Chapter 1 Accused for Abandonment

• "Sob sob ...
• "Excuse me, Officer, help me, please. I've been abandoned.
• "My dad abandoned me at birth. He didn't want me or my mom.
• "And now my mom has given up on me too.
• "I have no place to go.
• "I'm an abandoned kid ...
• "Sob sob ...
• "My teacher told me to go to the police if I face difficulties. Can you assist me, Officer?"
• Satford.
• At the entrance of the International Airport Police Station.
• A small, tear-streaked child with a dirty face and chubby little hands clung tightly to a uniformed police officer, sobbing uncontrollably and gasping for breath.
• Two police officers on night duty came out to buy supper, but as soon as they reached the door, they were stopped by the little kid in front of them. Seeing the child crying hysterically, the police officers couldn't help but feel sympathy.
• Forgetting about their supper, the police officers took the little kid to the lobby of the police station and tried to comfort him.
• "Good boy, don't cry. What's your name? Do you know your mom or your dad's phone numbers? We will find them for you, okay?"
• The child's eyes briefly gleamed with a sly look, so quick that the two night-shift police officers didn't notice.
• "Officer, can you ... arrest both of them?"
• "Why should we arrest both of them?" The two police officers were suspicious.
• The child's desire to punish his father was understandable, given he had abandoned his family. The mother's constant complaints about him only fueled the child's resentment.
• But why would he want his mother to be taken into custody?
• After all, she's the one who has struggled to raise him for the past five years.
• "People always say the police arrest bad guys. Go arrest my dad, he's an irresponsible j*rk who ditched us. I've never even seen him in my life. My mom is hardly ever around either, leaving me home alone all the time."
• Oh my goodness!
• What kind of parents would do this? This poor child is so unfortunate.
• It's no surprise he keeps asking the police to take his parents into custody.
• Observing the child's dependence on them, the officers suddenly felt proud of their profession.
• They continued to patiently comfort the child, saying, "We'll call them to come here and get their side of the story. If what you're saying is true, we'll give them a serious warning. Should they not cooperate and the situation is severe, they could look at up to five years in jail, detention, or probation."
• Bunny tilted his head up, his little mouth chattering incessantly, like a machine gun firing continuously.
• "Officer, I think you should put my dad in jail for five years, no ten years!
• "As for my mom, she gets scared in the dark at night, and rainy days with thunder make her anxious. She can't be away from me. You should talk with her seriously to make her realise her mistake, so she won't leave me alone at home again."
• "You sure have it all sorted, you're a smart kid. Now tell me, what is your mom's contact number?"
• "I'm Bunny, and my mom's contact number is ...
• "My dad's contact number is ... "
• "Okay, Bunny, no more tears. We'll call your mom and dad now to come get you."
• Bunny nodded, no longer crying, eagerly awaiting the police's actions.
• Since the two police officers in front of him had just graduated from the police academy and knew Bunny was a child abandoned by his family, they were filled with youthful energy and righteous indignation. They quickly dialled his parents' numbers.
• The mother's phone went unanswered, with the voicemail suggesting she was overseas.
• "Bunny, is your mom overseas?"
• "Yeah, she's in Aspary. She might be in surgery right now. You might contact her tomorrow."
• Surgery?
• Is she a doctor?
• Doctors are usually caring and devoted to preserving lives. How could she leave her kid behind?
• Perhaps she's an ambitious career woman, prioritising her professional life above all else. Alas! Young people these days are too utilitarian, so encountering such people isn't unusual.
• The two police officers contacted the other phone number.
• Beep ... beep ...
• The phone continued to ring for an extended period before someone picked up. A chilly voice on the other end inquired, "Hello, who's calling?"
• "Sir, your son is presently at the International Airport Police Station. Please bring the necessary documents to confirm your identity promptly," one of the police officers conveyed calmly.
• "You've dialled the incorrect number. I don't have a son."
• Click. The call abruptly ended.
• Beep ... beep ... The phone rang once more and was connected.
• "Sir, your child has made an accusation of abandonment against you. If you decline to cooperate, we have the authority to detain you as per regulations. Please attend for confirmation." The police officer's voice carried a hint of frustration and determination.
• There followed a brief silence at the other end. "Got it," came the concise response before the call ended.
• "Larry, how can parents be like this? Is he showing up or not?" One of the police officers queried, puzzled.
• Larry shook his head in disbelief and raised his shoulders slightly. "Let's give it a bit more time! If he doesn't show up, we'll inform the chief when our shifts end tomorrow."
• "Well, we've done what we can. This kid's situation is quite sad. Larry, got any snacks? Let's offer the kid something to eat to help him feel better," another officer suggested, hoping to comfort the child with some snacks.
• "I've got some potato chips here. I'm tied up with this case right now, so you go ahead and give them to him first," Larry replied, still busy with his paperwork.
• "Sure thing." The other officer went over to Larry's desk, grabbed the potato chips, and walked over to Bunny. "All we have are these potato chips. Would you like some?"
• Potato chips were his favourite.
• The child blinked his large, round eyes and nodded enthusiastically. "Thanks, Officer," he exclaimed. Grasping the potato chips with his chubby hand, he began devouring them eagerly, his previous tears entirely forgotten.
• After twenty minutes, a sleek black Rolls-Royce parked gracefully in front of the police station. Stepping out of the vehicle was a gentleman clad in a suit and leather shoes, emanating an air of elegance and authority, albeit with a hint of aloofness.
• The man is from a top financial group family and is the eldest son of the Dawsons, one of the four major families in Forstford, Bruce Dawson.
• With striking and well-defined features, a prominent nose, and piercing green eyes framed by golden-rimmed glasses, he exuded an aura of cool detachment.
• Bruce entered the police station, casting a chilly glance at the little munchkin snacking on potato chips on a bench in the lobby.
• He narrowed his brows imperceptibly and strode over to the child with a stern demeanour.
• Bunny, who was munching on potato chips, spotted the man walking towards him, his face bearing a striking resemblance to his own, and his jaw dropped in astonishment. A half-eaten chip tumbled out of his mouth.
• The man standing there was Bunny's biological father, the j*rk who left him and his mother.
• As Bunny reflected on the pain his father inflicted on his mother over the years and his lack of responsibility, anger boiled within him, and he resolved not to grant forgiveness.
• Rising swiftly from the bench, he called out to the police officer, "Officer, he's the j*rk who abandoned his family. Quick, arrest him!" With those words spoken, he darted away on his small legs, aiming to flee the danger zone at a rapid pace of 180 miles per hour.