Third Person's POV
Sunny hastily raised her hand to shield her face. At that moment, a black sedan screeched to a halt beside her.
The door flew open, and Leo's anxious face appeared in the doorway...
Sunny felt certain she was hallucinating—hunger and exhaustion were making her vision blur. How could she be seeing Leo's face?
"What are you waiting for? Get in the car!" The man's voice was urgent and pained.
She snapped to attention, her eyes widening. In the next instant, a large hand yanked her into the vehicle.
The black sedan shot into the traffic like an arrow released from a bow and vanished at the end of the street.
At this moment, a man sat down opposite Olivia.
"Your daughter is safe. It's time to fulfill your promise," the man said coldly.
Olivia's taut nerves finally relaxed, and she nodded. "Alright, I'll go with you now."
Just then, her phone rang—it was Richard.
She answered the call and heard him demand, "Who picked up Sunny?"
Since the person in the car hadn't gotten out, Richard had only seen Sunny get into the vehicle and drive away, unable to discern the rescuer's identity.
Olivia forced herself to stay calm. "Of course I had someone pick up my daughter. You don't need to know who it was. I'm on my way to turn myself in at the police station."
"Better not try any tricks. I caught her once, I can do it again. But don't push me—I won't be lenient a third time. If you provoke me further, she'll die," Richard threatened, leaving no room for negotiation.
"As I said, I'll do it," Olivia replied, her resolve firm. For her daughter's sake, she was willing to risk everything, even though she knew her crimes didn't warrant the death penalty.
She followed the man, her heart filled with desolation and regret overshadowing her fear.
Sunny, pulled into the car by Leo, still felt as if in a dream, and tears instantly streamed down her face.
She bit her lip and wept silently.
Leo's gaze was fixed on her pale face and the blood seeping from the ropes around her wrists.
He seized her hand and gasped in shock. "What did they do to you? Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Sunny allowed him to hold her hand but couldn't utter a word.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the suffering in her heart—how could she bring herself to tell him she was Olivia's daughter?
"Leo, I'm sorry..." she choked out, but swallowed the rest of her words.
"What are you talking about now? Look at yourself!" Leo's heart ached with concern. "You were just kidnapped last time, and now this! Can't you be more careful?"
"Did you look for me?" Sunny avoided the sensitive topic.
"Of course I did," Leo's voice softened as he looked at her frail state. "Blame me too—I was the one who brought Clarissa into the company and assigned her to you. I share the responsibility."
Hearing his concern, Sunny's heart grew even heavier.
Once he knew the truth, would he still treat her like this? Likely, he would only hate her.
"I'll take you to the hospital."
"No, I want to see Olivia," Sunny said. At this moment, she desperately wanted to clarify everything—she needed to confront that woman and find out who she truly was.
Hearing "Olivia," Leo's face darkened instantly.
"Please, I'm afraid something might happen to her. My release must be connected to her..." Sunny dared not reveal her urgency, fearing it would expose her inner turmoil.
"There's no need. She's already turned herself in to the police," Leo reluctantly disclosed, seeing her deep concern.
"What? Why?" Sunny felt a chill run through her body.
"To save you. Sunny, did you know something all along?" Leo narrowed his eyes, staring into hers, trying to detect any deceit.
Sunny froze, then nodded with difficulty after a long pause. "Leo, we... might really not have a chance anymore." Tears burst forth once more. "You were right to suspect before. I'm not Moira's biological daughter. The truth is, I'm..."
"You're Olivia's daughter," Leo's face turned pale, a sharp pain piercing his heart.
Sunny looked up in shock. "What?"
"Yes, she told me herself," Leo's voice grew cold.
Sunny felt all strength drain from her body, dejectedly saying, "Take me home."
She didn't know how to face it and just wanted to find a place to hide and cry her heart out.
"This whole situation is disappointing," Leo said, his tone softening as he looked at her sorrowful expression. "But Olivia is still a decent mother—she's willing to take the fall for Richard to save you."
Sunny gazed out the window and suddenly burst into tears like a collapsing child.
It was the first time Leo had seen her cry like this, and his tense expression showed a hint of panic.
He extended his hand and gently touched her trembling shoulder. Seeing no response from her, he gripped her firmly and turned her face toward him.
Sunny looked at him, her tears dampening her lashes, appearing pale and frail.
"Stop crying." Leo was at a loss for words—neither comfort nor reprimand seemed fitting.
He could only take out a tissue and wipe away her tears.
Sunny silently leaned on him, her mind in turmoil, anxious and flustered. "She's not the murderer of your father. Although she's guilty, she's only an accomplice. If she confesses, will she be sentenced to death?"
Leo understood that Olivia's life was likely the foremost concern on Sunny's mind at this moment. It was no wonder she was so worried and anxious.
Previously, it was Olivia; now, it was her biological mother—the bond between mother and daughter was one of blood.