CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: LOOKING FOR THE CHILD

"It must be one of those less-known minor celebrities trying to latch onto President Kane. There are so many people like that. Last time, I even got a call from someone claiming to be the birth mother of our little master from the Kanes, ordering me arrogantly to give her President Kane’s number. When I ignored her, she went crazy on the phone, swearing at me with all sorts of foul language."

"Haha... there are really so many shameless bitches like that. It’s all because our President Kane is too outstanding—handsome and wealthy. In the entire Ravenswood, you won’t find another man who can compare to our President Kane."

The female operator’s eyes turned into hearts, shimmering with admiration for Leon Keane, when suddenly the phone rang again.

She picked up the call, and upon hearing Ivana Monroe’s voice again, she said very impatiently, "Are you done yet? Do you really think you’re Mrs. Kane? Or have you read too many romance novels and imagine yourself as the lucky heroine pregnant with the CEO’s child? I suggest you go to a hospital and have your nerves checked."

When the female operator was about to hang up, she heard Ivana Monroe say she no longer wanted Leon Keane’s number and asked if a handsome little boy named Timmy had visited the Kanes that day to find Leon Keane.

The female operator sneered, another trick, huh? She was about to say no when another operator suddenly received a call from Derrick Stern.

"Special Assistant Stern, what can I do for you?" The female operator was extremely excited. Special Assistant Stern had a refined appearance. Although he wasn’t as prestigious and handsome as President Kane, he was a well-known talent in the company and still single. Many girls liked his intellectual charm!

"There’s something I need to tell you. Later, inform all operators and receptionists."

"Hmm?"

"If a lady named Ivana Monroe calls, or comes to the reception to look for a child, you should politely tell her that the child has been taken home by President Kane, and that President Kane will personally bring Timmy back later."

Derrick Stern wasn’t sure if Leon Keane had told Ivana Monroe about the little boy being sent to the old mansion.

If not, Ivana Monroe would be anxious searching for the boy everywhere when she returned and found him missing. He also worried that Ivana Monroe’s misunderstanding of President Kane might deepen, turning President Kane’s pursuit into a real tragedy.

The female operator’s face changed on the spot. Her fingers trembled as she reached out to the other female operator cursing Ivana Monroe and tugged her sleeve: "May, stop it. She really is here to ask President Kane for her child. Special Assistant Stern called and said her child was taken home by President Kane."

Derrick Stern heard the trembling voice of the female operator on the phone. His eyes deepened, grateful for making this call, yet sensed an underlying message. Did that operator named May say something disrespectful or unpleasant to Ivana Monroe to make her so scared?

Derrick Stern decided to return to the company after sending Timmy back to the old mansion to thoroughly check the call recordings and see what exactly May said to Ivana Monroe.

May finished her rant and hung up. She didn’t clearly hear what the nearby female operator said.

"Jade, your face is so pale! Did you see a ghost? Are you scared like this?" May giggled. "By the way, what did you just say? Who did President Kane take home?"

Jade swallowed cold saliva and repeated what she had just said.

May, scared soft in her seat, reached for the phone, her fingers trembling. She tried to grab it twice and slipped twice, until she finally got it the third time, looked at the string of numbers just dialed and called back, only to hear a mechanical female voice, "The number you are calling is currently unavailable."

May’s face turned white. On the verge of tears, she said, "Jade, her phone can’t be reached; she turned it off. What should I do? I’ve caused such a mess. President Kane will definitely fire me tomorrow. Boohoo... If I had known, I wouldn’t have cursed her..."

**

Derrick Stern took Timmy to the Kane family old mansion. Auntie Chamberlain was very surprised to see the little handsome face of Timmy Monroe.

"Little Master, weren’t you upstairs with the young master? How come... how come you came in from outside with Special Assistant Stern?" Auntie Chamberlain mistook Timmy Monroe for Ian Keane.

"Auntie Chamberlain, you got it wrong. He’s not Little Ian Keane; he’s Little Timmy Monroe." Derrick Stern, like Auntie Chamberlain, mistook the little boy for Ian Keane at first sight.

"Ah? Little Timmy Monroe?" Auntie Chamberlain looked at Timmy Monroe, seeing Ian Keane all over, until Timmy Monroe opened his little mouth and smiled sweetly at her.

"Hello, Grandma Chamberlain. My surname is Monroe, and my name is Timmy Monroe." The little boy’s smile was bright and sunny, completely different from the perpetually cool face of Ian Keane.

Only then did Auntie Chamberlain realize that the little boy in front of her just resembled little master Ian Keane, but was not him.

"Ah, Timmy, such a good boy." Auntie Chamberlain smiled happily.

The smile on Auntie Chamberlain’s face disappeared after two seconds. She said to Derrick Stern, "Did President Kane call you to come over? Go upstairs quickly. President Kane is on the second floor. Little Ian has shut himself in again."

Auntie Chamberlain’s eyes turned red as she spoke. She had been with the Kane family for ten years. Since the time the old lady drove away the nanny who took care of Ian Keane, she had volunteered to take on the responsibility of caring for him.

Without exaggeration, Ian Keane had been her responsibility all these years. No matter how much Timmy resembled Ian Keane, he could never replace Ian in her heart.

So, no matter how sweet Timmy’s little mouth was, she only paid him superficial attention. Her true concerns and care were solely for Ian upstairs.

"Alright, I’m going right away." Derrick Stern seemed to somewhat understand why President Kane wanted him to bring Timmy over.

Every time Ian Keane shut himself in, it became the most troubling period for President Kane. He would stay in seclusion for as little as seven or eight hours or as long as two or three days, only then would he open the door and emerge from his confined space.

Moreover, his recent seclusions had lasted basically two or three days each. Ian Keane neither ate nor drank in his confined space, and no one could approach him. When he came out, he would fall ill, emaciated like a pitiful little skinny monkey.

The old lady had shed how many tears over this—how many bowls of tears? Each time Ian Keane got sick, the old lady would inevitably fall ill too.

This was what hurt Leon Keane the most. One fall, two sicknesses.

Ian Keane was young and couldn’t take it, and the old lady was old, she couldn’t take it either.

Leon Keane’s eyes brightened as he saw Derrick Stern bringing Timmy Monroe over. He squatted down, holding the little boy’s arms, and gazed directly into his eyes, speaking gently, "Timmy, inside is your biological brother, his name is Ian Keane. Can you help daddy persuade him to come out? It’s cold and dirty inside; you need to convince him to come out and play with you."

Timmy Monroe’s clear eyes shone brightly, "He also came from Mommy’s belly? Yay! I have a real brother."

Timmy Monroe, like a joyful little angel, turned to knock on the door, and just as he knocked, Leon Keane stopped him.