Chapter 2 Motherly Love

Now, Amelia had become a well-known talent worldwide, sought after by all the major pediatric hospitals in the country. However, even then, she couldn't help but come back to her own country. No matter what had happened, this was still the place she'd call home.

"Amelia!" A familiar voice called out from the crowd.

"Dora, you came early!" She'd know that voice from anywhere. Amelia walked over and gave her best friend a hug. It had truly been so long since she'd last seen Dora He.

Dora He rolled her eyes. "Obviously. I'm your best friend. I left my job the moment you told me you were coming!"

Amelia pulled away, smiling warmly. "Thank you!"

During the five years of her mother being ill and her own emotional struggles, Dora He had always been there for her, listening to her rants and offering unwavering support.

"You're my friend. Let's go." Holding onto Amelia's arm, Dora walked towards her second-hand Volkswagen Beetle.

"Miss, could you please give me some money? I'm hungry."

As they were chatting about their lives, a little dirty hand grabbed the hem of Amelia's shirt, causing her to stop.

She looked down to see a disheveled boy bringing up a hand to ask for a few coins.

A pang went through her heart. The boy must be around his age by now.

"Where are your parents?" Amelia crouched down to look at him.

The boy could only shake his head in reply.

"You're too kind, Amelia. Usually, parents ask their kids to beg for them these days. Haven't you heard? It's their new thing," Dora He snorted, shaking her head.

"I'm not! Stop it!" The little boy stomped his feet in frustration. There was anger evident in his eyes as he stared up at Dora He.

Nobody could say no to such a cute kid. But Dora couldn't really care less.

"I don't have a mom or a dad, Auntie," he said, tugging on Amelia's arm, his eyes blinking rapidly like a doll. "Please, could you take me out to eat?"

"Fine." Amelia had always been good with kids.

"You always choose the kind ones, don't you?" Dora snorted, shaking her head. She was never the one to give these people a chance, believing many were just trying to scam others.

The little boy made a face at her in reply.

"It's just one meal, Dora." Amelia waved it off, holding the boy's hand affectionately. "What's your name?"

"My name's Eric," he said after thinking for a while. He usually didn't tell people his family name because too many newspapers were looking for him now.

"Eric. That's a good name." Amelia ruffled the young boy's hair.

"Your name's Amelia?" he asked.

"How do you know?" Dora called out before Amelia could respond herself.

"You really are stupid. I just heard you call her by her name," Eric stated.

"What... Listen, boy, I'm Dora, the smartest person in this country, if not the world. Why don't you come here so I can kick your ass!" Dora raised her hand, pretending to hit him.

Eric quickly hid behind Amelia, sticking his tongue out at Dora.

Just as they were playing around, the electronic screen on a mall flashed a notice: "Mr. Eric, a young master of the Falcone Family, has been missing for twelve hours. Here is his photo. If you see him, please call the number below. In return, you will receive millions in cash."

"What's on the electronic screen?" Dora furrowed her eyebrows, about to turn around. However, Eric shouted at her before she could see it.

"You must love stinky tofu, don't you? Huh?"

"What?" The electronic screen was already gone from her mind as Dora turned back to him, hands on her hips.

"Well, I heard that fat people like eating stinky tofu, and you are fatter than good auntie, so I guess you must like to eat stinky tofu." Eric took another secret glance at the screen. The notice was already gone. Luckily, they didn't get to see it.

"You rascal! I'm fat because I'm... I... Well, it's not because of stinky tofu!" Dora flushed red.

She had always been chubby on the sides, but that was because she'd eat anything given to her.

Nancy smiled, teasing, "Well, he's right about one thing. You loved stinky tofu for years!"

Dora crossed her arms, snorting. "You just met him, and now you're already teaming up. You've always been fond of young boys, as if they're sons to you."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Amelia laughed, avoiding her gaze. This had always been a topic she'd kept hidden for five years, so she never really spoke about it until Dora brought it up.

She turned back to Eric. "Tell me what you like to eat."

"Abalone porridge, Australian lobster... and..." Eric hesitated, remembering the luxurious meals he'd been fed in the past.

Before he could finish, Dora cut him off. "Boy, are you kidding? Abalone? Lobster? Do you think we're rich or something? Listen, you either have steamed bread or stuffed buns, and that's it!"

"Good aunt, don't worry. I'm a good boy. I'll take it." Eric never thought about the price of meals before.

"It's okay. I can take you to eat abalone porridge and Australian lobster. They're also my favorite," Amelia stated, smiling.

"Really?" His eyes gleamed. If only she were his mother.

The sky gradually darkened.

Although it was summer, in the Falcone household, the atmosphere was cold as ice.

In the brightly lit villa hall, Delilah was pacing anxiously in the living room. "Lorenzo, why won't you say anything?" she said, bringing her hands up to her face. "What happened to him? Do you think that he might have been abducted and sold by human traffickers?"