Chapter 23 — Finding the third child

She nervously facing the wood front door of Alice's compartment. She also spent more than two years looking for her to get her daughter. She pressed the doorbell and waiting for someone to open the door.

A man naked on top appeared before her, he was Alice's husband. She glimpsed at the woman inside who was busy combing her hair while she was only wrapped in a towel.

" Who are you? What do you need?" The guy asked her in a tight manner. He no longer remembers her.

" Where is Alice?" He suddenly frowned.

" She's not here anymore! I kicked her out!" He continued.

" Where is she n-now?"

" I don't know. Maybe she's dead!" He irritably added as he slammed the door. She was shocked at what he did.

Maybe, the couple may have already separated.

Where the hell can she find Alice?

She still hadn’t lost hope of finding her. She went back to the taxi she had rented out. She will go to Alice's parents' home, she may be there now. She visited there last week but they seem to be fibbing to her that Alice is not there yet.

She went down to the front of the old apartment. She immediately rang the doorbell and asked the woman who opened the gate.

" Is Alice Dela Cruz were there?" she respectfully inquired.

" Oh, you missed seeing her. It's been 5 minutes had passed after she left", she replied.

" Where did she go? Is she alone?" she completely asks her with desperation.

" Her daughter is sick. It looks like she's going to the clinic," she replied.

She was immediately got nervous and worried about her daughter's health.

" Can you tell me the address of the clinic," she begged. The old woman immediately told her the address.

She returned to the taxi and ordered the driver to steer go to a clinic. When she came down, she paid him a thousand.

" Your change, miss."

" Keep the change. I'm in a hurry!" she said to the driver and trotted to a Pediatrics clinic.

When she entered the clinic, the doctor and the other patients looked at her. Her eyes searching for Alice but the woman wasn't there. She bowed—apologizing and left the clinic. Her eyes rummaging around, and then, she saw a woman hurriedly walking away. She is carrying a child.

She immediately moved even though she was wearing heels. She knew she was Alice.

" Alice! Wait up!" she yelled, screamed to stop her. She didn't tempt turn around and hastily walked away.

She took off her heels and chased after them. There, she walks through the hallway through which the students of a university are blocked and pass by. She huddled with the students to catch up with them. After she passed, Alice suddenly disappeared.

Damn, Alice! Why you always easily escaped?

She stood exhausted on the side of the hallway. She couldn't longer see Alice anywhere. She gripped her skirt tightly. She was deeply remorseful when she left her child with her friend.

Before she fled to another country, she gave birth to William's third child here in the Philippines. She had nowhere else to run so she left the baby to Alice. She didn’t think, Alice would run away after a year. Since then, she has never seen Lily again.

She walked home feels weary, undisturbed by the drizzle. Several times she came home miserable for Alice always ran off to her sight. Wyndell passed by in his sports car. He stopped where she was unmoved, gaze at the rainy sky.

He peeked on the window.

" Hop in," he said.

She had no other option but to ride in his car. The condominium is too far away if she just walks barefooted.

" Why are you alone?" He asked while fastening her seatbelt. She looked at him as he stared into her eyes.

" I'm looking for someone," she mumbled. He just nodded and starts the engine.

" If you want a companion. Why don't you call me, my service is free," he gladly offered.

" Don't bother, Wyndell. I'll just impede to your work," she refused.

" I'll put you first Lilian over my job. I don't want you to get in harm. You're so important to me," he confessed. She stuck her glance at him.

They're not close to each other. Why is he like this when speaking of concern towards her?

" Thank you," she thanks him hesitantly.

" If you have a problem, just spill it out and I will listen ", he continued.

But, no thanks. She didn't want Wyndell to know she had children. She didn’t want her children to be in danger and she didn’t want to be involved in William’s life again. She wanted to escape her chaotic life with her children.

She thanked him again when they arrived at the condominium. She crossed the way to the elevator. She was stunned when she saw William waiting for an important person outside the elevator.

He immediately swerved and looked at her, once gesture to her to go first enter the elevator. Even though she was wondering, she still moved with the other employees. William followed after her, stood behind her.

As the elevator moves, she can feel William's breath in her hair. His nose sniffing the scent of it.

" I love the scent of your hair. Until now, you still don't change your shampoo," he whispered while sniffing.

She secretly bit her lower lip. She tries to suppress the smile that freely shows on her kissable lips. When the elevator stopped, William joined her. Well, he was just her neighbor after all.

She noticed this past few weeks, she didn't see Santi. It looks like his model girlfriend has returned to her country.

She stopped in front of her unit and turned to William who was staring blankly at her. They stared at each other for a moment before he thought to swipe the card and open the door.

" Be careful always," he said in almost whispers. She quietly nodded, entered the unit silently.

When she entered the unit. She blew out a sigh of relief.

What if William found out that they had another child?

Nay! William shouldn't have known that. Maybe when she gets Lily back from Alice, and then William knows it, he will also take the child away from her.

She can't let that thing happen.

Alice mustn't know that Lily's father is a wealthy businessman. Maybe Alice will be dazzled and suddenly exchange her child for money.

I hope it won't come about.