Chapter 556:

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Dayna nodded with childlike conviction. “Of course it’s true. An angel wouldn’t lie, would they?”

Henry’s small fists balled at his sides, his face set with quiet determination. “I’ll cooperate with the treatment… I’ll get better soon.”

A warm smile curved Dayna’s lips as she ruffled his soft hair, her fingers lingering for a moment. “Good.”

Nell checked her watch, her expression sobering. It was already deep into the night. “Dayna, you should head home. I’ll stay with Henry tonight. Tomorrow, we go straight to the surgical.”

Dayna hesitated, casting a worried glance at Henry. “Are you sure you can manage on your own?”

If Henry were an ordinary child, maybe. But his rare illness made everything more complicated. Taking care of him meant sleepless hours, constant vigilance.

Dayna weighed the exhaustion etched on Nell’s face against her own worries. She opened her mouth to suggest they take turns, but Nell was already shaking her head.

“You need rest, Dayna,” Nell said firmly. “You have to be ready for the surgery. Our goal is to help Henry recover—completely.”

The certainty in her voice left no room for argument.

Dayna exhaled softly and nodded. “Alright.”

She bent down, pressing a gentle kiss to Henry’s forehead before giving his hand a squeeze. “Be good, okay? I’ll come get you tomorrow.”

𝗬o𝗎𝗋 𝗱𝖺il𝘆 𝖽оsе of ո𝗼𝘷𝖾𝗅s oո g𝖺𝗅𝘯𝗈𝗏𝘦𝗅ѕ.c𝗼𝗺

Henry’s lips quirked into a brave little smile. “Okay.”

With that, Dayna left for Bloomstead. Yet her mind wasn’t entirely at ease.

The lingering question gnawed at her—who did Henry take after? His features hinted at mixed heritage—striking, deep-set eyes, defined contours far too mature for a child his age. But no one Dayna knew shared that distinct look.

And yet… there was something hauntingly familiar about him.

She couldn’t shake it, but for now, she had to push those thoughts aside. When she arrived, Kristopher was waiting, a manila folder and a USB drive in hand.

Curiosity flickered across Dayna’s face as she took the USB drive. “What’s this?”

Kristopher, leaning back in his chair, explained, “Surveillance footage. From outside Nell’s studio. You’re still looking for the kid’s parents, aren’t you?”

Dayna sighed, exhaustion creeping into her shoulders. “We already checked the footage. The person who left him wore a full mascot suit—face completely hidden.”

For Henry to survive with such a rare illness until now, his father had clearly done everything to protect him. Leaving the boy at the studio’s door had to be a desperate, last resort.

Kristopher tapped his fingers rhythmically against the desk. “I dug deeper—checked the vicinity. Found the car he used. You can trace it by the license plate.”

A sharp jolt of realization hit Dayna. Of course! How had she missed that detail?

Without another word, she grabbed her laptop, plugged in the USB, and fast-forwarded through the footage. Sure enough, at the next intersection, a sleek black business car appeared. The windows were darkened with tinted glass—whoever was inside didn’t want to be seen.

She paused the footage on the license plate and zoomed in. “It’s not a local plate… and given Henry’s appearance, he’s definitely of mixed descent.”

Kristopher, watching over her shoulder, spoke lowly. “If his father’s goal is to help the kid recover, he’ll show up again… after the surgery.”

The car’s only mission had been to drop Henry off—nothing more.

Dayna nodded, mind already racing. “Wraith Physician confirmed the surgery’s tomorrow morning. But Henry’s condition is complicated. Even with a successful operation… a full recovery? It’s unlikely.”

Even in an age of cutting-edge medicine, some conditions remained stubborn mysteries—untouchable by science, impervious to hope. But no matter the odds, she would throw every ounce of her knowledge, every sleepless hour, into keeping him alive.

“Don’t carry the weight alone,” Kristopher said softly, catching the flicker of despair in her eyes. “Just give it your all—that’s enough.”

He leaned forward, his tone lightening as he slid another folder across the table. “Besides, I have something else that might lift your spirits.”

Curious, Dayna took the folder and unfolded the document inside—and then blinked in surprise. It was… a court ruling?

Her gaze darted to him, incredulous. “When did this even happen? I had no idea there was a trial!”

“Yesterday at noon. Business litigation doesn’t require the parties to appear. The lawyers took care of everything,” Kristopher replied. He gave a small, triumphant smile. “The court ruled in your favor. Declan’s been ordered to pay ten billion dollars—compensation for the assets you transferred back then, plus the accumulated value from stock fluctuations over the years.”

Dayna stared at him, stunned. “Ten billion?” she breathed. “Has the Foster Group grown that powerful over the years?”

Kristopher chuckled under his breath, clearly enjoying her reaction. “Part of it is the equity premium. The rest is additional damages awarded to you. Long story short—you’re officially Declan’s biggest creditor now. Time to collect what’s owed.”

A spark of mischief lit Dayna’s eyes as the shock gave way to excitement. “You’re right. I’ll pay him a visit tomorrow.”

But just as quickly, a thought crept in, and she tilted her head curiously. “If I actually take that money… will the Foster Group go bankrupt?”

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