Rachel came home from the café, made dinner, and ate with Cora before taking her out again in a taxi.
Ever since the day she drove Faith from the city to the suburbs, she had been trying to take passengers headed that same way.
She worked the night shift now and felt a sense of joy and purpose helping people like that.
As Rachel drove back toward the city, her phone rang.
"Mommy, it's your phone," Cora said, handing her the earpiece.
Her tiny chubby hand was super cute, and her pretty little face was bright and glowing under the lights, with her eyes sparkling like stars.
"Hello, this is Rachel," she said, putting the earpiece in.
"Rachel, it's Faith. I just got off work. Can you come pick me up?" Faith said as she stepped out onto the street.
"Sure, I'm on my way back to the city now. But you'll have to wait for me a bit," Rachel said sweetly.
"Okay, take your time. I'll wait," Faith answered.
Faith was completely drained. She had stayed late for overtime and hadn't even had dinner.
She leaned against a streetlamp at the intersection, her eyes half-shut.
Her curvy figure was wrapped in a fitted pink blouse, and her chest looked like it was about to spill out.
The soft glow from the Tiffany lamp nearby hit her pale skin, making her features look dreamy and beautiful, like a flower blooming quietly in the night.
"It's Faith, the pretty lady we gave a ride to last time. She's waiting for us at the Marriott. Let's go pick her up and take her home," Rachel told Cora after hanging up.
Her voice was gentle and flowing, like a soft stream trickling through the heart.
"Oh, that pretty lady, Aunty Faith," Cora said excitedly. Her bright eyes sparkled as the car passed under the streetlights.
She really liked Aunt Faith. Last night, Mommy even said that Aunt Faith helped her a lot.
So Cora liked her even more now. She thought that when they picked her up later, she should say thank you properly.
The car sped along the highway, and soon they reached the Marriott International. But there was no sign of Aunt Faith.
They waited at the entrance for a bit.
"Has Aunt Faith already left?" Cora asked, stretching her neck to look around. Her slender little neck craned in all directions, but she couldn't spot Faith.
"Maybe she's still busy and hasn't come out yet," Rachel guessed after glancing around. Sometimes people needed to wrap up calls before coming out.
But after a while, Faith still hadn't shown up.
Rachel called her.
No answer.
Now Rachel felt uneasy.
She held Cora's hand and went to the front desk to ask the receptionist. The worker said Aunt Faith had already left a while ago.
Rachel's anxiety shot up. She quickly called again.
Still no answer.
This wasn't like Faith at all. Last time, she even mentioned how some creepy guy almost harassed her on the way home…
What if something had happened?
Rachel's hands started trembling.
"Don't worry, Mommy! Let's look for her!" Cora said sweetly, her voice soft and soothing like a stream.
Rachel nodded. That made sense. She got back in the car and started driving around nearby, searching every corner.
But no sign of Faith.
"Is Aunt Faith in trouble?" Cora asked quietly, her voice now filled with worry.
Rachel's eyes were turning red from panic. What if something really had happened?
What were they supposed to do now?
"You can call Daddy!" Cora's eyes suddenly lit up.
Daddy had gotten into the car here before! He was tall and super handsome, his figure was unforgettable!
"Right, why didn't I think of that? Cora, you're so smart," Rachel said, quickly grabbing her phone to search for the number.
She didn't have many contacts saved, but she had kept his number since he told her he'd return her clothes yesterday.
Rachel hesitated as she stared at the name "Rogue Elliott" on her screen. He wasn't exactly a good guy. But honestly... she didn't know who else to turn to right now.
She looked at Cora's innocent and cute face, then sighed and handed over the phone helplessly.
Rachel really didn't want to see him. But she had no choice. She didn't even know if he'd pick up.
"Hello," a deep, magnetic voice answered almost right away.
Kellan's tone was cool and calm. He couldn't help smirking, thinking Rachel was finally calling to return his clothes.
"Something's happened to one of your employees, Faith! From the front desk!" Rachel said in a rush, her voice filled with panic.
"Faith?" Kellan scoffed a little. Who the hell was Faith, and why should he care?
Rachel quickly explained everything that happened, and only then did Kellan realize Faith was actually part of his company. Alright, fine.
He should help.
He turned over lazily in bed, kind of annoyed. Why was everything these days connected to clothes?
There was a pause on the line.
Rachel's heart was pounding. The silence made her even more nervous. "Can you help me?" she asked, her voice soft but full of urgency. "I don't know where to find her... and I don't want to bring Cora with me. It's too dangerous."
Kellan froze for a second. The thought of Rachel being out there, scared and alone, made something clench in his chest.
"I'll help. Don't worry," he said suddenly, voice cold and firm. "Wait for me. Stay right where you are and don't move."
His tone was commanding, and his dark eyes were sharp like blades.
"Okay, I'll wait for you downstairs," Rachel said, her voice still shaking a little.
As soon as he ended the call, Kellan immediately dialed Denise. "Start a city-wide search. Track Faith's phone using our system. Once you find it, send me the location and report it to the police."
Who would dare mess with his people in his territory?
This was Blackwood City. Anyone who dared challenge Kellan Elliott was practically asking to disappear.
Kellan ran down the stairs as fast as possible, like he wished he could fly.
The moment he got downstairs, he saw Rachel standing by the car, shivering.
Her delicate features were tense, and her pale face looked almost snow-white. Her thin, fragile figure made him stop in his tracks for a second.
He suddenly had the urge to pull her into his arms and shield her from everything.
It was already autumn. The night wind was chilly. Rachel was only wearing a thin, long-sleeved chiffon shirt.
He wasn't sure if she was trembling from the cold or from pure worry over Faith.
Without saying a word, Kellan took off his own coat and draped it over her shoulders.
His movements were graceful and firm, like he was claiming her without asking.