My Four Miraculous Treasures

Everyone loved this amazing little girl.

Willow listened closely to the hubbub of conversation in the background. It sounded as though the audience had only the highest praise for her daughter. Her heart swelled with pride and affection.

That was her daughter, everyone! She got both her looks and her brains from her mother!

Willow had been thinking about nothing else besides her children this whole time. It felt so good now, to be able to see her daughter, who was now on television.

A tall, handsome figure glided stealthily over to her side, but Willow didn't even notice him entering the room, until a sudden chill washed over her. Thinking that it might just be the weather or something, she sat up straighter, and hugged herself for warmth.

This shift in her posture allowed her to finally catch sight of the tall and dashing intruder, out of the corner of her eye. No one could fail to notice such an overwhelming presence.

The forbidding pressure caused her whole body to tense up, and lean slightly away from him. She turned to peer at Jasper Hughes, who had suddenly appeared beside her.

It was difficult to look him in the eye, all things considered. "Ah, y-you're back," she said, by way of greeting. Remembering about all those priceless antiques she'd destroyed, terror reached up and seized her by the heart again.

Jasper spared her a brief glance, before turning to watch what was happening on TV: Hailey was competing with someone to identify another dish.

Hailey was four years old. Her opponent was a full-grown man who looked around thirty. In less than five rounds, Hailey was able to prevail against him.

The crowd burst into thunderous applause.

The emcee rushed onto stage jubilantly, raising his voice to cry out, "Kid, you're a bonafide prodigy! Come, tell everyone your name!" He knelt down beside Hailey, and held his microphone up to her lips.

Wearing pigtails and a white lace gown, Hailey looked like a plump and chubby little angel, adorable and pretty. She was the very picture of innocence and purity. Her big eyes sparkled radiantly.

As the crowd watched with eager anticipation, she opened her mouth to say her own name.

Willow noted that Jasper was watching the show intently, with a cold intensity. Her heart was in her throat.

Hailey didn't know anything. If she announced herself as Hailey Nason...

Jasper was gazing closely at the little girl on the television screen. Come to think of it, she did sort of bear some resemblance to him.... would he notice? Would he suspect the child was hers? From there, would he deduce that the child was

his?

Willow's breath caught, choked with anxiety. Her hands were squeezed tight into balls, trembling faintly.

"My name is Hailey Stone," the little girl announced to everyone.

Hailey Stone. Yes... that would be fine. Willow heaved a sigh of relief.

She stole another peek at Jasper-and found him scrutinizing her severely. "Do you know that girl?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "N-no, I don't know her!" she stammered.

"What are you so nervous about, then?"

"Er, well... she's so young, but already so talented! I think she's amazing!"noveldrama

Jasper walked over to take a seat beside her. Long, slender fingers clamped around her jaw, and he lifted up her chin to ask, "You like kids, do you?"

Willow nodded.

Jasper's lips curled into a sneer. "That's too damn bad, because you're never gonna get any from me."

Stunned, she struggled to digest the full meaning of this statement.....

Hailey's voice at once cutesy-sweet yet also crystal-clear, issued from the television set: "Excuse me, everyone... I'd like to use this television programme to find my mommy. She's been missing for four days, now."

“Huh?” Taken aback, the emcee asked her, "What's your mother's name?"

All of a sudden, Willow's heart was once again racing along the clawing edge of panic.