Conner was pulling out all the stops to spoil his godson, showering him with snacks and affection, all in the hopes of patching things up after a past hiccup. He was determined to set the record straight and clear his name.
So, with Henry in tow, he confidently marched into the police station, hell-bent on proving to Annie that his last run-in with the law was just a big misunderstanding. "Hey, buddy, we've stuffed ourselves with goodies—how about helping your godfather out a little?" Conner grinned, giving Henry a playful boost.
Henry was happily juggling a cookie in one hand and a rice cake in the other, alternating between bites, perfectly content and agreeable. As they stepped into the station, a security guard, familiar with Henry by now, gave them a curious look, wondering why the kid was back.
Conner made a beeline to the left, ignoring the guard’s helpful direction, "Officer Chad’s that way." Conner waved him off, "Nah, not here for Chad."
Annie was busy at her desk, sorting through missing persons reports, making call after call. Suddenly, someone called out, "Hey Summer, someone’s here for you."
Annie looked up, surprised. She wasn’t expecting visitors. Spotting Conner at the door with a child in his arms, she quickly put her work aside and headed over, whispering, "What are you doing here?"
Conner, grinning with Henry in his arms, said, "Check out my godson. I’m here to clear things up. Last time was a mix-up. My godson’s an angel with me, see?"
Henry, playing along, held up his cookie to Conner, offering him a bite with a sweet smile.
It was Annie's second encounter with Henry, the first being when Molly brought him around. She took a closer look and asked, "You came just for this? I’ve got a lot on my plate."
As she turned to leave, Conner grabbed her gently. "Hold on, I’m not done. Why's your rental info missing? Where are you living now?"
Annie glanced around the busy hall, catching the curious eyes of her coworkers as they passed by, then turned back to Conner with a hint of intrigue.
"Summer, is this your friend?" a colleague asked, raising an eyebrow.
Annie nodded, a bit flustered.
In a hushed tone, she told Conner, "Mind your own business. Just go."
Conner smirked and threatened, "Let me in, or I’ll spill the beans about us."
Annie felt cornered, "Don’t be so low."
"If I wasn’t ruthless, I wouldn’t have ended up running the family after driving my own brother to the edge," Conner whispered with a dangerous glint in his eye.
With her fists clenched, Annie relented, "Fine, come in."
Annie escorted Conner and Henry inside. "Wow, Summer, who’s this? He’s quite the looker," a colleague remarked.
Annie, not even turning around, replied, "Him? You’ve seen him around—'the kidnapper' Conner."
Conner just chuckled, knowing Annie wouldn’t let him off easy. "Hey everyone, yep, I’m the kidnapper. Last time, I nabbed my godson, and now, I’m stealing my fiancée."
Annie: "…"
All eyes darted to Annie, teasingly.
Annie wanted to argue, but seeing Conner’s confident smirk, she knew fighting him head-on was like a mouse against a mountain.
"Doesn’t this kid look familiar?" someone commented, eyeing Henry.
Henry, busy with his snack, gave a playful lick, "Mmm~"
Just then, Henry's rice cake slipped from his grasp, hitting the floor. He looked down, ready to retrieve it, but Conner swiftly scooped it up and tossed it in the trash.
Henry’s expression shifted, and he glanced between the garbage can and Conner, his lips quivering before he burst into tears.
The sudden crying caught everyone by surprise.
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