Chapter 393

Sidney appeared pale, struggling to breathe properly, clearly unwell. Only then did Winnie realize that in for the past three days, she hadn't properly taken care of her other son.

She walked over, extending a hand to touch his small wrist, feeling an alarming heat. Overwhelmed with guilt, she exclaimed, "You have a high fever, Sidney!"

Sidney hung his head in silence. "Dad arranged for an IV for me, but I don't want it. I wished I could burn to death instead."

"Why are you saying such things, sweetheart?" Winnie suddenly understood the depth of Sidney's suffering. She reproached herself for overlooking her other son during these trying days. She had been exhausted mentally and physically, unintentionally forgetting to take care her other son, Sidney, who was already weaker than others.

"It's my fault, isn't it, Mommy? Why wasn't it me who got kidnapped by Darcy? I would rather it be me! Oscar and you have such a good relationship; I don't want to see you sad. Why is it always Oscar who steps forward, who suffers? I hate myself for being useless. I am the big brother, but I can't even protect my younger brother. That day, it was my idea for Oscar to visit grandma. If I hadn't spoken up, Oscar wouldn't have been kidnapped. And now he's gone!" Sidney clung to Winnie's thigh, tears streaming down his face.

He held onto Winnie's pants tightly and she could see how guilt-ridden and pained he was. Her heart ached, and Winnie immediately lifted Sidney into her arms, embracing him tightly. The little one was sensitive and had thought that it was all his fault.

Winnie didn't want him to be so distraught, so she could only comfort him gently, saying, "It's all right, Sidney. Oscar absorbed more of your nutrients in my womb, so he should be stronger. He should protect his big brother. I just found out that you spent six months in an incubator, fighting with death for six months, just like Oscar. You're my brave boy. Besides, everyone is searching for Oscar now. We won't give up."

"I won't give up too. Mommy, you can't give up as well."

Winnie felt as though her heart was being torn apart, desperately nodding and holding his hand. They continued down the corridor. "Didn't you say grandma was looking for us? Mommy will bring your IV bottle to grandma's ward."

In the intensive care unit, Madam Rodriguez had woken up. Breathing through an oxygen mask, her eyes clear, she waved when she saw Winnie come in and let out a heavy sigh. "Lawrence said Oscar hasn't been found yet." She removed her oxygen mask, her gaze dim.

Biting her lip, Winnie fought back the urge to cry and nodded calmly. "They're still searching. Maybe they'll find him in a few days. That little guy is exceptionally smart. He might just save himself."

"Winnie" Madam Rodriguez closed her eyes, unable to maintain her facade of optimism any longer. Tears welled up in the old woman's eyes as she slowly pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. "I didn't notice when I was taken to the hospital a couple of days ago. It was the nurse who said it fell out of my pocket. Since my eyesight is poor, I can't read the words but I remember it should have been written by Oscar. Here, take a look at it yourself."

Her voice choked with emotion as she recalled that night's event. "That night, Oscar said there was no one outside. He wanted to save me, but I didn't have the strength to escape with him. I quickly passed out. In a daze, I heard the child crying as he ran outside. I wonder if he went to find help? Or if Darcy took him away outside? I don't know how he got lost." Madam Rodriguez's eyes welled up with tears, her lips pressed together in silence.

Winnie's heart clenched as she unfolded the crumpled note, covered in mud, revealing the scribbled handwriting of a child. In an instant, Winnie's hand trembled lightly. Through painstaking efforts, she recognized it as a message written by Oscar which read: "Mummy, if something happens to me, don't be sad. You're focused on saving grandma, and I will bravely protect her. I won't let her die here! I've gone outside, I'm very brave. I will always love you. If the worst really happens, I hope to be your good little child in my next life."

Winnie clutched the note, overwhelming grief pierced her heart, causing her to take a sharp breath and collapse at the foot of the bed.

"Winnie?" Madam Rodriguez stood up, alarmed by her strange demeanor, and quickly asked, "What did the child write?"

