Already seething due to Lucas Anderson's absence, Andrea's frustration heightened. "Thank you, Win. I'll handle this," she stated tersely before hastening to Pete's room.
Without a courtesy knock, Andrea barged in. The room was bathed in light, revealing Pete in a peaceful slumber on the bed. Nearby, a canvas held an unfinished painting, while an array of inks and brushes were neatly arranged on a table.
Andrea's eyes landed on the portrait, and her heart sank—it was Lucas Anderson who graced the incomplete artwork.
As she stepped towards Pete, intending to wake him, his sleep-filled murmurs arrested her advance. "Don't leave daddy. I'll be good. Please don't go," Pete pleaded in his dreams.
Andrea stood motionless, her resolve faltering. The heaviness in her chest grew as her eyelids drooped. She could not disturb him. Silently, she retreated to her own room.
Confronted by photographs of happier times with Lucas and Pete, Andrea's emotions threatened to spill over. With a heavy heart, she stowed the pictures away from view.
Struggling to compose herself, Andrea prepared for bed, but sleep eluded her. Restless, she finally surrendered to frustration and strode to her study.
There, she immersed herself in work until exhaustion claimed her, and she dozed off at her desk.
Dawn's light greeted Andrea when she awoke. She hurriedly freshened up and dressed, ready to meet the new partners visiting Singers Group that day.
At the dining table, an untouched breakfast greeted her. The house felt empty—Housekeeper Win had left.
"Margret, who didn't finish their breakfast?" Andrea asked, her brow furrowed.
"It was young master Pete, ma'am. He wouldn't eat," replied Margret, one of the household staff, her gaze downcast.
Andrea's phone rang, a stark reminder that she was behind schedule. She ate quickly and dashed out of the house, heading for the office.
In recent days, Andrea had thrown herself into her work, her emotions numbed by the endless tasks and decisions that filled her hours at the office. The routine was her refuge, a way to avoid thoughts of Lucas Anderson that threatened to overwhelm her composure.
It was during one of these long stretches of labor that Tony appeared at her door. He had been tirelessly searching for any sign of Valentine Anderson, and now, it seemed, he bore news.
"Andrea, good news," Tony said, stepping into her office with a sense of purpose, only to halt as his gaze fell on her. "Andrea, what happened to your eyes?"
Under the stark office lights, the dark circles under Andrea's eyes were stark against her pale skin, so pronounced that Tony momentarily wondered if she was in costume.
Meeting Tony's shocked stare, Andrea felt a momentary confusion; she hadn't seen her own reflection in days, her focus solely on her work. As realization dawned, she reached for a mirror, confronting her own tired eyes with a quiet calm.
"I haven't slept well for the past few days," she replied, her voice even.
Tony's brow creased in concern. "Andrea, is the company facing a crisis?"
"No," Andrea responded with certainty. The company's financial performance had been stellar, recording unprecedented growth over the past six days.
Puzzled by what could be troubling Andrea if not a business emergency, Tony watched as she shifted the topic away from herself.
"What brought you here?" she inquired.
Though Tony felt the urge to urge her to take a break, the reason for his visit was pressing. "Andrea, Valentine Anderson is alive."
The words struck Andrea, and her expression flickered with shock before settling into an unnerving calm. She realized her own reaction was too subdued, devoid of the rapid heartbeat or joy she might have anticipated.
She fought against the thought that her feelings for Valentine had faded. "Where is he?" she asked Tony after a deep breath.
Tony had observed Andrea's reactions with a mix of confusion and concern. "Andrea, he was taken out of the country by someone. We're unable to identify who was behind it, but we'll uncover it in time," he assured her.
Andrea considered this. Whoever had managed to whisk Valentine Anderson out of the country without being tracked by Tony was no ordinary person.
Determined, she made a decision. "Start a worldwide campaign. Offer a reward of five hundred million dollars to whoever finds Valentine Anderson," she stated.
Tony's eyes widened. "Andrea, that's a surefire way to find him, but it's risky."
"I don't care if it causes chaos. I just want my husband back home," Andrea cut in sharply.
Before Tony could object, Andrea's phone rang. It was the headmaster of Pete's school. With a swift "Tony, the sooner the better," she answered the call.
"Ma'am Andrea Singers, your presence is urgently requested at the school. Please come as soon as you can," the headmaster's voice came through the speaker.
Worry surged through Andrea. "Has something happened to my son?"
"No," the headmaster reassured her.
Relief washed over Andrea, followed by a pang of guilt for neglecting Pete in her preoccupation with work.
"I'll be right there," she said, urgency lacing her voice as she ended the call.
"Is Pete okay?" Tony asked, mirroring her concern.
"Yeah, you go ahead with our plan," Andrea told him, already on her way out of the office.
Upon her arrival at Pete's school, she promptly drove to the premises, where the headmaster personally greeted Andrea and escorted her to his office.
Throughout Pete's time at the school, Andrea has been a generous donor, contributing substantial amounts of money.
As Andrea laid eyes on Pete in the office, she could hardly recognize him.