Chapter 2 Get Her Out Of Here

Hugh had a rule: phones should be turned off during morning meetings. Gilbert quickly grabbed his phone and was about to end the call. "Take it!" scolded Hugh. Gilbert coughed. "Dad, it was an unknown number, I…" Hugh set his teacup aside and ordered, "Take the call and put it on speaker!" Bryson and Jonas looked at Gilbert with pity. Gilbert had no choice but to answer the call and put it on speaker. They were shocked when they heard a small voice. "Hello... is this uncle? I'm Lilly Hatcher... My mommy is Jean Crawford... Are you my Uncle Gilbert?" The little girl's voice was weak and monotonous, like a small robot, with no discernible emotions. The Crawford family's expressions changed drastically. Hugh's pen cap dropped from his hand. They couldn't speak, as if their throats were strangled. The child's voice came through the phone again. "Uncle... I'm so cold and hungry... I didn't push my stepmother, but they don't believe me... Daddy dragged me to the gate to kneel... but I'm cold... Uncle, will you help me..." As she spoke, her voice grew weaker. They could still hear the sound of the snowstorm on the other end of the call, but her voice abruptly stopped. Gilbert snapped back to reality and yelled into his phone, "Hey, Lilly? Where are you? Tell me your location now!" But there was no response. Panicked, Hugh stood up, his previously stern look replaced with worry. It was as if he had aged in an instant. "Quick! Investigate the number and location now!" ** Lilly passed out before finishing the call and dropped the phone in the snow. Stephen returned to look for his phone and saw Lilly lying there, motionless. He kicked her and snarled, "It would be better if she's dead!" Four years ago, he found a poorly dressed and disoriented woman on the street. Out of kindness, he took her back to his apartment. After she cleaned up, he discovered that she was gorgeous. She had amnesia and seemed confused. Stephen, infatuated with her cuteness, took care of her. Like a fool in love, he doted on her, telling her not to force herself to do anything as he cared for her... Now Stephen found it repulsive when he thought about it. Who knows if she was taken advantage of when she was wandering the streets? Otherwise, why doesn't Lilly resemble me? Although suspicious, Stephen never wanted to do a paternity test because if he wasn't the father, he would be the most foolish man in South City! Stephen grabbed his phone and walked away. He made continuous calls in his warm study room. "Hello... Mr. Burton, it's me, Stephen! Do you know the Crawford family from Clodston?" "Greetings, Mr. Ledger! Happy new year! Are you familiar with the Crawford family? Oh, my company is just having a minor issue..." ** The snowstorm outside the study room was intense, and Lilly was still lying in the snow. It wouldn't be long before it got dark. She was slightly conscious but couldn't force her eyes open. She had never cried since her mother died. Even when her father abused her, she never shed a tear. Yet, she wanted to cry at that moment. When she called her uncle, there was no response from the other end. Do they hate me too? Then no one likes me at all. What about mommy? If I die and mommy sees me, will she hate me too? Lilly's lips, turning purple from the cold, pressed together as she kept thinking. Mommy... I won't cry... Lilly's a good girl... Suddenly, she heard a loud noise. About seven cars arrived at the Hatcher mansion, and a man wearing a black down coat got out of the first car and opened the mansion's gate! The sudden commotion startled the two baby ghosts, forcing them to hide for the time being. As there was a massive snowstorm, the snow had already covered Lilly's small figure. Gilbert anxiously looked around. On the phone, Lilly said she was kneeling at the gate! His face turned pale as he noticed a small pile of snow at the gate. He rushed over and cleared the snow, causing his hands to redden from the cold. Finally, he found a small figure under the snow! "Lilly?!" Gilbert hurriedly picked up the young girl, and the moment he saw Lilly's face, he knew that this was their Lilly - she looked exactly like their sister when she was young... Their most beloved and cherished sister's child - Lilly! Lilly felt as if she had fallen into a warm embrace, and the person had even taken off their coat to wrap her up. Lilly was numb from being frozen for too long, and after feeling a moment of warmth, she still felt bone-chillingly cold, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. Lilly struggled to open her eyes and finally saw the man before her - he looked somewhat like her mother but also different. Lilly's lips twitched as she weakly asked, "Are you... uncle... I didn't push anyone... uncle..." At that moment, Lilly lost consciousness and murmured. She was like a cold, emotionless robot compared to Gilbert, who was filled with agitation. Gilbert was on the verge of tears. The young child in his arms was only wearing thin sleepwear - pure cotton autumn clothing - with no insulation at all. Her small face had already turned purple from the cold, and her lips were cracked and darkening. Like a frozen sculpture, her tiny figure couldn't move, making Gilbert afraid that he would break her with a single touch. "Lilly... Uncle's here, and I'm taking you home." Gilbert choked up. He couldn't imagine how Lilly managed to survive on her own in her condition. He was even scared to think that she might have died if they had arrived any later. Gilbert carefully held Lilly, focusing solely on her, and rushed back to the car. "Lilly, stay with me," Gilbert pleaded, his voice becoming hoarse. "Don't fall asleep... Lilly, can you say something to your uncle? Lilly..." Lilly had already lost consciousness. Hugh stumbled slightly as he rushed over. Seeing Gilbert's disheveled clothes, he anxiously asked, "How is she?" Gilbert was already in a state of panic. "Quick, we need to go to the hospital now!" The Crawford family felt their hearts in their throats as they immediately made their way to the hospital. Meanwhile, Stephen, who had just received news of their arrival, hurriedly rushed downstairs with a mix of excitement and joy on his face. As the Crawford family rushed into the mansion, they were stopped by the security guard. Once Anthony revealed his name, the guard quickly went to inform Stephen. Stephen was taken aback by the news as he racked his brains trying to find a way to become acquainted with the Crawford family. Although he didn't know why the Crawford family had suddenly appeared at the mansion, he knew he had a chance as long as they were there. There's still hope for the Hatcher family after all! Suddenly, Stephen remembered something and quickly turned to a servant, saying, "Is that troublemaker still lying in the yard? Remove her immediately!" That jinx had cursed her mother to death, and now her curse will bankrupt my company too. Stephen wouldn't allow her to ruin this opportunity to meet with the Crawford family.