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.
replied coldly. “But keep wasting time, and you’ll regret
his
expression
voice sent a shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard and started walking toward the
and oil, the kind of smell that clung to the back of your throat. The man walked behind me, his presence looming, and I could feel
hurt?” I asked,
No answer.
that
our footsteps echoing off the metal walls. My heart was pounding so hard I
large, empty space. The room was dimly lit by a single overhead light that flickered
here,” he said, stepping
to face him, my voice trembling as I spoke. “Please, just let me see them. I’ll do whatever
simply stood there, his arms crossed, the
my breathing
dragged on like hours, and I felt a tear slip down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly, not wanting to show weakness, even though I
shifted his weight, and I could feel his presence like a shadow
my palms. Whoever was behind this, whatever they wanted, I would face
just hoped I wasn’t already
echoed in the empty space, breaking the suffocating silence. My head snapped toward the direction of the
as I watched a shadow stretch across the floor. The man in the mask
each one sending a jolt of anxiety through me. My breathing quickened, my chest rising and falling as I fought the urge
darkness, stepping into the fluctuating light. My
2/5
Chapter 169
my voice giving out how shaken I was. And it had disbelief laced with the raw
dressed sharply, as always, his suit designed to perfection, but there was a darkness in his eyes that
few feet away, tucking his hands casually into his pockets as though this
me. Rage and terror surged through my veins, but all I could
widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Those cold, calculating
reaction.
he said, his tone as smooth as silk but dripping with
like a freight train. Daniel was behind this. All
my voice cracking as tears spilled down my face.
by my outburst. “Relax,” he said, his voice maddeningly calm. “Your kids
buckle slightly. The man
you’ve hurt them…” I started, but Daniel cut me
his
really think I’d stoop so low? They’re your kids. Your precious little bundles of joy. Why would I harm them when I can use them to get
ant?”
rom spun. I wanted to scream, to charge at him,
His presence, his words, froze me in
my voice trembling with fury and
tell me where they were,
fact remains….you’re here.
Whatever he wanted, whatever his twisted game was, I knew one thing for certain: I wasn’t leaving
not waste time, Christiana,” he said, his voice
way up my throat, For the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure I’d make it
hands clenched into fists at my sides, trembling with fear and fury. “What is this about, Daniel? Why
his smirk fading into something more serious, almost vulnerable.
in his tone. “What are you
dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting mine again. “I loved you, Christiana. With everything inside of me, I loved you,” he said, his voice soft but laced with bitterness. “But you…”
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