You're Just My Ex-Husband,My Lord-Chapter 269- to be mine!

Dave was just as angry, terrified, panicked, and heartbroken as everyone else when he heard this news.

He had to admit that Bert was truly malicious. By taking Tiffany and Emma Washington, he had effectively trapped the entire Burg Eltz family.

Daniel was in a frenzy, worrying about Tiffany’s safety, and both he and Lilian were concerned.

Emma Washington, their daughter, was Laurent’s precious one, and Laurent was the one Dave cherished most.

To take Emma Washington away hurt far more than taking Laurent.

It was only now that Dave and the others realized that last night, Bert had deliberately made things difficult for Laurent as a diversion. His real intention was to stay in Burg Eltz and take Tiffany and Emma Washington.

By trapping Laurent, he had thrown Dave off balance, forcing him to rush back to the small town, while sending people to target Tiffany and Emma Washington in Burg Eltz. It was clear that Bert had been planning this meticulously for a long time, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been executed so perfectly and precisely.

When Alex heard that Emma Washington had been taken, he was so furious that he clutched his chest and panted heavily before collapsing onto the couch. Cassy, on the other hand, was in tears. Laurent’s emotional breakdown was even more intense as she sat on the couch, pulling at her hair and choking back silent sobs.

Only Dave stood straight, his face devoid of any expression.

In truth, he wasn’t emotionless, but everyone else was falling apart because of this situation, and he couldn’t afford to break down.

No matter how difficult or painful, he had to hold himself together, because in the end, this problem was his to solve.

So, he forced himself to appear calm and composed, so that Laurent and the others wouldn’t be completely overwhelmed.

Glancing at Laurent, Alex, and Cassy, Dave spoke in a strained voice.

"Your emotions aren’t in the best state. Take a few days off from work and stay here. I’ll rush back to handle this."

With their daughter missing, Laurent couldn’t possibly go back to work. It would be better for her to stay here, to help console her parents who were devastated.

Laurent looked up when she heard this, wiping the tears from her face with a tissue, her expression determined.

"I’m going back with you. I can’t let you face this alone."

She couldn’t be selfish. She couldn’t stay here, healing, while letting him face all the pressure and pain alone.

The truth was, he was suffering more than she was. After all, in addition to their daughter going missing, his mother Tiffany was also gone. She was the one who had given him life and raised him—his closest family.

Therefore, she couldn’t leave him alone in this moment. She had to stay by his side.

Dave wanted to say something more, but Laurent stepped forward and took his hand. She lifted her face, looking at him with serious eyes.

"You said, no matter what happens, you wouldn’t abandon me. I—"

Laurent recalled the words he had said last night and couldn’t stop her eyes from watering. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"How could I let you face this alone in such a dire situation?"

Hearing her words, Dave smiled faintly, a little comforted, and reached up to pull her into his arms, holding her tightly.

Actually, Dave wanted her to stay by his side, but considering her emotions, he thought it would be best for her to stay here. He didn’t want her to endure the darkest and most painful parts.

Now that she had chosen to stay with him, how could he continue to refuse?

From now on, through storm and sunshine, they would walk hand in hand.

Alex and Cassy both agreed that Laurent should go with Dave. If they planned to be together again, they should face these hardships together. After all, adversity reveals true feelings, right?

Having made their decision, the two of them didn’t stay any longer. They quickly packed up and hurried back to Burg Eltz.

On the way back, Laurent drove the car, solely to allow Dave to focus on making phone calls, figuring out how to handle the situation.

Before they left, they had called the hotel where Bert stayed last night. They learned that Bert had checked out hours ago, around 4 or 5 a.m., which meant Bert had been prepared.

Now, they had completely lost track of Bert’s whereabouts. The previous call to Bert’s phone couldn’t even go through. Bert had completely disappeared into the shadows.

This meant they were in a passive position, unable to do anything except wait for Bert to call them back.

Because of this situation, Dave had mobilized the entire Burg Eltz network. He used all the connections and resources he could, asking for help in investigating the matter. However, Bert was a meticulous person who always planned ahead. Trying to track him down within all of Burg Eltz was no easy task.

Furthermore, they couldn’t rule out the possibility that Bert had already moved Tiffany and Emma Washington out of Burg Eltz during these past few hours. Considering these hidden possibilities made Dave’s mood grow anxious and uneasy.

Yet, he forced himself not to panic, not to become flustered.

As their car drove into Burg Eltz, an unfamiliar call came through on Dave’s phone. Dave guessed it was certainly Bert calling. Laurent quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road, anxiously waiting for Dave to answer the call.

The sun was shining outside the car window, and the weather was clear.

However, their mood felt as cold and heavy as a winter’s day.

"Hey, dear brother, how are you feeling now?" Bert asked with a smile when the call was answered. Dave wasn’t angered, or rather, his heart had grown numb from the pain.

"Do you want Washington Co.?" Dave calmly asked Bert. Bert had expected Dave to shout in anger, but instead, he responded so calmly that Bert’s face on the other end of the line slightly cooled.

"Yes, I want Washington Co. After all, a part of it is rightfully mine, isn’t it? I’m just taking back what I’ve earned!"

Bert always believed that because he shared Daniel’s blood, he should inherit a portion of the Washington Co. fortune and receive the care of his father, Daniel.

However, Daniel had unfairly given the entire Washington Co. to Dave, while only setting up a small company for Bert, the design company he was currently running. Bert felt this was deeply unfair.

Why did Dave, someone who had only been in this world for a short while, get everything, while Bert had to settle for just a small company after two years?

Why did he, Bert, have to be exiled overseas?

So what if he was an illegitimate child? It wasn’t his fault.

If he could choose his birth, he certainly wouldn’t have chosen parents like them—irresponsible and neglectful.

He couldn’t understand it. He didn’t get it.

He couldn’t fathom why, being Daniel’s son like Dave, the treatment between them was so drastically different.

So, he could only fight for it himself.

"Do you really think you can manage Washington Co. well, just because you have it?" Dave kindly reminded him.

"You have to understand, from top to bottom, every employee at Washington Co. has been working hard with me for the past few years. Do you think they’ll follow your leadership?"

Dave’s words were a kind reminder but also a subtle warning.

He was warning Bert that even if he managed to take Washington Co. in such a manner, he wouldn’t win the loyalty of the people, and it would still end in failure.

Didn’t they always say that the one who wins the people wins the world?

Washington Co. had no one who was loyal to Bert. Even if he took over, what did it mean?

But Bert, at this point, had become so obsessive and stubborn that he couldn’t hear what Dave was saying. He angrily and determinedly spoke on the other end of the line.

"Dave, you really overestimate yourself. Do you think Washington Co. can’t survive without you?"

"Or maybe, you underestimate my abilities."

Bert laughed again as he spoke.

"Besides, how well it’s managed doesn’t really matter to me. It’s not my hard work anyway. I just want it to be mine!"