Chapter 162: How To Ruin Someone’s Happiness
Liam held onto Thomas’s back, who was being carried by one of his men. "Go in, hurry... we need to get him to the hospital, his condition isn’t good." He then turned to Richard, who looked relieved when they finally arrived.
"Dad..." Liam gulped, facing Richard. "Can you take both of them to the hospital first? I need to head to the wedding venue..."
Richard frowned. "Why? What is it? Is something wrong?" He caught the look on Liam’s face.
"It looks like something happened. Even with all the security, Owen still managed to slip his people in and..." He stopped, his jaw tightening. "The venue is on fire."
"What?" Richard’s voice shot up in shock. "What about them? Are they okay? Your mother?"
Liam shook his head quickly. "I don’t know yet... I just got the call on the way here." His fists clenched at his sides. "But I’m heading there now. Dad, please... take Thomas and Jasmine straight to the hospital. Don’t waste a second."
Richard’s eyes burned with worry, torn between going with Liam and protecting the ones already in his care. At last, he nodded, gripping Liam’s shoulder firmly. "Go."
Liam gave a short, grim nod before sprinting toward his car, every nerve in his body screaming with urgency.
Liam arrived at the venue, his car screeching to a halt. The once-grand hall was now a scene of chaos. Firefighters spraying water at the smoking remains, police shouting orders to keep the crowd back.
One officer rushed to him, recognizing him immediately. "Mr. Kingsley... Luckily, no casualties were reported. Everyone was evacuated in time. But the fire started and spread too fast... it’s suspicious."
Liam’s jaw tightened as he scanned the panicked faces in the crowd, searching desperately for Theo and Daisy.
His eyes caught on Aurora first. She was crouched under a tree with her parents, hugging herself tightly, her face pale with shock. For a brief moment, something flickered in his chest, but he forced himself to look away. He had already decided, he wouldn’t let himself linger on her, not anymore.
Shaking off the thought, his gaze finally settled on Theo a little further away, holding Daisy close with one arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. She leaned against him, shaken but steady.
Relief loosened the knot in Liam’s chest. He walked toward them, and as he passed Aurora, she quickly stood up.
"Mr. Kingsley—" Aurora started, but Liam didn’t stop. He moved straight past her, his eyes locked on Theo and Daisy.
"Both of you okay?" he asked, his gaze shifting to Theo before landing briefly on Daisy. "Ah... Barbie-in-law, you looked beautiful, tsk..." he clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "That damn Old Kennedy really knows how to ruin someone’s happiness."
Daisy managed a faint smile and nodded. "Thankfully all of us are okay... and the guests too."
Theo didn’t waste time. "How’s Thomas?"
The mention of her father made Daisy’s breath hitch. "Ah... my dad. How could I forget? Is he okay? Did you manage to get him out?" Her voice trembled, panic creeping back in.
Liam softened his expression, giving her a small, reassuring smile. "Dad said they already reached the hospital. The doctors have started giving him the treatment he needs. But..."
The sudden pause made both Theo and Daisy tense, brows furrowing.
"What is it?" Theo pressed, urging him to finish.
Liam exhaled slowly. "Jasmine didn’t look good either. It seems she was beaten... quite a lot."
But Daisy didn’t respond the way he expected. Her face went blank, her eyes empty, as if the words didn’t quite register or maybe she didn’t know how to process them.
Theo clasped Daisy’s hands firmly, his grip warm and grounding. She blinked, snapping out of whatever haze had pulled her under, and met his steady gaze.
"Should we head to the hospital now?" Theo asked softly, not wanting to prolong the conversation in the middle of the chaos.
Before Daisy could answer, Liam cut in, his tone edged with urgency. "Wait... where’s Mom?" His eyes darted around the crowd, scanning the sea of shaken guests and uniformed officers. "I don’t see her anywhere."
Theo stiffened at the name, his hand tightening instinctively around Daisy’s. "She was with us earlier when we ran out of the hall..." His words faltered as his gaze swept over the surroundings, searching desperately for his mother.
Liam’s jaw clenched. "Damn it." He moved toward one of the officers on duty. "Check again... Evelyn Kingsley. Has anyone seen her?"
The officer exchanged a quick look with his partner before shaking his head. "We’re still clearing the area, sir. Some guests might have scattered during the evacuation."
Theo’s pulse spiked, a chill running down his spine. He turned back to Daisy, then back to the blazing hall. "She wouldn’t have gone back inside, would she?"
Theo’s throat tightened as he turned to one of his nearest men. "Please, check the guest list again... find out where my mother is. Evelyn Kingsley. She was with us when we evacuated."
"Yes, sir." The guard gave a brisk nod and hurried off, speaking into his radio.
Liam’s jaw locked as he waited, scanning the restless crowd. His gut told him this wasn’t just smoke and chaos. Something felt off.
Moments later, the officer returned, his expression pale. "Mr. Kingsley... she’s not here."
Theo’s face went cold. "What do you mean, not here? She was right beside us—she should’ve come out with everyone else."
The guard swallowed, hesitant. "We checked the back exit cameras. There was... another car. A black sedan. It left the premises before the fire department arrived. We believe... Mrs. Kingsley was taken."
Theo and Liam looked at each other and their expressions darkened.
"Owen."
Both of them spoke up at the same time.
"Find my mother’s location, hurry!" Theo’s voice was a bit loud.
Miles came rushing from the other side, "Sir, I found the location..." He took a long breath after running there, "They are heading to the hospital..."
"Hospital?" Theo furrowed, "Which one?"
Miles exhaled, "The one Thomas is treated right now."
"Move! Now!"