"I''m not afraid of hard work," Alexander said firmly.


    "Good." Shane lovingly caressed his head. Joshua and Hazel were relieved that Heather hadn''t been tortured or hurt.


    "Heather, how about going to travel with your dad and me next time?" Hazel coaxed her. "You''re not allowed to run away from home anymore."


    Heather shook her head like a rattle-drum.


    "No, I''ve changed my mind. I''m not going to travel with you!"


    Joshua and Hazel looked at each other in surprise. The girl had been insisting on traveling with them, but she actually changed her mind so quickly.


    "Why?" Hazel asked.


    "Because I''m going to elope with Alex!" Heather held out her chubby little hand and pointed in Alexander''s direction.


    This sentence was like a p of thunder, suddenly quieting everyone down!


    In an instant, Alexander noticed that three pairs of sharp eyes which were as heavy as mountains fell upon him, and he could hardly breathe!


    Then he realized how hard his road would be. Joshua, Simon, and Ted were three awesome men, each of whom was an impassable mountain. If he wanted their approval in the future, it wouldn''t be easy.


    "Ahem, the children are joking, joking," Shane hurried toe to his rescue and said.


    But the next moment, Heather pursed her lips and burst into tears. "No kidding. I''m going to elope with Alex."


    All of a sudden, the atmosphere became serious again.


    "Heather," Alexander said suddenly. He let go of Shane''s hand and looked at her carefully.


    "Alex..." Heather had pretended to cry. She put down her hand and rubbed her eyes, looking nkly at him.


    "You go home with your parents first," he said gently. "I''lle to visit your home and y with youter on, okay?"


    "Really?" She blinked her eyes. She didn''t really know what ''elope'' means, but if Alexander were willing to y with her, there would be no need for them to elope.


    "Yes, I promise," he said seriously.


    "Okay, Okay!" she said happily. "Then I''ll wait for you at home!"


    Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. But, although they knew it was just two kids'' innocent words, Joshua, Simon, and even Ted felt somewhat ufortable.


    Heather was just a kid now, but... she would marry another man when she grew up anyway. Why did they feel so sad while just thinking about it? Was there a man in the world who was good enough for their Heather? "Come on, it''s settled, so let''s go home,"


    Ted said hastily. He was really afraid of another ident. Heather was still a child, and they just needed to take care of her at present.


    "Well, what about these people?" Simon looked at the group of human traffickers.


    "I''ve called James," Joshua whispered.


    "He''ll reach soon and take these human traffickers away. He''s almost here."


    Just then, a siren sounded as expected. Hearing the siren, the gang of human traffickers had a sense of relief somehow in their hearts. Although these people had done nothing to them, the psychological damage they caused to them was incalcble. Now they got caught at longst. Will it be finally over?


    James took the police and put the human traffickers in the police car.


    Hazel gently squeezed Heather''s hand. "Good girl, say goodbye to Alex."


    "Goodbye, Alex," said Heather, waving at him. "Remember toe and y with me."


    "Mm, Heather," Alexander said, with a steady glow in his eyes. "We''ll… definitely meet again."


    ***


    Sixteen yearster.


    Heather woke up in bed with a moan.


    She had actually... had a childhood dream.


    "Heather, who''s your lover Alex?" asked a round-faced girl yfully, leaning over her bed.


    Alex... Heather sat up in bed, her mind wandering.


    She had just taken a nap during her lunch break, but she dreamed of the scene where she was kidnapped as a child.


    It was just that a long time had passed, and there were so many details she couldn''t remember at all. What she could only remember was the little boy who was willing to be kidnapped in a bid to apany and save her.


    Now she couldn''t even remember his name before. It was not that she was ungrateful. It was just that Alexander had nevere to her after they parted.


    The liar... Heather looked somber somehow.


    "What? Heather, are you really in love?!" Noticing her expression, the round-faced girl looked incredulous. The next moment, she asked in a very gossipy tone, her eyes sparkling, "Come on, quick! Tell me who is the lucky one who was able to win the heart of our campus belle who is the most difficult to be chased in the history of our school!"


    "Le, stop that now," Heather said with a wry smile. She pushed her roommate away and stretched herself. "You''ve misunderstood. I''ve just had a dream about my childhood."


    "What is it about?" Le asked incredulously.


    "I was kidnapped and almost sold when I was a child," Heather said.


    "Really?" Le was even more incredulous. "What does this have to do with your lover?"


    "He''s not my lover. His name was Alex," Heather continued. "A boy who was kidnapped with me. I can''t even remember his name now."


    Le was even more incredulous.


    "Let''s stop talking about that. We have to prepare for our graduation work." Heather yawned. "I guess I''m just too tired from all the work I''ve been doingtely. That''s why I had this dream."


    "Heather, I don''t understand," said Le, looking puzzled. "You''re so good-looking, so you don''t have to work hard, and you can live a good life as long as you marry a rich man, but why are you so hard-working?"


    "Because if I don''t work hard, I''ll be forced to inherit my family property!" Heather replied with a wry smile.


    Le snorted. "You say that once again!"


    "I''m telling you the truth," Heather looked somewhat sad and spoke. "My parents are so close. They wanted to be free of work, so they left thepany to my elder brother and me. My brother is very wretched.


    "He lost to me during thepetition, so he had to go to work as the president. So do you understand now? I''ve worked very hard to get this chance to pursue my dream!"


    "I don''t understand at all!" Le scratched her hair. "Do you dare tell me what your family''spany is named?"


    "I''ve told you before, Denmark Group," said Heather, grinning.