Chapter 26%
I gently pushed up the sleeve of his tiny shirt–my blood ran cold. There were bruises. Small but visible. Fingermarks.
I inhaled sharply, my fingers trembling as I pushed his shirt higher. My heart stopped. More bruises. On his ribs. On his back. I felt my world tilt My chest tightened painfully.
“Noah My voice came out barely above a whisper. “What… what happened?“%
Noah blinked, looking down at his arms. “Oh.” He hesitated. Then, his tiny voice answered, “Aunt Lily got mad at me. She said I was being bad, so she punished me*%
I stopped breathing.&
“Punished?” My voice was eerily calm. Too calm.
Noah nodded innocently. “She locked me in my room when I cried for you seeing in the news. She wouldn’t let me eat sometimes. She said I had to learn that bad kids don’t deserve food.“”
I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.
Noah continued, oblivious to the growing storm in my eyes. “One time, I spilled my juice on the carpet by accident. She got so mad, Mommy She–she hit me with her shoe.”
Ethan suddenly stood up so fast that his chair scraped harshly against the marble floor Noah flinched at the sound. Ethan’s jaw was clenched so tightly, I could see the veins in his neck. His hands curled into tight fists at his sides, his entire body tense like a coiled spring ready to snap.
“That bitch” he growled under his breath, his voice shaking with rage
I couldn’t breathe I couldn’t think.
Lily Lily hurt my son. Lily starved my son. Lily beat my son X
A slow, deadly fury bumed in my veins, hotter than fire, colder than ice.
I cupped Noah’s cheeks, Did… did Daddy know?”
Noah hesitated again. Then, he bit his lip and nodded. “He told her to stop,” he said quietly. “But she screamed at him and told him I needed to leam my lesson. So he… he didn’t stop her”
Something inside me snapped. Jason let it happen.
Jason let her do this to my baby
Ethan turned to me, his expression dark and murderous. 1 will kill them both.”
I looked down at Noah, who was still looking at me with innocent eyes, unaware that I was barely keeping myself from marching out that door and burning everything to the ground.
I forced a smile, brushing his hair back. “How about we go on a little date today, baby?” I whispered. “Just you, me, and Uncle Ethan?” Noah’s face brightened instantly. “Really?”
I nodded “Really.
Let’s take him
Ethan inhaled deeply beside me, trying to calm his fury. He placed a hand on my back, his touch grounding me. “Let’s somewhere nice Ethan murmured, his voice still tight with anger. Let him have a good day. And after that ”
His eyes met mine. A silent understanding passed between us.
After that, Lily and Jason would pay
Laughter filled the arcade as Noah jumped up and down, his little hands clutching the joystick of a racing game. His face was glowing with pure excitement as he turned the wheel sharply, his feet barely reaching the pedals.
“Mommy! Look! I’m winning!” Noah squealed, his tiny fingers gripping the controls.
I chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Of course, you are! You’re the best racer here.”
Ethan smirked beside me, arms crossed. “Nah, kid, you got lucky. Let’s see if you can beat me next round.”
Noah gasped dramatically. “Are you challenging me, Uncle Ethan?”
Ethan crouched down to his level, smirking. “What do you think?”
Noah puffed out his chest. “Then I accept!”
I watched them, warmth spreading through my chest. Seeing Noah smile like this–genuinely happy–felt like a dream. After everything he had been through he deserved this. We deserved this
But the dream shattered too soon.
Noah suddenly wiggled out of my grasp, bouncing on his feet. “Mommy! I need to peel
“Alright, baby The restroom is just around the comer Be quick, okay?”
Til be super fast he promised, dashing toward the restroom I
Ethan and I stood near the entrance, waiting
Minutes passed. Then ten
Something was wrong!
Ethan noticed my shift, his relaxed posture tensing “What is it?*%
I frowned, glancing toward the restroom door. “He’s taking too long: “2
He followed my gaze “Maybe he’s just ”
A gut–wrenching fear twisted in my chest. I knew I felt it
“Noah?” I called out, stepping toward the door No answer
I pushed inside “Noah?”
No answer
Ethan, standing beside me, checked his watch. His arms crossed, his jaw locked
“He’s taking too long.”
My chest tightened “I know.”%
His eyes darkened. “Stay here. I’ll check inside.”
I barely nodded before he pushed the door open and stepped in. Then–Ethan stormed out. Empty–handed. My stomach dropped “He’s not in there,” he said. His voice was sharp.X
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head “That’s not–he wouldn’t just leave,”
Ethan pulled out his phone. “We’re checking the security cameras,”
Minutes passed. Every second felt like a lifetime
Then–a phone call
Ethan answered, his voice clipped. “Talk.”
“Boss” a deep voice spoke on the other end. “We’ve got a problem.”
“What kind of problem?“%
“The footage. Someone wiped it
My blood ran cold.!!
“What?” Ethan’s voice was sharp, deadly
“Noah entered the restroom,” the man continued. “But hen
My heart stopped?
I turned to Ethan, my voice breaking “Ethan-
Then–realization hit me like a gunshot
never came out. The footage cuts off right after he walks in “0
The cleaning man. I saw him right before Noah went inside. A man in a janitor’s uniform, pushing a large cart full of trash bags, mops, and supplies.
I hadn’t thought twice about him. But now?%
Now, my stomach twisted violently
The realization burned through me like acid.
I grabbed Ethan’s arm, my nails digging into his skin. The janitor! The one who went in before Noah.”%
Ethan’s expression tumed lethal, “You think ”
I didn’t let him finish
“know”
Ethan was already dialing. “Find that janitor. Now“:
I felt my hands trembling. I tumed toward the bathroom stall, my breathing shallow.
Then, my phone vibrated. A blocked number. I answered without hesitation
A video began to play And my world shattered E
Noah. Tied to a chair. Crying
His small arms were bound behind his back, thick ropes cutting into his skin. A gag covered his mouth, muffling his sobs. His little chest heaved. His eyes–so scared |
And behind him, a man stepped forward. A familiar voice. Edward Moretti, My blood boiled!!
“Hello, my dear Seraphina,” he purred. “Or should I say Emma?*|
Rage blazed through me.
“You bastard–‘%
“T” Edward chuckled darkly “Careful now. You wouldn’t want little Noah to suffer, would you?” Noah whimpered in the background
“Mommy–please-
fist, my nails digging into my palm
“What do you want?” I bit outÊ
Edward’s ice turned cold. “You Alone. No guards. No Ethan No ticks”
I didn’t hesitate “Im coming “T
“Good girl” His voice dipped with amusement. “One hour, Seraphina Come alone–or the boy dies
12.30 PM
The call ended. My hands shook. But my rage?i
It burned hotter than ever.
Ethan’s voice sliced through my fury. “We’re tracking the call.”
I turned to him, my heart pounding. “I have to go.
His eyes flashed. Deadly Dangerous. “No.”
“Ethan-”
“NO” His voice was a growl. “You are NOT walking into a fucking trap.”
My nostrils flared. “And if I don’t, they’ll kill my son.”
His jaw clenched, Hard. Then we go together“}
“They want me alone“!
“They want you dead, Seraphina!” His voice cracked, his control shattering
I stepped closer, placing my hands on his chest have to do this.”
His breathing was ragged “Sera…”
“Ethan,” I whispered. “Trust me.
His grip on me tightened. His forehead pressed against mine.
Thate this,” he murmured.
I smiled slightly. “I know”
His jaw ticked. Frustration, Worry. Love. Reluctantly, he let me go.
But not before, I armed myself. A knife. A gun. And something even more dangerous.
A mother’s fury. Tonight–I was bringing Noah home
