Third Person's POV
The Chavez family's two little ones had started school, kicking off the daily routine of pickups and drop-offs once again.
For everyone in the Chavez family, each day watching the children grow and change was incredibly precious.
Emerson's health was showing signs of improvement, as if he had pulled back from the brink of death.
The better Emerson's health became, the more at ease Blake felt.
He could temporarily set aside his pursuit of Richard, hoping only that his grandfather could stay with them for a few more years—three, five, or even ten years, accompanying them all the way.
Richard, on the other hand, was inexplicably restless. Emerson's robust health meant he wouldn't pass away in the near future.
As long as Emerson was alive, Richard couldn resort to the despicable tactics from the past—Emerson's shares in the company were crucial, and he held absolute decision-making power, leaving Richard no choice but to bide his time.
However, the extra time Emerson had gained meant one "silver lining" for Richard—he could use this period to settle old scores with Olivia.
Olivia's informants, dispatched to keep an eye on Sunny, had recently relayed quite a few "promising updates."
Innocent and naive, Sunny was still green behind the ears and unaware of the complexities and dangers of the real world, making her an easy target for abduction.
Richard was growing increasingly anxious and had been urgently pressing Clarissa to find an opportunity to lure Sunny away.
Under the pressure of Richard's constant urging, Clarissa finally decided to make her move.
One day, Sunny had scheduled an outdoor photoshoot, but a heavy rainstorm in the afternoon forced the cancellation of her plans.
Seizing the opportunity, Clarissa suggested to Sunny, "You mentioned wanting to relax the other day. How about we go out and explore somewhere?"
With the rain pouring down outside, Sunny wondered where they could possibly go.
Clarissa then proposed a shopping mall outing, offering to help carry Sunny's purchases.
Thinking of her mother's upcoming birthday and the clothes and cosmetics she wanted to buy for her, Sunny agreed and asked Clarissa to call the driver.
The two set off for the mall by car.
During the drive, Clarissa anxiously texted Richard to prepare.
Noticing her constant attention to her phone, Sunny teased her, asking if she had a boyfriend.
Caught off guard and breaking into a cold sweat, Clarissa quickly composed herself into a look of wistfulness and replied, "Yes, I've recently taken a liking to someone. He's interested in me too, and we're getting to know each other."
Sunny chuckled lightly. "Then you chat with him. I'm gonna catch some sleep. Wake me when we get there."
Clarissa hadn't expected Sunny to trust her so completely and was secretly delighted.
Upon arriving at the mall, Sunny was roused by Clarissa. She stretched lazily, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
Last night, she'd tossed and turned again—Leo was always so energetic, no matter how long the workday.
But despite the exhaustion from their late nights, Sunny's heart felt as sweet as honey.
"Let's head upstairs," Clarissa said. Had Sunny been more alert, she would have noticed Clarissa's tense expression.
But having just woken up and trusting Clarissa implicitly, she didn't pay it any mind.
Sunny wore a mask and a beige trench coat; while her figure drew some attention, her outfit kept a relatively low profile.
Clarissa first took her to the women's clothing section, then to the cosmetics area.
Finally, Clarissa suggested, "My friend runs a café here. Let's drop by. I'll treat you to a drink."
"Oh, I couldn't. You've already carried all my packages. Let me cover it," Sunny smiled and shook her head.
Clarissa, whose main goal was to get Sunny to the café, didn't insist on who would pay.
Once seated, she ordered drinks—juice for Sunny, who didn't drink coffee, and coffee for herself.
After placing the order, Clarissa deliberately mentioned upon returning, "The driver just called. He's got a flat tire and needs to get it fixed. We might have to take a taxi back later."
"Alright. The driver's not having an easy time in this rain," Sunny said, taking a sip of her juice.
Clarissa watched closely as Sunny took the first swallow of her drink, then discreetly pressed a button on her phone.
The phone rang, and she pretended to check it. "It's the photographer. I need to take this."
Sunny glanced back but said nothing.
After the call, Clarissa looked flustered. "Sunny, they need us to hurry over—there's a job!"
Sunny nodded and followed Clarissa downstairs with her drink.
Outside the mall, Clarissa held an umbrella as they stood by the roadside.
She deliberately guided Sunny into a surveillance blind spot, hailed a taxi, and opened the door. "Get in. The rain's too heavy."
Without thinking much, Sunny entered the taxi and rested her head, murmuring, "Why am I feeling so sleepy again?"
"Probably because you've been working too hard lately," Clarissa explained.
"Could be," Sunny said, handing her the drink. "I'll sleep for a bit more. Wake me when we're there."
"Sure, sleep away," Clarissa replied. As Sunny's eyes slowly closed, a cold smile finally spread across Clarissa's face.
The driver also let out a self-satisfied grin. "You've really got skills there—got her sorted in no time."
"Of course I do. Don't underestimate me," Clarissa said, suddenly yanking off her wig to reveal her short hair.
Under the short hair, several striking tattoos on the back of her neck were unmistakably eye-catching—patterns no ordinary girl would have.
"Playing the caring big sister role has been exhausting," Clarissa complained irritably.
"Bianca, you've earned top credit this time. With the million-dollar reward, treat yourself well," the driver said, revealing Clarissa's real name—Bianca.