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“There isn’t a table for five, so we’ll have to sit separately. You two can sit there if you guys don’t mind,” said Ella, pointing to an empty table for two in the restaurant’s

corner.

Dr. Parker looked at Rebecca for approval. She nodded twice, “No problem,” she said, although slightly disappointed.

She sat across from Dr. Parker and felt slightly awkward since they had only met that morning. “Are you ready to order?” Dr. Parker asked casually. Rebecca looked up from the menu she was reading, “Yeah, um, Gnocchi Al Pesto and mineral water, thanks,” she said to the waiter who was chewing gum.

“So, where are you from? You look familiar, like I’ve seen you somewhere before but I can’t remember,” murmured Dr. Parker as he tore off a piece of focaccia and stuffed it into his mouth.

Rebecca’s stomach churned instantly. Sometimes she forgot that she was an influencer with millions of followers. “I have a pretty common face, maybe you mistook me for someone else,” she replied with a stiff smile.

“Yeah, maybe. So, you intended to stay here for good?” Dr. Parker asked curiously.

Rebecca nodded hesitantly, “Maybe…”

“Well, you don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to,” Dr. Parker mumbled, sensing the discomfort on Rebecca’s face. face

“I didn’t mean to be rude, I just-

“Hey, it’s okay. You don’t need to apologize, I understand,” said Dr. Parker with a small smile on his face. Soon their food arrived, and they ate in silence, Rebecca’s mind too chaotic for a casual conversation.

“You can go back to the hotel and rest. Your baby will be fine; she is in good hands,” said Dr. Parker after they finished lunch and were walking out of the restaurant.

Rebecca took a deep breath and nodded, “Alright, please contact me if anything

happens, and thanks for lunch,” she said. She tried to smile, but it turned out to be a stiff grin.

“Of course we will Dr. Parker nodded and then returned to the clinic, leaving Rebecca standing in front of the restaurant looking confused.

Instead of returning to the hotel, Rebecca chose to spend her time walking aimlessly. She needed air to clear her mind. She bought an iced coffee and sat in a quiet park.

She looked at her dead phone and suddenly felt like disappearing from the world.

But what if Harvey looks for us someday? said a voice in her head.

“That will never happen! retorted another voice.

With her chest pounding with emotion, she got up from her seat, crossed the street to a phone store just a few meters from the park, traded her phone for a new one, bought a backpack, withdrew all her money, and returned to the hotel three hours later, out of breath.

“Miss Harper?”

Rebecca turned in surprise. In the hotel lobby, Dr. Parker stood looking confused.

“What are you doing here?” Rebecca asked warily.

“I tried to contact you, but your phone was off,” said Dr. Parker quickly, knowing from the start that Rebecca seemed like someone with severe trauma.

Rebecca swallowed, her face turning red instantly. “I’m sorry, I lost my phone. Is Lily okay?” she asked tensely.

Dr. Parker nodded, “Yeah, I just wanted to confirm there was a woman who claimed to be your relative and wanted to visit Lily, but I wasn’t sure so-”

“WHAT?! Did she take her?” Rebecca approached Dr. Parker, her eyes widening in panic.

Dr. Parker shook his head, “Of course not, I immediately contacted the police because…” Rebecca frowned, “Because what?” she demanded, slightly trembling.

“Well, don’t be offended but since I first saw you, you looked like you were threatened by something. So there’s a sheriff guarding my clinic, he might ask you a bit about your background…

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Rebecca shook her head. “I can’t trust anyone, including the police!” she shouted in panic. Suddenly she was overcome with fear. What if Victoria was just tricking her, telling her to stay away from Harvey, then secretly killing Lily?

Dr. Parker gently touched Rebecca’s shoulder “I don’t know what you’ve been through, but the sheriff I’m talking about is my uncle, he’s a very honest man, I swear on my life.”

Rebecca clenched her trembling hands and quickly walked toward the clinic, carrying her heavy backpack. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“I can help you carry your backpack-”

“NO!” snapped Rebecca, moving her backpack to her chest and glaring sharply at Dr. Parker.

“Whoa, okay! I was just trying to help,” replied Dr. Parker in surprise.

Rebecca didn’t respond, walking quickly to the clinic. Her mind was only on Lily; she was terrified of losing her baby. She knew Victoria would do anything to get rid of the last Specter heir.

As she was about to enter the clinic, she ran into a middle–aged sheriff with the name Thomas Parker on his chest.

“You must be Rebecca Harper?” said Thomas when he saw Rebecca appear with Dr. Parker, his nephew.

Rebecca nodded, “Where is my baby?” she asked firmly.

“She is safe, you can see her and then come back here to talk to me,” said the sheriff, gesturing to Ella to accompany Rebecca to the third floor.

“Miss Harper, Lily is fine. Doctor Parker did the right thing by calling the sheriff here,” said Ella, trying to calm Rebecca.

“Ella, do you remember the face of the person who came to visit Lily earlier?” Rebecca asked without stopping.

Ella frowned, “Well, I don’t remember her face well but she had ginger hair and was very tall. She looked scared when Dr. Parker contacted the sheriff,” she replied excitedly, feeling like she was in a thriller movie scene.

Rebecca was silent. She didn’t know who the woman was, but Victoria could send

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anyone to follow her, and she was sure the woman was one of her people.

“That’s Lily,” said Ella, pointing to one of the phototherapy boxes when they reached

the room.

Rebecca couldn’t help but cry. She held the phototherapy box and sobbed

uncontrollably, unable to imagine what would happen if Lily were taken from her.

“Is she okay?” she could hear Dr. Parker’s voice from the entrance.

Rebecca turned, “I have to take Lily away from here, that woman can come back at any time,” she said firmly, ignoring the tears streaming down her face.

“But her bilirubin levels aren’t stable yet, she still needs phototherapy,” Dr. Parker replied, walking closer.

Rebecca looked at Lily, whose eyes were covered with gauze, and was filled with immense indecision. “What should I do?” she whispered, squatting down and covering

her face with her hands.

Dr. Parker took a deep breath.

“Okay, listen. I have an idea but you have to trust me.”

END