Chapter 23 – Three Days

Mannie’s POV

I didn’t wait.

The second Dominic turned his back, I turned mine too.

I didn’t care if the whole office was watching.

I didn’t care if Clarissa was still screaming like a banshee.

I didn’t care if the whispers followed me like shadows on my heels.

I walked fast with my head down and my jaw tight.

My chest burned like someone had cracked it open and poured acid inside, well… I pretended not to feel it.

Because Dominic Blackmoore had just made everything worse.

"If she wanted to seduce someone, she would have chosen me."

That line rang in my head again and again, louder than Clarissa’s screeches. Louder than the gasps and snickers that had erupted after.

He thought he was protecting me? Teasing me?

He made me look guilty.

He made me look cheap.

How could a company president say that?

At this point, I was actually second guessing my choices.

By the time I reached the company gate, my eyes were stinging.

But I didn’t cry.

I wouldn’t give them that.

I don’t know if I was actually pretending to be strong but Damn… I am tired

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The ride home was a blur.

I barely remembered turning the key in the lock or setting down my bag.

I just wanted to curl up, close my eyes, and forget the entire day had ever happenedbut life had other plans.

The moment I stepped into the living room, I froze.

Something felt off.

Too quiet.

Too still.

The kids weren’t fighting over TV shows.

No tiny feet padded down the hallway.

No crayons rolled off the table.

Then I heard it.

Tiny familiar voices in the children room.

I rushed in and found Sophie and Lily sitting on the floor, eyes wide and tear-streaked. Jay clutched a pillow like it was a shield. Adam stood by the window, his little fists balled.

"What’s going on?" I asked quickly.

Tera ran to me, hugging my legs. "They took Nate."

My heart stopped.

"What?! Who took Nate?!"

"The police," Adam said, his voice flat and serious. "A detective came and took him."

My legs almost gave out. "What? Why would they take a child?!"

Before I could panic further, Clarice stepped into the room from the kitchen, looking sheepish. "I tried to call you, but your phone wasn’t reachable. They had papers… and they said it was about the Evan case."

I gripped the back of the chair for support. "They think Nate did something? He’s a child!"

Clarice quickly shook her head. "No! No, not like that. The detective said he met Nate during the previous visit and… well… Nate said something. Something that made him think Nate could help."

I blinked. "Help? He’s five."

"He’s Nate," Clarice said, as if that explained everything. And honestly, it kind of did.

Still, my panic only deepened. "Where is he? Which station? Who approved this?"

Just then, the front door opened again. Nate walked in—calm, collected, like he’d gone to buy snacks.

Behind him stood a man in a rumpled suit. Tall and in his late thirties. He had sharp eyes and tired lines at the corner of his eyes that resembled a crows feet.

The detective.

"You must be Miss Twain," he said, stepping forward with a slight bow. "Detective Marsh. I assure you, your son is perfectly fine."

I crouched and grabbed Nate into a hug, holding him so tightly he squirmed.

"Mama, I’m okay," he said gently. "He didn’t hurt me."

I pulled back and looked at the detective. "Why him? He’s five. He’s just a boy."

"He’s not just a boy," Marsh said, his gaze curious and almost amused. "He pointed out three inconsistencies in the crime scene photos within a minute… no less than a minute. Then he asked me if our department’s firewall had a backdoor and many other questions.

I’ve seen tech experts with fewer questions."

I stared.

Marsh shrugged. "He offered to help. I thought he was joking… until he showed me how Evan’s time of death looked a bit tricky and how the time of the call logs were inconsistent."

I looked down at Nate.

"I want to help you, Mama," he said, holding my hand. "I want to prove you didn’t do it."

Tears stung my eyes. "Nate… it’s not your job to fix this. You’re just a kid."

"But I’m your kid," he said. "And I’m smart. Let me use it."

My throat tightened. I turned to Marsh. "Is it safe?"

"Absolutely. He won’t be alone. And he insisted you not follow, because…"

Nate cut in, "If you come, they’ll treat you like a suspect. They’ll watch you, Mama. It might mess things up."

"Nate—"

"Three days," he said firmly. "I’ll catch the real murderer in three days. But you have to trust me."

My heart cracked in two. One part of me didn’t want my child doing such a thing. To be honest I am not the best mother out there and I really do try my best.

Even though I know how dangerous this will be, I wanted to give it a try and have my name cleared.

So I nodded.

"Be careful. Please."

He nodded back. Then did something that nearly undid me—he kissed my hand like a little gentleman, then walked to the door with Marsh.

As it closed behind them, the silence returned.

Then, all at once, the house erupted.

"Why does Nate get to go?!" Jay cried. "I want to help too!"

"Yeah!" Sophie jumped up. "We’re smart too!"

"I know math!" Lily added proudly.

"I can bite people!" Tera said, baring her teeth.

"I want to become a detective too," Adam muttered. "When I grow up. That way I can protect Mama."

My tears finally fell.

They weren’t loud.

Just quiet, warm drops sliding down my cheeks as I smiled through them.

"You already protect me," I whispered, pulling all of them into a hug. "Every single day."

But as I held them close, my mind stayed with the one who had just walked out.

Three days.

God, please let three days be enough.