The Heiress Spoiled by Four Brothers and One Devilish CEO-Chapter 301 Megan’s once-black hair had turned completely white, just overnight
Ever since Tristan got back to Capitol City, he’d been non-stop putting out missing person notices. At this point, it felt like the entire country—hell, the whole world—knew the richest man in Verduria was looking for his missing wife.
Leads came in one after another, but none of them were worth a damn.
Slumped over his desk with both elbows on the edge, Tristan rubbed his temples and let out a long breath.
A knock came at the office door. He looked up slightly, tiredness all over his face. Leaning back in his leather chair, he kneaded his brow and muttered, "Come in."
Cameron Brooks stepped inside, adjusting the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. "Boss, someone reported the nuns from Tranquil Dawn Temple were seen buying baby stuff down in the village."
Tristan’s eyes sharpened. He grabbed his blazer from the rack and followed Cameron out without a word.
In the private elevator, time suddenly felt like it was crawling.
As soon as the doors opened, Tristan strode out, long legs moving fast and steady.
Cameron trailed behind. "Sir, don’t get your hopes up too high. You’ve already checked almost every shady spot around the country this month."
Tristan’s footsteps hitched. "Do you know what this could mean?"
Cameron blinked. "It means... Mrs. Reid might have already given birth."
"It means Ethan might’ve come early," Tristan’s voice was scratchy and low, "And with no hospital records in the entire country... where did she even give birth? What kind of condition was she in? Could she be sick now?" His throat tightened. "Just thinking about it makes my chest ache."
Cameron nodded, his tone serious. "I get it."
He went ahead to drive the car over. Tristan got in the back without a word.
As the car shot into traffic, like an arrow let loose, Tristan stared out at the world speeding past.
A hot tear suddenly slipped from the corner of his right eye.
His fists clenched tight. His mind couldn’t let go of the image: his Megan, alone, having their baby.
That kind of fear and helplessness when you’re that close to death—how the hell did she get through that? She must’ve been in so much pain.
He’d heard childbirth is ranked as the worst kind of pain—the sort that’s like snapping twenty ribs all at once. Just the thought made his heart feel like it was breaking apart.
What if there were complications—what if she bled out, or had a tough delivery? What kind of hell had she been through?
Cameron peeked in the rearview mirror and caught a glimpse of Tristan’s strained expression. He tried to ease the tension. "We don’t know for sure if it was her."
But Tristan shook his head. "No matter who it was, the person who was there... went through something terrible."
Three hours later, the car rolled to a stop at the base of Tranquil Dawn Mountain.
Tristan and Cameron climbed the stone steps, one following the other.
After about an hour of steady hiking, they finally reached the temple nestled atop the hill.
Tristan paused, hand hesitating mid-air before finally rapping gently on the wooden door.
Not long after, the doors creaked open. Lily blinked owlishly at them. "We’re not taking visitors today. You came for nothing."
Tristan gave a polite nod. "Good afternoon. I’m here... looking for someone."
"Looking?" Lily tilted her head, curious.
"My wife," Tristan said softly, "Her name’s Megan. I heard your head nun recently came down the mountain to buy baby items. I was wondering... if maybe my wife is staying here?"
Lily shook her head calmly. "There are only three of us living here—our head, Samantha, me, and Ivy. That’s it. As for those baby things, Samantha’s relative came by a while back. They had a child, needed supplies, so she went down to get them. But they’ve already left."
Tristan frowned just a little. "Would it be alright if I took a look around?""Of course you can," Lily said as she opened the gate without hesitation. "Feel free to look around. I’ve heard about your search, but if the person you’re looking for really were here, I’d definitely let you know. That reward is no joke! We could totally give the place a full makeover with that money."
Tristan looked around carefully, but found no sign that a child had ever stayed there.
He walked up to the Buddha statue and gave three respectful bows.
Glancing at the modest surroundings, he gave a faint smile. "Even if I don’t find my wife here, I’m still willing to donate to help restore your temple."
Lily’s eyes lit up, surprised and thrilled. "That’s wonderful! You’re so kind-hearted, karma will surely reward you. I hope you find your wife soon and your family can be whole again."
"Family?" Tristan caught that word and looked at her. "You mean... my wife and a child?"
Lily stiffened for a second, realizing she might’ve slipped. She quickly smoothed it over, saying, "Well, your wife was pregnant, right? It’s been about nine months now, so she’s probably due soon."
Tristan lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable. He’d checked every single corner, but there wasn’t a hint of a clue.
In the end, he and Cameron Brooks left empty-handed, frustration evident in their steps.
Only after they were out of sight did Lily close the gate. Half-running, she murmured under her breath, "Buddha, please forgive me, Buddha, please be merciful."
She knelt in front of the Buddha statue inside, her voice low. "Please understand, I had no choice. If I’d told him the truth, it might’ve been good for them... but it would’ve cost them their lives."
After standing up, she made her way to the back courtyard. In a small back room, she moved a board behind the bookshelf and opened a hidden entrance. She called softly, "Megan, your husband’s gone. It’s safe, bring the baby out."
Megan carefully passed little Ethan Reid out to her first. Once Lily took him, Megan climbed up through the tunnel.
Taking her son back in her arms, she looked down at his sleeping face. "Does he look too thin?"
Lily shook her head. "Not really. He’s actually got some meat on him now. But he doesn’t look too well... Still, I can tell he truly loves you. It’s just so unfair. Ethan’s still a baby... How’s he supposed to grow up missing his dad?"
Megan lowered her eyes. "All I want is for him to stay safe. If we had a choice, of course I’d want us to be together."
That night, when Samantha and Ivy heard that Tristan had come by, their hearts practically skipped a beat.
Good thing they’d cleaned everything up the night before and spread the news around. Now that people had come to check, hopefully it’d buy them some peace. They were always on edge, worried that man might suddenly show up.
Ethan had only weighed four and a half pounds at birth. He was a preemie, so even now, a month later, he was barely six pounds. He still looked tiny.
Samantha stared at his little face. "His eyes and brows are just like yours. But the nose and lips? All his dad. He’s gonna be real handsome one day."
She sighed softly as her gaze moved to Megan’s hair. "Look at your hair... all white now."
Megan placed Ethan gently on the bed, picked up a small violin, and walked into the courtyard. Under the new moon, she began to play.
The sorrow of their separation, the tenderness of their love, the pain—it all flowed from her fingertips into the mournful melody.
During Megan’s confinement, Samantha had taken care of her with all her heart. Though she usually refused to harm living things, she found an excuse and secretly cooked a chicken every two days. She just wanted Megan to regain her strength and produce enough milk for little Ethan.
Thanks to her care, both mother and baby were doing better. Megan’s health recovered, Ethan had gained weight... but Megan’s once-black hair had turned completely white, just overnight, on the day her postpartum period ended.
