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Outside the hospital room, Emily stopped in her tracks.
She had originally planned to linger just a little longer, worried about Lucas’s condition and hoping to overhear what the doctor would say. But she hadn’t expected to hear that sentence.
Blood continued to trickle from her forehead, but she didn’t wipe it away. Her hands clenched into trembling fists, nails digging into her palms. Her eyes burned–not from pain, but from hatred.
“Zoe… Why didn’t you die back then? Why are you still alive, just to ruin me and Lucas all over again?“}
Meanwhile, I was in a different place, feeling strangely content. When Nathan told me Lucas had been seriously injured, I felt nothing but satisfaction. Judging by the timeline, he wouldn’t be able to cause any more trouble for now–not while bedridden and healing in a hospital.
Still, for safety and peace of mind, I decided to move to a new house with my daughter.
As we drove along a quiet road toward our new home, a pedestrian passed by with a bunch of colorful cartoon balloons. My daughter, seated in the back, lit up with joy when she saw them.
“Mommy! I want the Elsa one!“}
I smiled. “Alright, alright. But you have to stay in the car and be good, okay? Don’t open the door or get out.”>
She nodded obediently.
I parked the car, gave her a reassuring look, and got out to chase after the balloon vendor, who was walking surprisingly fast.}
it took some effort weaving through the street to catch up, but eventually, I managed to buy the sparkling Elsa balloon she wanted.}
But when I returned to the parking lot, my heart dropped into my stomach.
A small crowd had gathered. My car’s windows were shattered–glass scattered everywhere. My daughter was gone.
My legs buckled beneath me.§
A scream stuck in my throat. I ran forward, eyes wild, the balloon slipping from my hand and drifting away unnoticed.}]
My mind filled instantly with dark, frantic thoughts.{
Who did this? Who would take my child?}
My hands trembled as I fumbled with my phone. I hit the first number that came to mind and screamed into the receiver.
“Lucas! Where is my daughter? What did you do?!”
At first, he sounded almost relieved to hear from me–until he caught my words.
His voice immediately turned to panic. “What? What do you mean your daughter is gone? I–I didn’t do anything!“}
His panic felt real. I realized he wasn’t behind it.
Still, I couldn’t waste another second.}
I alerted Nathan and contacted my father. But even with their help, precious time would be lost.”
I remembered the nearby construction site–damaged scaffolding from a thunderstorm two days ago, still left unrepaired. The city was full of hidden dangers. My mind returned to the trauma of years ago–the helplessness, the fear, the cold void when I’d lost everything.”
It was happening again.}
By the time Nathan arrived, I was running through the streets like a madwoman, stopping every passerby, asking if they’d seen a little girl.
Just as I was frantically questioning someone, a car came out of nowhere, screeching toward me.§
Nathan grabbed me at the last second, pulling me into his arms for safety.”
“Miss,” he said breathlessly, “I’ve confirmed it–Emily took the child. I know where she went.”
His voice was tight with urgency and concern. He brushed the wet strands of hair away from my face and gently wiped the tears from my cheeks.
I clutched his arm tightly. My vision blurred from crying.}
“Take me there–now.”
We jumped into his car and sped off.
“She borrowed someone else’s car and drove out toward the cliffs,” Nathan explained as he drove.
I froze.
That place was far from the city–a remote area surrounded by forest and sheer rock faces. It was also notorious for its dangerously steep cliffside.}
My heart dropped again.”
What the hell was Emily planning to do?}
I clenched my fists, refusing to entertain the worst–case scenario, but fear was already sinking its claws deep into me.”
Thankfully, traffic was light. Nathan had contacted the police in advance, clearing our route. Emily hadn’t gotten far.”
We soon caught sight of her car in the distance.}
But something was wrong. The vehicle was swerving erratically.}
She knows we’re following,” Nathan muttered, his expression hardening.”
162 01.0%
Surrounded by dense trees and winding roads, her reckless driving grew more alarming.
Her car lost control and flipped violently, crashing into a massive tree with a sickening crunch. The front of the vehicle crumpled like papert
Then, in a heartbeat, disaster struck!
Nathan slammed the brakes.
I threw open the door before the car even came to a full stop and bolted toward the wreckage, stumbling over roots and branches, screaming my daughter’s name.
Emily was unconscious, her body jammed against the crushed dashboard. Blood streaked her face. She didn’t move.8
Then–through the silence–I heard a cry
“Mom
My daughter’s tiny voice pierced the chaos. I turned and saw her wedged in a comer of the backseat, shielded by the twisted frame. She was miraculously unscathed.I
“Hold on, baby! Mommy’s here!
Ignoring the shards of glass and metal, I tore at the wreckage with my bare hands. My palms stung, but I didn’t care. Nothing else
mattered I
I pulled her out gently, pressing her to my chest. She clung to me and sobbed.
“Mom, I thought I’d never see you again.
Her warm tears soaked into my neck, straight into my heart.
I collapsed to my knees, hugging her as tightly as I could, sobbing along with her.
For now, I had her back.
But this wasn’t over!
Not yet!
