Chapter 157

The nanny's heart sank like a stone. Tears welled up in her eyes as she choked out, "I'll find her, Mr. Blackwood!"

Thirty minutes later, Dominic's sleek black car screeched to a halt outside Willowbrook Academy.

His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he stepped out, his polished shoes hitting the pavement with sharp clicks. Beside him, Sophia walked silently toward the pastel-pink building where she lived.

Her quarters were isolated—a carefully curated space where staff handled her daily needs, from meals to medical care.

Dominic pushed the door open. The silence that greeted him was deafening.

His brows knitted together.

The nanny came rushing in, her face streaked with tears. "Mr. Blackwood! Miss Sophia—she's gone!" Her voice cracked. "We turned the whole campus upside down, but... she's nowhere. I called for her until my voice gave out. She would never ignore me like this."

Dominic's entire body tensed, his hands curling into fists.

"I told her last night about the brilliant doctor you hired," the nanny sobbed. "I said the surgery would help her get better. She asked... what kind of surgery it was. I shouldn’t have explained. It terrified her. She cried herself to sleep from nightmares. I think she ran because she’s scared." The nanny collapsed to her knees, wracked with guilt.

Dominic's chest ached, but anger wouldn’t fix this.

The nanny had dedicated years to Sophia’s care without a single misstep.

Sophia was hiding—out of fear.

"You searched everywhere on campus?" Dominic's voice was dangerously low. "Could she have left the grounds?"

The nanny shook her head frantically. "The gate guard swears he didn’t see her leave! Should we—should we drain the lake? What if she—"

Dominic's expression darkened like a storm.

Before he could speak, the headmaster was already barking orders into his phone. "Drain the lake immediately!"

Just then, the head of security burst in, panting.

"Sir! Mr. Blackwood! The security room had a blackout this morning around ten. The guard left his post for ten minutes to check the electrical vault. But we confirmed—Miss Sophia didn’t slip out during that time."

Dominic’s jaw clenched.

Sophia had the mind of a child. The outside world would chew her up and spit her out.

People wouldn’t see her innocence—only an adult who didn’t behave like one.

What if someone realized she was different?

Dominic’s head throbbed. He couldn’t bear to imagine what might happen to her.

He stormed out, barking orders to his entire team. "Turn the city inside out!"

Next, he called the police, demanding footage from every camera near the academy.

He had to find her.

Now.

Before something unthinkable happened.

Meanwhile, at Mooncrest Manor, Clara Thorne stared at the young woman her grandson Henry had dragged home. Her face remained composed, but shock pulsed through her veins.

"Grandma, they want to cut her head open," Henry explained solemnly. "I couldn’t let her die. She’s staying with us."

Clara pulled Henry close. "Sweetheart, she must have a family. We need to take her back before they panic!"

Henry turned to Sophia. "Do you have a family?"

Sophia blinked blankly and shook her head.

"See? She’s sick," Henry insisted, frowning. "Mom can fix her first, then we’ll send her home."

Clara sighed. "Henry, how did you even get home from school? Does your teacher know you left?"

Henry’s eyes widened. "Oh—right. I have to go back." He pointed at Sophia. "Be good!"

Sophia nodded obediently.

The moment Henry’s cab disappeared down the drive, Clara grabbed her phone.

"Evelyn! Drop everything and come home. Henry just brought a stranger into the house!"