Chapter 207
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Ivy held the baby carefully, but her
eyes
were
with shock.
What… how…”
Silas’s heart flipped at the tremble in her voicema
he
3
stepped closer. “Do you… want me to take him?”
X
+15
“No,” she said. “It’s… just…” She trailed off, then turned to the officer. “How am I supposed to take care of a child that isn’t mine?”
“You don’t have to, ma’am,” the officer replied gently. “We can take him, but he would be placed in foster care until we find his mother or a relative.”
Silas watched Ivy closely. Of course, it was hard and humiliating to care for a child born from an affair that changed her life.
Still, leaving the baby in foster care didn’t feel right.
She had every right to walk away. Especially after everything that had happened.
Ye haired and she looked at him, uncertainty clouding her expression.” tu
will be just do you do is fine,” he said softly.
The baby cooed, and both of them looked down. Ivy reached out, and his tiny fingers wrapped tightly around
Silas saw something shift in her then, and he knew her answer even before she spoke.
“I’ll keep him,” she said quietly.
The officer gave a small nod. “Alright,
Ivy held the baby
tightly–shaky, but “2”
“Yeah.”
“So, officer,” Silas asked, hoping to shift the conversation, “what’s the update?”
AN
“We’re still searching for his mother,” the officer said. “All available units are working on it. We’ve already checked with Mason Hunter’s family and searched his properties, but nothing has turned up yet.”
“How did you find him?” Ivy asked, rocking the baby gently.
“When we released an Amber Alert, a woman came forward. Apparently, she had already contacted us after finding the baby and taking him home.”
“Did….. she see anything?” Silas asked.
“No. She said she found the baby alone in the car.”
Ivy’s brow furrowed. “But wasn’t the driver unconscious? How did she not see him?”
“I’m not sure,” the officer said. “You’ll have to fill out some documents before you can take him home.”
Silas feared Ivy might continue questioning the officer, but thankfully she bit her lip and nodded. “Okay.”
“Right this way, ma’am,” the officer said, leading them down the hall.
Panic returned in her eyes, and her cheeks turned red, but she went, holding the baby awkwardly yet protectively.
Silas followed behind her. As they entered the office, Ivy turned to him. “Can you help… take him?”
“Sure,” he smiled, stretching his arms.
She gently handed the baby to him before stepping forward to sign the paperwork. Silas rocked the child as she scribbled down.
He was a beautiful boy, with hair like his annoying father and eyes like Cheryl’s. The baby cooed again, and Silas’s heart flipped.
What would his own child be like? Would she have Ivy’s eyes or his? What color would her hair be?
Tm dope, Ivy said, then paused. “What? Why are you smiling?”
He hadn’t realized he was. “Nothing,” he said.
He had said she. The thought of having a daughter made his chest warm.
Ivy stared at him for a moment, then said, “Okay. We can leave.”
“Alright,” he replied, turning toward the door.
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THE H
Chapter 207
They left the station and got into the car.
“Are… you okay with him?” Ivy asked, gesturing toward the baby.
“Yes,” he said. “But if you want to take him, you can.”
She reached out immediately, and he passed the baby to her. Her expression softened as she leaned back in her seat, rocking him.
“I think she wanted to steal him.”
Silas blinked. “Who?”
“The woman who found him. I think she only gave him up because the police were already searching.”
He wasn’t completely convinced, but he said, “Maybe. Either way, he’s here now. With you.”
“Yeah,” she said quietly.
A moment of silence passed before Silas leaned closer. “Have you tried calling Mason’s number?”
Ivy raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t. Why?”
Since he said he kidnapped Cheryl and wants a ransom, he should’ve called by now.”
Ivy’s eyes narrowed. “I… didn’t think of that. Can you get my phone?”
He reached into her coat pocket, and his fingers brushed her thigh. She shivered slightly, a small gasp escaping her lips.
“Don’t,” he chuckled.
She smacked her lips, placing the baby on her lap. “Don’t what?” she teased.
