Chapter 232 - Like Father Like Son
All his close friends and enemies in Alexander’s personal life were based or settled in Italy, Greece, France, California and New York. If any of them had Hera, then she should be somewhere in these places. Alexander never stopped looking into hospitals. Fortunately, the dead bodies about Hera’s age found around these places never matched her descriptions.
Alexander had searched the whole of Italy where the Baresis could hide Hera, but he got nothing.
The second on the list was the Castellanos family. Hera was nowhere in Greece either. It came out as a huge relief to know that Hera was out of reach for Christopher. If there was any chance of Johnathan having Hera, Alexander could only thank his luck that Johnathan never brought her to his hometown.
It would be too easy for Alexander to barge into the Castellanos mansion and strangle the worthless jerk of a prince. No one would dare to stop him, but Alexander knew Johnathan would never reveal the truth of Hera’s whereabouts to him even if he asked by keeping his head at gunpoint.
A disappointed, heartbroken lover burning in the fire of hatred and revenge could never let anything good happen. Johnathan envied Alexander to the point where he would rather die than help Alexander. If he didn’t even hesitate once and his heart didn’t tremble before trying to kill Felicity, then the bastard could do anything to defeat Alexander.
At some point in time, a futile thought crossed Alexander’s mind. He had hoped that somehow Johnathan had a little humanity left in him, and he might have handed Hera to Marianna. Alexander hoped no matter how absurd or unbelievable it occurred, Marianna had the heart to embrace Hera’s presence in her life.
However, that hope disappeared just as it appeared. If Marianna wanted Hera, she would’ve never left her in the first place. Alexander had sent another search party to France nonetheless. But it seemed disappointment had left its dark shadow over Alexander’s happiness permanently.
Neither the orphanages in these countries had any clue about the missing baby, nor the sinners in the mafia world claimed to know anything about Alexander’s daughter. No one dared to approach the mafia lord.
“Think about it, Alexander. There was never a call demanding ransom. No one had attempted to ask a favour in return or bargain with power or any other benefits from you,” Felicity pointed out, resting her head on Alexander’s chest. His fingers stroked her damp hair absent-mindedly. He hummed in response, a thoughtful expression occupying his tired face.
Clad only in their night robes, both of them were lying on their bed. Alexander had suggested they take a shower together when Felicity seemed too exhausted to take one by herself.
“It may be whoever has Sebastian left Hera with are goodhearted people, and they are secretly raising Hera as their own,” Felicity voiced out, her tone filled with hope. Alexander gave it a thought and nodded. “They might be too afraid to contact me after witnessing that gunshot war,” Alexander said, coinciding with Felicity’s assumptions.
Both of them pondered over the thought of there being another possibility. Amid all these circumstances, it could be possible Hera might have ended up in the hands of a stranger, and they took her in without knowing the truth of her identity.
“Whatever the outcome be, one thing is for sure that she’s alive, and she’ll find her way home sooner or later,” Alexander promised while Felicity sent a prayer to the universe to make it come true. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Meanwhile, Alexander’s phone rang, disturbing the quietness surrounding them.
Felicity reached over to grab the phone from the nightstand. Her eyes lit up in delight, and the smile on her lips broadened into a grin as the name Junior flashed on the screen. “My little trouble maker is calling,” she said, showing the phone to Alexander. Alexander strained his posture and sat up, leaning against the headboard.
He seemed worried, the corners of his mouth pressed in, and Felicity frowned in confusion. Before she could voice it out, Alexander replied to her unasked question. “Don’t tell him about Sebastian. I want to speak to Michael first,” he said in a requesting tone. Felicity nodded in acceptance. “Of course, Alexander, I understand,” she said before receiving the call.
“How’s my best boy doing this evening?” Felicity asked, grinning at her son through the screen, her voice dripping from all the love she had in her heart for her little boy. Alexander smiled, waving his hand in greeting. Hunter chuckled, his chest filling with warmth at the mere sight of his parents’ happy faces.
“I’m good, mom, and before you ask, let me assure you I’ve been a good boy and didn’t get into any trouble,” Hunter offered in his defence. Felicity praised him with her words of appreciation in return, and Alexander rolled his eyes playfully before snorting a laugh. Hunter scowled, unimpressed by his father’s reaction. “What’s so funny, dad?” he asked, sending a warning signal through his eyes.
Hunter watched with his narrowed eyes while his father leaned forward, bringing his face close to the phone’s screen. Alexander raised one of his eyebrows at his beloved son, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just remembered a joke someone said about chameleons promising not to change,” he pretended to whisper but said loud enough for Felicity to hear and smirked at his son.
Hunter snorted, his purple eyes mirroring the joyful spark in his father’s green ones. “Dad, do you know chameleons take their hue and the colour of their moral character from those who are around them?” Hunter countered, pointing his index finger at Alexander. The latter huffed and crossed his arms, pretending to be annoyed. Now it was Felicity’s turn to roll her eyes.
“What’s with you two always speaking in riddles? I sometimes feel left out, as if you’re keeping secrets from me,” Felicity accused, scowling at both of them. Alexander chuckled and pulled her back to his chest, crossing his arm around her middle. “Oh, it’s nothing, Felci. I wanted him to know that he still has a lot to learn from me to be like me,” Alexander said, winking at his son.
“Or maybe I don’t have to learn anything from you, dad. I already inherited everything from you by blood,” Hunter said. “Haven’t you heard, like father, like son?” he asked, sounding too arrogant and smiled at his father. Alexander’s eyebrows arched up, eyes shining with pride while his lips twitched into a smile, impressed by his boy’s smug comeback.
“I would be glad too if you two let me in on the inside joke,” Felicity said sarcastically, irked at their stupid banter. Alexander pressed his cheek to hers, resting his chin on her collarbone before tightening his arms around her. Both father and son snickered while Felicity scowled, displeased by the response. However, her frown disappeared as the smile stretched over her lips when Alexander kissed her cheek.
Hunter’s heart filled with warmth at the sight of his parents’ happy faces. He watched the gesture of love his parents exchanged and wished he could share the hug with them.