Billionaire, Let's Divorce! by BELLA

CLARA

The dim glow of our laptop screens were the only sources of light in the large basement room.

The intercom rang and I immediately picked it up.

"There's been another tip, Clara," she said in her usual calm voice.

"Send it in," I said as I opened up the tab where I receive the anonymous messages or phone calls we get. "Abused teen and mother, address attached. Urgent," she summarized as the message popped in.

"Thanks," I said, taking it from her. "I'll pass this to the retrieval team."

I scanned the address before I went on to read the lengthy message someone must have frantically typed.

The message was typed by a thirteen year old who was forced to reach out because his jobless mom was too scared to leave his abusive stepfather. His step father is currently out of the state and they need help before he returns tonight. Quickly, I typed out the details in our secure chat, flagged it as high priority, and sent it off to the retrieval team.

I have only worked for a few months at the charity house before I got promoted here and so far, so good.

One day, the head of the charity organization where I worked before had called me and commended me on my good work ethics and passion for my job.

It was then I found out that my boss was the son of abusive parents, both mother and father. I still found it hard to believe that he grew up to be such a kind man.

It turned out that he was not only affiliated to an underground charity network, but he was also its founder. His other charity branches were an extension of that underground network.

his parents were important figures in the society so he suffered in silence as he didn't want anyone to

place has opened my eyes to the number of people in abusive homes but are either too scared

retrieval team and ensured that they had gotten on the move, I turned my attention to

Some cases weren't straightforward: no names, just pleas for help and an untraceable email. Others were heart- wrenchingly detailed, like the woman who described her husband locking her and her daughter, a toddler, in a basement for

latest entries when my burner phone buzzed on the desk. I picked it up, expecting a routine check-in or another update from a different branch. Instead,

whoever was trying to get help was reaching out from. But

I knew this one was no cry for

"-take the boy first-"

boy, fucker," another man said. "He's too young. Besides, how do we manage

"We can-"

voice,

stopped. I leaned in closer, gripping the phone tightly, pressing

calmer, but just as cold,

schedule. The kid will be easy. I get her myself. If the mother gets in the way,

Is

pounded in my ears. They were planning a kidnap, and it

are no mistakes," the calmer voice continued. "We can't afford any loose

we're doing." Then he added, "What's

fuck do you care about the name? I'll get her.

voice muttered back just before the call

to breathe, my chest rising and falling as