Chapter 2

"What did you say?"

A flash of panic crossed Elaine's eyes as she instinctively wanted to rush home.

But remembering Vera still in her arms, she had no choice but to stop herself.

"Didn't I tell you to watch him carefully?" she demanded.

The nanny responded guiltily, "Julius kept whining for egg tarts. I went to the kitchen to bake some, but when I came back, he was gone."

Elaine took a deep breath, barely managing to stay calm. "Go look for him right now. Get more people to help. I'll bring Vera home immediately."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Elaine felt completely drained.

Vera needed constant attention, and Julius had to be found.

But she was just one person—she couldn't be in two places at once. Everything was falling on her shoulders.

Elaine was like an ant on a hot pan, frantically running in circles.

She thought about calling Arthur, but killed the idea the moment it arose.

Arthur definitely wouldn't answer.

In his eyes, Emily was more important than anything else.

Elaine carried Vera back home as quickly as possible.

Assistant Barry Wilson had just messaged her that the family doctor was on the way.

Elaine carefully laid Vera on the bed, instructing her, "Vera, the doctor will be here soon. Mommy needs to find your brother now."

Vera forced her eyes open, delirious but still murmuring, "Emily..."

Elaine's heart clenched painfully.

Even in this condition, all Vera could think about was Emily.

"Be good, Vera. You can see her when you're better."

After comforting Vera, Elaine immediately turned to search for Julius.

"Julius!"

"Julius, where are you?"

"Don't scare Mommy!"

Elaine searched throughout the sprawling mansion.

Though they didn't live downtown, the surrounding area had busy roads and traffic everywhere.

If something happened to Julius...

Elaine's heart twisted with worry—she couldn't bear to think further.

"Julius!"

She had nearly turned the entire mansion upside down when, just as she finished checking one room, she heard a faint electronic game sound coming from under the bed.

She whipped around toward the sound.

If she wasn't mistaken, that was the smartwatch game she'd bought for Julius.

Elaine yanked away the bedskirt, and sure enough, Julius was lying there.

She felt a rush of anger, anxiety, and relief that nothing bad had happened. She stared at Julius accusingly, "Julius, why are you hiding here? Do you know how worried I've been looking for you?"

Julius pouted carelessly, "You wouldn't let me go find Emily."

Elaine stared at him in disbelief, her eyes filled with disappointment.

She had so many things she wanted to say, but they all caught in her throat.

Julius's behavior and attitude felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

A cold wind seemed to blow through the hole, chilling her to the bone.

This was her flesh and blood!

Suddenly Elaine lost all desire to speak. She gave Julius a complicated look, then turned and left.

Downstairs, assistant Barry had arrived with the private doctor.

"Mrs. Smith, the doctor is here."

Elaine immediately put aside what had just happened and said urgently, "Vera's in her room. I'll take you there."

The private doctor immediately gave Vera a thorough examination.

Elaine waited anxiously nearby.

Looking at the thermometer reading, the doctor slowly shook his head, "Mrs. Smith, Vera has contracted the newest virus mutation. Currently, there's no effective treatment."

"What did you say?"

Elaine stumbled backward, the world suddenly spinning around her.

No treatment? What would happen to her Vera?

With trembling hands, Elaine pulled out her phone from her pocket, still wanting to call Arthur. With his connections, he could surely find a solution.

But once again, no one answered.

Barry hesitated, glancing at Elaine's pale face, then used his phone to call.

The next moment, the call connected!

Elaine's head snapped up as she stared at the phone, unconsciously gripping it tightly.

As his wife, she couldn't get through to Arthur, but Barry's call was answered immediately.

How ironic.

She and Arthur were strangers living under the same roof!

Yet when they first married, though their feelings weren't strong, Arthur had grown increasingly gentle during her pregnancy—remembering her preferences, cooking for her personally, giving gifts on every special occasion.

They had anticipated the arrival of their children together, choosing names and presents. He had even assembled the cribs with his own hands.

Back then, she often thought about how wonderful it would be if life could continue like that forever. Arthur would eventually fall in love with her.

They would form a happy family.

But all these fantasies and dreams were shattered the day Emily returned from abroad!

"Has the doctor arrived?" Arthur's voice came through the phone, pulling her back to reality.

Elaine took the phone, her voice strained, "Vera has the newest virus. The doctor is helpless. Where are you? When can you come home?"

Arthur's voice was calm, "I'm at the virus outbreak epicenter. Emily and I are quarantined here."

"Then what about Vera? She's already unconscious!"

Elaine struggled to control the emotion in her voice.

Taking care of their children was their shared responsibility.

Yet she was always fighting alone.

The feeling of isolation exhausted and devastated her.

Arthur frowned, "I'll send more medical teams over. You must take good care of Vera."

Elaine gripped the phone tightly, swallowing the bitterness in her throat.

"Vera needs you right now."

Arthur's brow furrowed, his thin lips pressed together in silence.

Elaine waited for his response, only to hear Emily's voice coming through instead, "Arthur, I've packed everything. We can leave anytime."

Elaine immediately caught the key words and asked urgently, "Where are you going?"

Arthur replied coldly, "The virus is spreading throughout the city. Emily's health is fragile, so I'm taking her abroad to escape it."

The last glimmer of hope in Elaine's eyes extinguished with those words.

He was thinking of Emily, but what about Vera? What about his wife and children in this crisis?

Bitterness filled Elaine's voice.

"What about me and the children?"