truly was an outsider.

"Just eat up. Pasta is no good cold." Aurelia felt a bead of sweat form. Such a big deal, and he didn't care? That was too weird, even for him.

Megan choked back a sob, biting down hard, "Why me? The blood tests, and the ultrasounds, all showed a boy. How the heck did it turn out to be a girl?" Jewel quickly shushed her, "Hush now. Walls have ears. If someone overhears, we're toast." Megan clamped her mouth shut, swallowing the words that lingered in her throat, but not the unease that painted her face.

After they left, Aurelia and Leopold finished their meal and headed back to their car.

Aurelia said quietly, "Looks like I was right, Megan did have a girl. But with the kid gone missing, even AK Group is clueless." Leopold gave her a profound look, his eyes deep and mysterious, "I'm gonna take you somewhere." He started the engine and drove out to a secluded little village on the outskirts of town.

There, hidden by the forest's edge, stood a discreet little villa.

Aurelia was taken aback and asked with a teasing tone, "What's this place? You're not hiding a mistress here, are you?"

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