Chapter 97: The Shadow Mercy’s former PI POVI couldn’t believe Mercy thought she could use me like that. After everything I did for her, all the risk I took…she never paid me a dime. I was her first private investigator, her go-to guy when she needed someone to do her dirty work. But she didn’t care about loyalty. She only cared about results.She believed I was a fool when I could kidnap Diana the first first. She thought I had kept working even if she ripped me off. She thought I had stayed quiet while she moved on to someone new…this so-called Ghost, her new investigator. He was supposed to be better, faster, stronger. I watched as she slipped away, ignoring me, closing me out.That’s when I realized: if she didn’t want me, I had to show her what I could do without her. If she wanted to play games, I would teach her how dangerous games start.Because she didn’t see me coming.I knew that they would be going after Diana since I was not able to catch her the first time, so I had t
Chapter 96: TakenDiana’s POVThe hospital hallway was quiet when I stepped out. The sun was going down slowly outside the glass windows, casting long shadows across the floor. I had just finished handling the discharge process for Gift. Her mother stayed behind to help her get dressed, and I wanted to give them a moment together.It felt good to breathe again. To know Gift was alive. To know she was safe and going home.I walked out of the hospital and stood by the gate, dialing Chris’s number.“Hello?” he answered.“I’m done here. Please Can you come pick me up?” I asked politely.“Sure. I’m already close,” he replied.Five minutes later, his black car rolled up beside me. I got in, and we started the drive back.The car was quiet at first. Chris glanced at me a few times, then said, “She looked better than I expected.”“Yeah,” I whispered, hugging myself. “But it still hurts knowing someone did that to her.”He nodded. “At least she’s safe now.”We didn’t say much after that. Just
Chapter 95: The Light ReturnsGift’s Mother’s POVI was in the kitchen, peeling yams for lunch, when my phone rang and it was Diana.At first, I almost ignored it. I was tired. My head hurt. My heart hadn’t rested for weeks…not since Gift disappeared. Every night, I cried into my pillow so the children wouldn’t hear me. Every day, I smiled for them like I wasn’t dying inside.But when I looked at the screen and saw Diana's number, I was very angry but something told me to answer.“What is it ?” I said, my voice high like a microphone.There was silence.Then, a soft, shaky voice said, “Ma… please don’t hang up. Gift is here. She’s alive. She’s at the hospital.”I froze.Everything dropped…my phone, the yam, the knife.“What?” I shouted, falling to my knees. “What did you just say?!”She said the hospital name, the hospital number. I didn’t even wait. I grabbed the phone off the floor and ran out of the kitchen.“Kids!” I screamed. “Get in the car now! Your sister is alive!”My childre
Chapter 94: The Hunt BeginsGhost’s POVI don’t ask questions.That’s the first rule.People like Mercy think they’re hiring a weapon. They’re wrong. They’re feeding a shadow.I sat in my small apartment, lights off, fingers moving quickly across the keyboard. The only sounds were the soft taps of my keys and the faint hum of my laptop. Three days, she said. Find the girl. Diana.I already had everything I needed.I always do.I pulled up the file she had sent weeks ago…blurry photos, a location tag, a name. Diana. Bakery owner. Innocent on the outside. But in my world, nobody’s clean…especially the ones who pretend to be.Mercy’s desperation dripped from every message. She wanted Diana gone. Quietly. Permanently.But she hadn’t asked me to hurt her…yet. Just find her. Watch her.And I’m very good at watching.I had eyes on the bakery. I had intercepted two deliveries. I knew what time Diana opened, when she closed, what bus she used to take before she started driving a small gray car
Chapter 93: Crossing Lines Xander’s POVI woke up at 6:15 a.m. My head felt heavy, like I had slept through a storm. I stayed in bed for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling. All I could think about was Diana…her smile and everything other thing i was can remember about her.Then I grabbed my phone.I had to make a call I have been avoiding.I scrolled down to Mercy’s name and pressed the button.She answered on the second ring.“Hello love?” Her voice was small.I told you to stop addressing me as if I were addressing you as boss or else you will leave my company. But that is not why I called you today.“Mercy,” I said calmly. “We need to talk.”There was a long silence. I heard her take a deep breath.“I know you’ve been calling me and have refused to answerand now you are disturbing my manager about my whereabouts. Asking where I am,” I said. “You have to stop that.”She didn’t say anything right away.“I’m not hiding from you either am I owning you. I have found my soulmate…Dian
Chapter 92: Back to the RoutineDiana’s POVBack to the Routine….The alarm buzzed softly beside my bed. I opened my eyes slowly and turned to check the time…5:30 AM.Another early morning.I sat up, still wrapped in my blanket. The room was quiet, and the air felt cold on my skin. But I couldn’t stay in bed. Not today. I had orders to prepare….especially for Chris’s hotel and restaurants.It had been a long time since I delivered anything to them. Everything stopped the day my world fell apart. But now… I was back. Slowly picking up the pieces.I slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake my son. He was still sleeping, peaceful and warm.I walked into the kitchen and tied my apron. The smell of flour and sugar filled the air within minutes. I began baking, mixing dough, beating eggs, and checking the oven. Then I moved to the fryer…sizzling oil and golden crusts. I did both at once—baking and frying. My feet hurt. My arms were tired. But I didn’t stop.It was a lot. Too much for