Chapter 135: His Protection

Returning from the hotel empty-handed, Amanda Vance went to Hayden Grant’s house to pick up Felix Ford.

"Still no luck finding it?" Hayden Grant asked.

"Yeah." Amanda Vance’s expression was neutral. She had probably gotten used to this, and even comforted him in return. "It’s fine. I’ll keep looking."

"Okay." Hayden Grant watched her, hesitating to speak. He had seen everything she’d been through. She had already searched every possible place. If it wasn’t at the hotel, the most likely possibility was that the other man had picked it up.

’Megan is so smart; she must have thought of this. That’s why she wanted the security footage from outside the hotel—she’s looking for that man.’

His fists clenched as he suppressed his jealousy and anger. He knew she didn’t have feelings for the man and just wanted to find the Jade Pendant. With that thought, his expression softened slightly. "Right," he said. "You’ll find it eventually."

"Yeah." Glancing down at Felix Ford, Amanda Vance saw he looked a little happy, which cheered her up as well. She reached out and tickled his chubby chin. "What are you so happy about?"

"Uh, nothing." ’It’s mean of me,’ he thought, ’but if she doesn’t find the Jade Pendant, Mom won’t leave. She promised she’d stay even if she found it, but then I wouldn’t be able to stay by her side as Jean Vance anymore.’

’Just let me be selfish this once. It would be great if Mom found the Jade Pendant a few days later.’

’But she still has to find it. I don’t want Mom to be sad for too long.’

With that in mind, he couldn’t help but hug her arm and nuzzle against it.

’Kids are so hard to understand,’ Amanda Vance thought, but his actions still made her heart melt. She looked up at Hayden Grant and said, "I’m heading back now."

"Okay, I’ll walk you out."

"Alright."

Once they reached the door, Amanda Vance had him stop, and then she drove away with Felix Ford.

The weather was getting colder, and kindergarten now ended half an hour earlier than usual. Amanda Vance realized she probably wouldn’t be able to pick him up anymore. After some thought, she brought it up with him.

"Oh..." Felix Ford was a little disappointed to hear she couldn’t pick him up. He counted on his fingers. ’That’s one less hour with Mom.’ He didn’t want that, but he also knew his mom had to work. Torn between not wanting to make things difficult for her and wanting to spend more time with her, he thought for a moment and asked, "Mom, can I wait for you at school? You can pick me up after you get off work."

’The drive from the hospital to Uncle’s house takes half an hour longer than the drive to the kindergarten. If I wait for Mom at school, I can spend an extra half an hour with her!’

’I’m willing to wait for Mom.’

But Amanda Vance shook her head and refused, pulling his clothes tighter around him. "The weather’s getting cold now. It’ll be too cold to wait outside."

’Even if he could wait in the classroom, I couldn’t bear the thought of him sitting there all alone.’

Felix Ford’s face fell. ’I could ask Uncle to pick me up and take me to the hospital. He’d probably be happy to do it, but Grandpa is at the hospital, and Dad goes there a lot too. The chances of running into them are too high.’

’For some reason, ever since I found out that Dad knows about Jean Vance’s identity, I’ve felt like my time with Mom is on a countdown. Now I’m even less willing to take any risks.’

Between going to the hospital and spending an extra half hour with his mom—but with a high chance of encountering his dad—and spending half an hour less with her at his uncle’s house in relative safety, he chose the latter.

’Jean Vance said that Mom would be hurt if she found out Dad’s identity.’

’I don’t want to make her sad.’

At that thought, the scales in his heart tipped decisively. He nodded and said obediently, "Okay, then it’s fine for Uncle to pick me up. Mom, don’t rush after work. Drive slowly and be safe."

The way he tried his best to be considerate, even though he was reluctant, made Amanda Vance’s heart soften even more. She stroked his little cheek and said, "Once Mom finds the Jade Pendant, I can quit my job at the hospital and do something else. I won’t be so busy then, and I can spend more time with you."

Felix Ford nuzzled his face into her palm and said softly, "Okay."

Amanda Vance cupped her palm, rubbing it slightly. The feel of his chubby cheek made her squint her eyes in contentment. Just then, the light turned green. She pulled her hand back and continued driving.

In fact, she had already asked Hayden Grant to pick him up many times recently. Many of her former patients had finished their medicine and were returning for follow-up appointments. The reviews on the app were overwhelmingly positive, and thanks to word-of-mouth, more and more people were booking appointments with her. Sometimes, she was busy until well past seven in the evening.

Stretching, Amanda Vance walked toward the parking garage. She saw someone standing there and paused. "President Ford?"

’It’s been a few days since I last saw him.’

Hearing her voice, Samuel Ford turned his head. He glanced at her for only a moment before looking away.

Amanda Vance raised an eyebrow slightly. ’Is he trying to avoid me?’

Samuel Ford seemed to realize this and looked back at her, his expression calm as he greeted her. "Getting off work, Dr. Vance?"

Amanda Vance glanced at where he was standing and nodded. "Yes. Weren’t you waiting here for me, President Ford?"

’He’s standing right next to my car. It’s a little too obvious.’

"No." Samuel Ford stared at her for a long moment before flatly denying it. "It’s just a coincidence. I was just visiting my dad and am on my way home."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pressed his car key. The Bentley parked next to her car flashed its lights.

He gave her a nod, said, "Goodbye," and got into his car and left.

’Was it really a coincidence?’

Amanda Vance touched her chin, watching thoughtfully in the direction he’d gone. ’If I remember correctly, when I first saw him, he was just standing there, facing the elevators. He didn’t look like he was about to get into his car at all.’

’It looked more like he was watching me.’

’Watching me?’

At the thought, her eyelid twitched. ’I must be overthinking things.’

Shaking off these messy thoughts, Amanda Vance shook her head and got into her car. Her gaze unintentionally swept over the spot where Holly Vance had been lying that day. She suddenly realized that from where Samuel Ford had been standing, he could not only clearly see anyone coming out of the elevator, but he also had a perfect view of the entire surrounding area. If anyone were to suddenly appear, he would see them instantly.

’I’m sure of it now. He really was watching me. Or more accurately, he was protecting me.’

In a flash, Amanda Vance suddenly understood something.

Her hand, which had been lightly tapping the steering wheel, froze.

’He...’

Back on the main road, Samuel Ford stared at the congested traffic ahead and made a call. "Send me the file on the Vance Family."

He couldn’t imagine what kind of hatred would drive a father to be so vicious toward his own daughter.

’What if he hadn’t been there that day? What if Amanda Vance didn’t know Martial Arts and couldn’t protect herself?’

’The man had swung the club right at the back of her head. If he had hit just a little harder, the consequences would have been unimaginable.’

At this thought, Samuel Ford’s eyes darkened.

’The Vance Family, Holly Vance, Sarah Sullivan, Shirley Vance...’

As the names flashed through his mind one by one, the aura around him grew cold.