Reminded by the housekeeper Win, Andrea absentmindedly stabbed the fork into her mouth and chewed, a look of dissatisfaction crossing her face as she found the food devoid of flavor.
With a determined expression, she rose from her seat and declared, "We're heading back to Vegas."
The mansion in Sunshine City exuded a somber, oppressive atmosphere that they could no longer endure.
Tony arrived at the mansion mere minutes after receiving a call from Andrea. With a frown creasing his forehead, he asked, "Andrea, why the rush? I thought we agreed to head back to Vegas at noon."
Shaking her head, Andrea simply replied, "I changed my mind."
Tony let the matter drop, not pressing for further explanation. His attention was instead drawn to Pete, who stood in silence, a stark contrast to his usual bubbly demeanor. Tony was accustomed to an enthusiastic Pete who would call him 'uncle' and run into his arms. This quiet Pete was disconcerting.
Kneeling to Pete's height, Tony presented a toy from his pocket, hoping to elicit a response. "Pete, check this out—a Terminator toy from the first series. I got it for you."
Pete merely stared at the toy, his expression unreadable. Tony urged, "Take it."
"I don't want it," Pete said flatly before turning and walking away, leaving Tony stunned.
Andrea frowned, mildly reprimanding her son. "Pete, don't be rude. Uncle Tony got you a toy. You should thank him and accept it."
But Pete continued on his path, climbing into the car without a backward glance. Andrea ran a hand over her head, visibly frustrated.
Tony blinked, his confusion evident. He even pinched himself, half-wondering if he was caught in some strange dream.
"Tony, I don't know what's gotten into Pete. He's been like this all morning, not talking to me either," Andrea shared, voicing his concern.
Straightening up, Tony had a moment of realization as to why Pete might be acting so out of character. "It's okay, Andrea. I think I understand how he's feeling."
Andrea sighed in relief, glad that Tony didn't take Pete's behavior to heart. "How's the investigation going regarding my husband's whereabouts?"
Tony's expression turned serious. "Andrea, I've checked all the hospitals in the country and found no trace of him. We've also reviewed CCTV footage from various airports, but mysteriously, the footage from the day of the bomb attack at one airport is missing. We're currently checking all passenger bookings from that day, but it's a time-consuming process," he admitted, frustration lacing his voice.
Andrea, empathizing with the difficulty of the task, responded with a touch of resignation, "Don't be too hard on yourself. We should head to the airport now."
Tony nodded in agreement, and they made their way to their respective cars. The drive to the airport was quiet, reflective. Soon enough, they were aboard the private jet, soaring back to Vegas City.
Hours after landing in Vegas, Andrea directed the driver to a nearby restaurant. Once seated, she eagerly ordered a variety of spicy dishes. However, as the food arrived, Pete made no move to eat.
"Pete, why aren't you eating?" Tony asked with a frown.
Andrea paused and turned to Pete. "I'm not hungry," was Pete's simple reply.
Annoyance flashed across Andrea's face. "Pete, you haven't eaten anything since this morning, and you didn't touch the snacks on the flight either. Are you trying to starve yourself?" she said, her voice tinged with anger.
Pete just blinked and stared down at his untouched plate. Andrea's own appetite vanished as she said in frustration, "This is pointless."
The mood had soured, and the group left their uneaten food behind as they returned to the mansion.
As soon as they arrived, Andrea's phone rang. She answered, "Andrea speaking. How can I assist you?"
"Ma'am Andrea," the voice on the other end began, "the patients Mrs. Anderson Florence and Benita Anderson have both regained consciousness. We've been trying to reach their relatives, but you're the only contact we could find. Could you please come to the hospital?"
A glimmer of excitement shone in Andrea's voice as she replied, "Yes, I will be on my way." She noticed herself smiling and paused, puzzled by her own reaction. Was it the thought of seeing Lucas Anderson that brought this joy? She dismissed the idea with a shake of her head.
Turning to Pete, she said, "Let's go see your grandmother and aunt at the hospital."
Pete's face brightened instantly. "Mom, will daddy be there too?" he asked with hope.
Andrea was taken aback by Pete's sudden change in demeanor. Not wanting to crush his spirits, she simply nodded.
Pete's excitement was palpable. "Hurry, let's go see grandma and aunt," he urged, barely able to contain himself.
Tony, who had remained quiet at the mansion, finally spoke. "Andrea, I'm going to leave now. I'll do everything I can to find Valentine Anderson."
"Thank you, Tony," she replied with gratitude.
Tony gave a nod, his preferences clear. He liked the idea of Andrea being with Valentine Anderson more than with Lucas Anderson, whom he openly disliked.
In the car to the hospital, Pete was restless with anticipation, repeatedly asking Andrea, "Mom, how much longer until we get to the hospital?"
Andrea answered patiently each time, "Soon, we'll be there."
Upon reaching the hospital, Pete dashed out of the car and into the building. Andrea followed, hesitating at the entrance as she considered the possibility that Lucas might not be there. The thought made her nervous.
Taking out her phone, she dialed Lucas's number. When he answered with a simple "Hello, Andrea," she felt a rush of emotion, realizing how much she had missed his voice.
With a steadying breath, she spoke into the phone, "Your mother and sister have woken up. Are you at the hospital?"
Lucas's response was unexpected. "I've already left the country. I won't be seeing them. They don't want to see me either," he stated flatly, his words closing the door on what Andrea had anticipated to be a reunion.