Take My Breath Away

It all happened like magic. First, Erica took care of Ethan and gave him a home. Then, Gifford brought Chantel home and his parents took her in. But of course, no one expected the two would marry. After that, Erica and her sons took in a little boy named Kenney and got him off the streets. And now Boswell had come upon a little girl in his misadventures in the forest—Angelina.

Wesley felt a headache coming on. "Okay, you've figured it out, huh? You're like a kid magnet. Every time I turn around, you've found some poor child to take care of. You even have kids yourself, and yet you're still surrounded by other people's children. A few years ago, your mom and I helped you take care of Ethan. But what about this little girl?"

They had so many kids to watch over. What if Erica and Matthew wanted to have even more? Too many young ones would definitely be a pain to handle.

Yvette might have her own place, but she still lived close by. When she had to work or attend to other obligations, her daughter, Wendy, would live with Wesley and Blair. She was also the Li family's child, and they took good care of her. Although Gifford only had one kid, he confided in his mother that he wouldn't mind having more.

Matthew suggested, "Maybe we could consult with a welfare house. They should know what to do with her." ZL Group donated a lot of money to the welfare houses every year. After he had his own kids, he knew how expensive raising a child could be, so he doubled the amount he donated.

Although he also wanted a daughter, he didn't want to adopt Angelina without knowing who she was, who her family was. Were they good people? Would they want her back? But after he got her housed and settled, he could spend more money on this girl and ask people there to give her special treatment. That was not a problem.

Debbie agreed with her son. "That's a good idea, I think." When Ethan's biological father came to claim him, Wesley and Blair were very sad. He was still a powerful memory, and they often talked of him fondly. But they were too far away to visit him easily. Debbie was afraid the same thing might happen if she adopted this little girl.

Carlos stayed out of it. He let the young couple handle the matter.

But no one really wanted to take care of her. Terilynn, Joshua, Sheffield, and Evelyn were far too busy to take care of their own brood. And they didn't feel comfortable using a nanny. So, their kids spent most of their time at their grandparents' houses.

However, the four boys weren't so sure about that. When they heard Angelina would be sent

n the whole house was ablaze, Noreen's hoarse voice came from inside. "I was wrong. I know I was wrong! Please! Mr. Huo, please don't kill me!"

Sitting in the car outside the house, Matthew pretended not to hear her screams.

Ten minutes later, a bodyguard came over and reported, "Mr. Huo, I think she's had enough."

Matthew nodded, "Fine. Get her out of there."

"Yes, sir!"

The men forced their way into the blaze, wearing special protective suits and using crowbars and axes to clear a way in. Then they brought Noreen out. Most of her body was covered in burns, her once elegant looks ruined by a spiderweb of burnt and melted flesh. Then, the pitiful figure, half-wailing half-coughing, was thrown on the ground outside the house. Matthew was sitting on a chair.

In less than three days, Noreen had been brought down. Once she was a star, now she was barely alive. She lay on the ground and tried to open her eyes. Between coughs, she forced out the words, "You taught me... a painful lesson... I'll tell you everything I know about Michel. Just please, help me."

The man sneered, "You're in no position to make any bargains."

As she moved her fingers, she accidentally touched the blisters on them. She closed her eyes tightly, knowing that she would be tortured even more cruelly if she didn't talk. The pain was intense; it was like fire lived and danced inside her.

When the pain faded a bit, she said weakly, "Once a month. 3 A.M., on the 20th day. You can find him at the Teddy Bar of Parasol—"

Bang! Suddenly, a shot rang out.

"Ah!" Noreen's body convulsed, and her eyes widened. At last, she lay motionless. Blood pooled in her mouth, and a thick, red lake spread across the ground.

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