Chapter 5: We must Protect Mommy, Austin
The man in glasses was named Deacon Byrne. He was a private detective. Diana had been hiring him all these years to inquire about Harley West in the country. After escaping to a foreign country and settling down six years ago, the first thing she did was to ask someone to search for Harley.
The only person she cared for and could not forget back then was Harley. After all, she had raised her for ten or more years, and in her heart, she saw her as her own mother. Diana did not know who her parents were, she used to have the thought to search for them. Yet every time that thought popped out, she would deny it immediately.
It was them who abandoned her at the orphanage back then. Therefore she did not have any feelings towards her parents. Except the two little fellows, Harley was her only family in this world. Yet, where had Harley gone?
She initially thought Mirabelle had done something to her, yet after that she was informed that Mirabelle had been secretly searching for Harley too. Harley's whereabouts were a myth. Diana did not manage to get any clue until the end. Deacon adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said blandly, "We got something this time. The last time Harley West showed up was at the Stratton Villa."
"This is the picture we took from CCTV and after using some tricks." Deacon took a photo out from his bag and put it before Diana. It was indeed not an easy task to find the surveillance footage from few years ago. Therefore, the photo was not clear. Yet, Diana could still instantly tell that was Harley who had raised her. Tears started to accumulate in her eyes.
"What was Harley doing at the villa?" Diana was slightly confused. Wasn't the Stratton Villa the place Mirabelle and her family lived? Harley was hired by the Moss family to take care of her, could it be she was going to resign back then?
Not knowing why, Diana felt that things were not as simple as she thought. Why was Harley nowhere to be found after she went to the villa? And, was Harley just an ordinary babysitter? It was Harley who passed on her extraordinary perfume-making skills to her.
She had been very curious of her identity when she was little, but Harley kept on claiming she was just an old granny who worked for others. Diana began to suspect Harley's identity now. With such perfume- making skills, how would she be unable to make a living and need to become a babysitter for others?
Her head ached and she rubbed her temples. She felt that things had become more and more complicated. "Thank you, I'll transfer the money to your account, please continue your investigation regarding this."
"Sure thing, Miss Moss. It's my responsibility."
Diana smiled and did not speak. After putting the photo into her purse, she stood up and left the café.
Meanwhile, inside the apartment rented by Diana, the two kids were not watching TV as insisted by Diana. Austin opened Diana's laptop while keeping a straight face. Emily who saw that looked at him with an innocent look and said, "Austin, mommy said we can't touch her computer."
"Mommy's not allowed you to touch computers after you hacked into daddy's company's system last time."
"You're a bad boy! Bad!"
After finished, Emily puffed out her cheeks and closed the laptop at once. Austin glimpsed at her blandly with a stern look. Emily was slightly afraid, she lowered her head and muttered, "You're scaring me again. Mommy's gonna beat you up if she knows this!"
"Shut up!" Austin felt his head hurt a little as he heard her babbling. He pushed her away and opened the laptop. The password lock seemed to not function at all. The email icon on the desktop was shining and Austin clicked it open deftly. The mail was from Mirabelle, it was basically asking Diana when she would be free to have a meet.
Austin let out a cold smile and he looked exactly like a mini version of Brooklyn. "Is that bad woman sending message to mommy again? Austin, reply her! We have to protect mommy!" Emily sounded exceptionally determined with her baby voice. Austin calmly deleted Mirabelle's email. That bad woman wants to meet mommy? No way.
"Wonderful! Austin." Emily clapped her hands and cheered. After putting the laptop back, Emily looked at her brother with a curious look and asked, "Austin, do you think mommy's looking for daddy?" Although both of them were only six, they had heard quite many things about Diana from Rachel when they were abroad. Plus, with Austin's genius hacking skills, they managed to know quite many things.
"No idea." Austin did not show any expression. Emily pouted when she saw that. Mommy's not back yet and her brother is such a dull person. She felt bored.
At the villa of the Powell family, Mirabelle became slightly impatient as she waited for Anna's reply. It had been a long time, and there was not a single reply! Could it be that woman was going against her promise? Mirabelle was wearing a creamy strapless long dress which made her looked elegant and graceful. Yet the anxiety and impatience she showed had ruined the image.
Anna was her last hope! Ever since she got the title as Brooklyn's fiancée, her life had been very smooth and steady. How would the title as the mistress of the Moss family be better than the daughter-in-law of a wealthy and reputable family?
The Moss family now wholly relied on the Powell family, therefore she had to secure the position as the daughter-in-law of the Powell family. Madam Powell had told her today, as long as she was pregnant, she would force Brooklyn to marry her by all means.
Mirabelle had consented with a shy look back then, yet in her heart she knew, Brooklyn was unwilling to even touch her all these years, and getting pregnant would not be easy. "Miss Moss, Mr. Powell has returned!"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