He groaned at the playful sparkle in her eyes, and his body reacted. “Just call Mason,” he said, his voice already thick,
She chuckled, but then her face turned serious. She lifted the phone to her ear. “It’s not going through.”
“That’s just crazy.”
“How am I supposed to pay him if I can’t even reach him?”
“I guess he’s either really dumb… or just plain stupid,” Silas muttered.
Ivy went quiet, staring out the window.
Just then, Silas’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen. “Hey, Tyler,” he said as he answered.
“Hello, sir,” Tyler replied. “Aaliyah Salvator’s story is trending big. I and the team have created ad strategies for it.”
Relief washed over Silas. “That’s great news.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And the tape?”
“We’re still working on taking everything down sir.”
“Alright. Keep me posted.”
“Definitely, sir. Bye.”
“Bye.” Silas ended the call, turning to Ivy. “That was Tyler.” Then he told her everything.
“Oh, that’s good,” Ivy said. “I’m so glad it worked out.”
“Yeah, we-“He was interrupted by the sudden wail of the baby.
Ivy picked him up quickly, rocking him. That didn’t work at all as he cries grew louder, echoing through the car.
Silas sat up, alarmed. “What’s wrong with him?”
“I have no idea.” Ivy said, equally alarmed.
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Chapter 2076
“Place him on your shoulder, ma’am,” Bud advised. “And pat him.”
Ivy did as he said, patting him gently. “Am I supposed to sing?”
“I think you should,” Sila’s advice.
Ivy’s eyes widened as she began a wobbly, off–key version of Wheels on the Bus, but it didn’t
“It’s not working,” she said, her voice cracking.
help either.
+15
“Give him to me,” Silas said. He took the baby and placed him on his shoulder, rocking him gently. “Don’t cry, baby,” he murmured, his voice just as bad as Ivy’s.
The baby only cried harder, making Silas’s stomach churn.
Ivy was sweating now, despite the cool air, her eyes gleaming with fear. “What next?”
“I don’t know,” Silas said, still patting him.
Then Ivy’s eyes lit with realization. “He has colic! Cheryl said so!”
“Oh,” Silas blinked. He had no idea what that was.
“How do you reduce colic?” She asked Bud.
“I… don’t know,” Bud shrugged, his hand tightened around the wheel.
“Is it like a headache or body ache?” Silas asked.
“I think it’s the stomach,” Ivy replied.
Silas gently rubbed the baby’s stomach, but it didn’t help. “If it’s medical, we should head home. Theresa should be there by now.”
“Yes, sir,” Bud replied, stepping on the gas.
As the baby’s wails intensified, so did his panic. The moment the car stopped, they both jumped out carefully but quickly enough.
“Theresa!” Ivy called as they entered the house. “Theresa!”
Theresa ran out from the hallway, wrapped in a white towel. Her eyes widened. “What happened?”
“The baby! I think he’s dying,” Silas said, giving him to her. “Please check!”
Theresa hurriedly took the baby to the living room, and he and Ivy followed.
Monica joined them, her face creased with worry, her voice filled with panic. “What’s going on?”
“The baby has colic,” Ivy said, her voice trembling. “We might have made it worse.”
Theresa examined him quickly. “He’s fine. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Let me see him,” Monica said, reaching out. She placed a thumb gently in the baby’s mouth, and he suckling on it instantly. Monica sighed. “He’s hungry.”
Silas blinked. “Really?”
“Yes. One of the staff gave birth a few months ago, she can feed him.”
Theresa followed Monica out of the room.
Ivy laughed tightly, her eyes still shining with panic. “That was crazy.”
Before Silas could respond, his phone rang again. Detective Spence was on the line, and his chest tightened.
Hello, Detective.”
“Hello, Silas Stone. Sorry to bother you this late. I just wanted to confirm, is it Island Nova you want me to investigate?”
His heart dropped. “Yes. That’s the one. Why?”
“Well.” David sighed. “I can’t find anything like that. That island doesn’t exist.”
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Chapter 207
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