Chapter 228

"Liam?" Late at night, Chris stirred from sleep, blinking in the dark. She reached out—empty. Liam wasn't there. She heard a faint noise from the living room, slipped off the bed, and walked out barefoot. "Liam, you thirsty or something?" The living room was quiet, eerily empty. No answer. She glanced at the table—Liam's water bottle was there. His slippers were carelessly lying on the floor. "Uncle! Liam's gone!" Chris cried, bolting out the door. Liam was a total neat freak—no way he'd walk barefoot. If his slippers were still here, it meant someone had taken him. In her half-sleep earlier, she had definitely heard the door close. Dane jerked awake at the noise, rushing out in his pajamas. "What's going on?" "Uncle, Liam's gone! His slippers are still here—it has to be someone who got in and took him," Chris said, her voice shaky. "Calm down," Dane murmured, checking the lock. It was perfectly fine. No damage. Someone used a key. Familiar face, for sure. Georgia had stayed here befor