Chapter 837

Vivian Dempsey snatched the phone, squinting at the surveillance footage. "This camera angle is all wrong. How could a grown woman just vanish into thin air?"

The waiter nervously wrung his hands. "I...I don't know either..."

Alexander Hamilton stood by the window, his gaze sweeping every corner of the suite. This was the exact room Bianca Langley had stayed in during her last vacation with Baby Chloe. The echoes of laughter still lingered, now replaced by deafening silence.

"You don't think..." Vivian suddenly covered her mouth, eyes widening.

Alexander's expression darkened instantly. This was the exact scenario he and Evelyn Carter had dreaded most.

Chaos engulfed the hotel until a trembling employee reported seeing Bianca waiting alone for a cab in the predawn hours.

The security chief demonstrated multiple times before confirming blind spots in the hallway cameras. Wiping sweat from his brow, he reported with relief, "Mr. Hamilton, Miss Langley could've left without luggage while avoiding surveillance."

"Hmm." Alexander responded indifferently. "Fix the blind spots."

Staff exchanged surprised glances. The notoriously strict CEO was being uncharacteristically lenient. They scattered like startled birds.

Only Alexander and Vivian remained, staring at each other in tense silence.

"Don't tell Evelyn yet," Alexander said gravely. "It's too early for conclusions."

For once, Vivian didn't argue. "I know what's at stake."

Yet her mind raced. Even if Bianca had urgent business, why wouldn't she say goodbye?

Alexander discreetly deployed two teams—one to monitor Vincent Croix, the other to search for Bianca.

By evening, Evelyn finally had time to call Bianca, only to hear the cold automated response:

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable..."

Evelyn gripped her phone. Only a handful of people knew this new number. Were those meddlesome Langley elders harassing her again?

The thought haunted her all day.

Alexander picked her up in his newly acquired replacement car, chattering about the purchase: "Luckily the dealership kept records. My mother would've noticed if they'd mentioned the previous damage."

Evelyn responded absently. Noticing her exhaustion, Alexander breathed an inward sigh of relief.

Tonight, Margaret Hamilton had taken Grace Anderson and Teresa Taylor shopping. Auntie Wu had left after cooking to watch her dramas. Only they and the children remained in the dining room.

Baby Chloe babbled while playing with a spoon, then suddenly looked up and clearly called out, "Mama!"

Evelyn's heart clenched.

At that moment, an unknown number flashed on her phone.

The caller remained silent after she answered. Only faint breathing came through the receiver.

"Auntie Bianca had to go away for work," Evelyn gently told the children. "She'll come back when she's done."

Lily Waters blinked her large eyes. "Did Auntie Bianca get a new boyfriend? Is that why she can't take care of Baby Chloe?"

All three adults froze.

Alexander rarely showed confusion. "Why would you think that?"

"Because Baby Chloe is still here," Lily said innocently. "If parents could be together, they'd never leave their child. Last time we saw Auntie Bianca, she was with that uncle—just the two of them."