Chapter 169

Christiana’s POV.

The sound of gravel crunching beneath someone’s boots sent a jolt of fear through me. My chest tightened as I clutched my coat, trying to keep the shivers from taking over. The wind felt colder now, biting against my skin. A shadow moved from the trees, and a figure stepped into the faint light coming from my car’s headlights.

He was wearing a mask. Black, featureless, and terrifying.

“Are you alone?” the man asked, his voice muffled and low.

“Yes,” I choked out, my voice trembling. My hands were clammy and my legs felt like they would give out at any second. “I’m alone. Please… I just want my kids.”

The man didn’t respond. He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, like he was in no rush. My breathing quickened as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of black fabric.

“Turn around,” he ordered.

I froze, my feet rooted to the spot.

“Turn around,” he repeated, this time sharper.

My hands shook as I obeyed, turning my back to him. The next thing I knew, the fabric was wrapped around my eyes, plunging me into darkness. My heart raced as I felt his gloved hands tie the blindfold tightly behind my head.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You’ll see,” he said, his tone flat and emotionless.

I wanted to scream, to demand answers, but the thought of my kids kept me silent.

“Walk,” he instructed, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.

I stumbled forward, the ground uneven beneath my feet. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something metallic I couldn’t place. The man guided me to what felt like a car, opening the door and gently pushing me inside.

“Sit,” he said.

I slid into the seat, my hands gripping the edge as I tried to steady my breathing. The door slammed shut behind me, and a moment later, the car started.

The drive felt endless. I had no idea where we were going, and the blindfold only made it worse. My mind raced with every horrible possibility. Were Ethan and Emma okay? Were they here? Were they….

No. I couldn’t let myself think like that.

I clenched my fists, trying to focus on the hum of the engine and the occasional turns the car made. My stomach churned with every bump in the road, and the tension in my chest grew Heavier with each passing second.

Finally, after what felt like an hour, the car came to a stop.

The door opened, and I felt a hand grip my arm, pulling me our My legs wobbled as I stood the cold air hitting me agan.

Take her inside a voice said, but it wasn’t the same man.

The blindfold was yanked off, and I blinked against the sudden light in front of me was a massive warehouse, its mela

doors looming like a giant mouth waiting to swallow me whole. The man in the mask stood beside me, unreadable beneath the dark cover.

“Move,” he said, nodding toward the entrance.

I hesitated, my feet refusing to move.

“Where are my kids?” I demanded, my voice breaking.

coldly. “But keep wasting time, and

his

expression

I swallowed hard and started walking

clung to the back of your throat. The man walked behind me, his presence looming, and I could feel his eyes on me even though

hurt?” I asked, my voice

No answer.

fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. I couldn’t lose it

led me deeper into the warehouse, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the metal

stopped in the center of the large, empty space. The room was dimly lit by a single overhead light that

here,” he

I spoke. “Please,

man didn’t respond. He simply stood there, his arms crossed, the mask hiding

struggled to keep my breathing steady, my eyes darting around the room, searching for any sign of

a tear slip down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly, not wanting to show weakness,

me, the masked man shifted his weight, and I could feel his presence like a shadow looming

was behind this, whatever they wanted, I would face it. For

hoped I wasn’t

empty space, breaking the suffocating silence. My head snapped toward the direction of

across the floor. The man in the mask stood

deliberate and unhurried, each one sending a jolt of anxiety through me. My breathing quickened, my chest rising

the darkness, stepping into

2/5

Chapter 169

slight tremble in my voice giving out how shaken I was. And it

smiled, that infuriatingly smug curve of his lips I had come to recognize all too well. He was dressed sharply, as always, his suit designed to

said smoothly, his voice calm but with a chilling edge. He stopped a few feet away, tucking his hands casually into his pockets as though this were some casual meeting.

Rage and terror surged through my veins, but all I could manage was a shaky, “What are

Those cold, calculating eyes

reaction.

you off that easily, did you?” he

a freight train. Daniel was behind this. All

my voice cracking as tears spilled down

slightly, as if amused by my outburst. “Relax,” he said, his voice maddeningly calm.

man in the mask shifted behind me, presence looming, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away

God, if you’ve hurt them…” I started, but Daniel cut me off

his

repeated mockingly. “Christiana, do you really think I’d stoop so low? They’re your kids. Your precious little

ant?”

rom spun. I wanted to scream, to charge at him, to

His presence, his words, froze

a monster,” I spat, my voice

me where they were, but

unfazed by my insult. “Call me what you want. The fact remains….you’re here. And now, we can have a nice little chat

he wanted, whatever his twisted game was, I knew one thing

a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. Let’s not waste time, Christiana,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You and I…

dread clawed its way up my throat, For the first time in my

with fear and fury. “What is this about, Daniel? Why are

shifted, his smirk fading into something more serious, almost vulnerable. “Do you know what it’s like to give someone your

tone. “What are you talking about?”

a moment before meeting mine again. “I loved you, Christiana. With everything inside of me, I loved you,” he said, his voice soft but

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255