Chapter 1628

The driver immediately sprang into action. He managed to close the window just before Rodney walked by, effectively muffling Ivy's cries. Even so, the sound of Ivy's distress was still faintly audible. Everyone in the car understood Helen's intent and quickly fell silent, remaining alert and tense. Fortunately, the commotion from the outside activities was loud enough to drown out any sounds from inside, allowing Rodney to pass without noticing anything amiss. As soon as the group entered the school, Helen instructed the driver, "Let's go!" With a swift press of the accelerator, the car sped away. Only then did Helen exhale in relief, finally removing her hand from Ivy's mouth. She had calmed down at last. Helen decided against pressing Ivy for answers right away. Once they got home, she sent a photo of Ivy to the surviving son of the Brooke family's deceased couple living abroad, using the police's name as a cover. That evening, she got a reply. "Who are you? Why do you have a photo of my little sister?" Helen replied succinctly, "Your family is in danger. Please come back immediately." Just after sending the message, she received a call from Abigail. "Ahhh! Ms. Kaylee, what should I do? I think I'm about to meet the parents!" "Meet the parents?" Helen leaned back in her chair, intrigued. "Whose parents? Is it Taylor's?" "No… I'm meeting with Gideon Rhett's parents. He's a reporter. Do you have any tips? I'm so nervous!" "Don't worry; just be yourself. Those who truly care will accept you no matter what," Helen reassured her. "You're amazing, and if you carry yourself with confidence, his family will surely appreciate you. You've got this!" "Okay! Thank you, Ms. Kaylee!" Once Abigail hung up, Gideon returned to the car. Seeing her nervousness, he gently patted her hand and said softly, "Don't worry; my mom's really nice." Abigail shrugged, trying to appear brave. "I'm not scared." Gideon simply smiled, choosing not to press further. 20 minutes later, they arrived at an upscale neighborhood and pulled up in front of a two-story villa. Gideon led Abigail inside and called out cheerfully, "Mom, I brought Abigail home!" "Really? She's here? Let me see, let me see!" Before Abigail could catch a glimpse of her, she heard a woman's voice. Moments later, a cheerful, plump woman hurried out from the kitchen. When she spotted Abigail, her eyes lit up with joy, and a broad smile spread across her face. She rubbed her hands excitedly on her apron, exuding warmth and the inviting presence of a kind-hearted, hardworking mother. "Hello, Mrs. Rhett," Abigail said, feeling a bit shy as a blush crept onto her cheeks. "Hello! It's so nice to meet you!" Valerie Topez quickly regained her composure, ushering them inside. "Come in, please have a seat; dinner will be ready shortly. I'm sure you're tired after such a long drive." "Not at all," Abigail replied, moving closer to the sofa. Remembering some advice she had read online, she added, "Mrs. Rhett, would you like some help in the kitchen?" "Oh, it's perfectly fine," Valerie insisted with a warm smile. "Just relax and watch some TV. Maybe Gideon can show you around while we wait for dinner. Cooking is my passion, so don't worry about it!" With that, Valerie looked over at Gideon. "Gideon, make sure to take good care of Abigail, alright?"