The gun pointed at Dominic Durand was held by Detective Kevin North.

This police captain was not only brilliant at solving cases but also a master of tracking.

How could an amateur kidnapper like Dominic detect the surveillance of a professional?

Sophia Laurent's car GPS remained active the entire time.

No matter how many detours Dominic took, Kevin could pinpoint their location with precision.

During the exchange, Kevin had already been hiding in the shadows of the abandoned factory, documenting everything with a professional camera.

The cold click of handcuffs snapped around Dominic's wrists.

Kevin kicked the back of his knee. "Stay still!"

Dominic staggered to his feet, legs trembling, glaring at Sophia. "You fucking tricked me?"

Sophia ignored him, dialing Ethan Sullivan's number. "Did you find my mother?"

A steady male voice answered. "In the hidden room of the east wing. The police dogs found her."

"Hidden room?"

"Yes. The exit was blocked by a cabinet. Without the dogs, we wouldn’t have found it."

"Is she okay?"

"She’s awake. Demanding to deal with Dominic."

"We’re on our way."

Hanging up, Sophia turned a cold gaze to Dominic. "Now, will you talk?"

Dominic sneered. "Where’s the billion? You fucking called the cops!"

Kevin slammed the butt of his gun against the back of his head. "Watch your mouth!"

Dominic winced but stubbornly retorted, "I’ll talk when I see Grace Langley!"

Three cars drove off in succession.

Fifteen minutes later, they rendezvoused with Ethan’s group.

Before the car fully stopped, Sophia spotted her mother.

Grace’s hair was disheveled, her clothes covered in dust, the rope marks on her wrists glaringly visible.

Sophia’s eyes burned as she rushed out and hugged her tightly. "Mom..."

Grace patted her daughter’s back. "It’s over. Don’t be afraid."

Breaking the embrace, Grace lunged at Dominic, fists flying.

"You bastard!"

Kevin stepped in to separate them. "Ma’am, the law will punish him."

Sophia approached Dominic. "Now, will you talk?"

Dominic smirked at Grace. "She’s not really—"

A slap cut him off.

Grace’s reaction made Sophia suspicious.

Just then, an officer reported, "Captain, Darren Durand escaped. We found 800,000 in cash at his place—all new bills in sequential order."

"Take him in for questioning. Put out an APB for Darren."

By the time the statements were finished, it was late at night.

In the Langley living room, Sophia stared at her mother. "Mom, what are you hiding from me?"

Grace hesitated.

"Dominic isn’t my father, is he?" Sophia’s voice trembled. "A real father wouldn’t do this to his daughter."

After a long silence, Grace finally spoke. "You were conceived through IVF."

"So... you don’t know who he is?"

"No."

On the ride back, Sophia was silent as a statue.

Ethan took her cold hand in his, gently guiding her head to rest on his shoulder.

"Your father must have been a refined man. Your talent, your grace—they all come from him."

Leaning against him, Sophia whispered, "When I was little, seeing other kids carried on their fathers’ shoulders... I’d cry into my pillow at night..."

Ethan tightened his arm around her.

Back at their complex, he suddenly hoisted her onto his shoulders.

"Ah! Put me down!" Sophia gasped.

"What others have, my Sophia will have too."

Under the night sky, the striking couple drew glances from passersby.

Embarrassed, Sophia buried her face against his back, but her heart was sweet as honey.

Ethan murmured in her ear, "Whatever you’ve missed, I’ll make up for it."

The next afternoon, at a café.

Ethan met Grace’s gaze. "Mother-in-law, which hospital performed the IVF?"

Grace gripped her coffee cup, finally confessing. "Sophia... was found."

Ethan’s expression didn’t change. "Explain."

"On a flower bed outside the maternity ward. Wrapped in an exquisite blanket, healthy and beautiful... I raised her as my own for over twenty years."

Saying it aloud, Grace seemed to shed a weight.

"She’ll always be your daughter," Ethan promised solemnly.

That afternoon, Ethan took Sophia to the police station.

"Why are we here?" Sophia asked, puzzled.

Ethan squeezed her hand. "To collect DNA. We’re finding your birth father."