"It's nothing." Winnie softly shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, her fair face sinking into the depths of despair, shattered by Oscar's words. She couldn't comprehend what next life or the nonsense behind it meant. Nevertheless, she clung to the hope that he would be fine.

However, in reality, he had been missing for three or four days. Winnie wondered why Darcy had hidden the whereabouts of the child and endured Lawrence's oppression if she knew where the child was.

Winnie suddenly felt trapped, with no way out. She couldn't properly fathom the fact that her son, Oscar, could possibly be really gone.

Unable to control her emotions, she hastily stood up and said, her lips trembling, "Madam Rodriguez, I'm going out for a bit. Sidney, you be good and stay here with Grandma for her IV."

After leaving the hospital, Winnie allowed her tears to flow freely as she stood in the rain. Stunned, she stood there, desperate, and dialed Jeremy's number again.

Jeremy was accustomed to her thirty or more calls every day. He patiently answered and apologized, "I'm sorry, Winnie. We've searched everywhere, but there's still no sign..."

Winnie struggled to catch her breath, her strength failing her. When she regained consciousness, she discovered herself lying in the apartment, with Lawrence standing beside the bed. He stood tall in a dark suit, his face tired and worn. His imposing figure partially blocked the light from the window, casting the room into dimness and adding to the somber atmosphere.

In Lawrence's hands, he tightly held the note he had taken from her. Seeing Oscar's handwriting, he crumbled inside. He had yet to formally meet his son, and now that he finally found out about his existence, he was gone. Over the past few days, he and Jeremy had searched every inch of Lymington for him, but there were still no signs of Oscar. He had also been considering how he would explain this to Winnie.

His throat rolled as he bent down, attempting to grasp her fragile shoulders. "Winnie..."

Cold and indifferent, she almost immediately pulled away. She shifted slightly away, turned her head, and her pair of cold and melancholic eyes covered her sadness as she said, "The child couldn't be found, right? You've been searching for so many days, and Darcy doesn't have any answers."

"It has only been three days, it's too soon to lose hope." Lawrence stared at her intently, assuring her and giving her hope.

"It's all your fault." Winnie lowered her gaze, raised it again, her eyes filled with sorrow and detachment. "He wouldn't have disappeared if you had gone to save him earlier, or if you hadn't believed Darcy!"

Lawrence was weighed down by her heavy blame, unable to move. Although she spoke softly and appeared delicate, every word carried a substantial weight, almost as if she were passing judgement. He knew he was late to realize, even after unraveling the three-year misunderstanding between them and all of Darcy's fabricated truths. His delayed realization had cost Oscar's disappearance.

Looking at him, the woman was full of disappointment, despair, and anger.

"I'll keep searching for Oscar, Winnie. You should eat some porridge to soothe your stomach and not let your body weaken." He turned his deep gaze away, coaxing her to speak.

Olivia brought in the porridge, unsure whether to give it to Lawrence or feed Winnie herself.

"You can leave now! Don't come back. I don't want to see you for a while." Winnie turned her head, unable to help but blame him. Her slender figure was clearly thinner, and she was filled with indifference and resentment toward him.

Lawrence's face stiffened, and his blood ran cold as if doused in an icy shower. She hated him to the point of not wanting to see him. He forced a bitter smile, his expression turning cold and gloomy, refusing to leave.

Suddenly, the man's phone rang in his pocket, but he remained oblivious.

Feeling the chill in the air, Olivia hesitated and reminded him in a low voice, "Lawrence, someone's calling you?"

Lawrence glanced at the caller ID - it was Dr. Moore. The phone call came from Lawrence's attending physician, and it sounded urgent. Lawrence furrowed his brows slightly and had to step outside to answer.

On the other side, the tone of the attending physician was tense. "Mr. Rodriguez, can you come to the hospital as soon as possible? The results of your mother's blood test are out, and we've discovered a major issue. Her prognosis is not optimistic."

"What did you say?" It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over him. Lawrence's brow furrowed, and he quickly glanced at Winnie's bedroom. He strode out of the apartment with a serious expression. "I'll be there right away!"