chapter 2

Magnus walks into his mansion griping his suit jacket in a death grip. Anger clearly visible on his face and a stare that could burn a person standing in front of him.

"You are home, sir?" Asks Genelia, the head maid of the mansion.

Magnus's one look and Genelia takes a step back.

"This is my mansion" roars Magnus.

"I apologize, sir. I wasn't expecting you today. I'll inform the rest of the help of your arrival and start on dinner" says Genelia with her head down, unable to look at Magnus.

"Where is Penny?" Asks Magnus.

"She has gone to a birthday party. She will be back before bedtime" inform Genelia about Magnus's 4yr old daughter.

"Get me coffee," says Magnus and walks up the stairs to his room.

Magnus enters his room and walks into his closet. He removes the Tiffany box from his pocket and throws it into a drawer that already had a few Tiffany boxes.

This was not the first time a girl backed down from marrying him. This is not the first time he wanted to propose to a girl. And it was definitely not the first time a girl chose death over marrying him.

Magnus showers, changes and gets into his study. As soon as he is in the study, he is followed by a hot cup of coffee.

"Penny back?" Asks Magnus.

"No sir. Aiden called to inform, they will be leaving soon" informs Genelia and leaves the study.

Aiden is the head of security and married to Genelia.

Magnus sits down with his cup of coffee and looks upfront at all the criminal cases he was offered to take.

Magnus Ashford is a 32 yr old high-profile criminal lawyer who works in a law firm with other well-reputed lawyers including his mother, Cristine Ashford as the head of the board of directors.

Magnus takes a sip of coffee and feels his nerves relaxing. He looks at the picture on the desk and says "couldn't you just be alive? You learned everything so well and obeyed me. I made you perfect for me and then you go on and die" with hurt and anger. His anger was his way of mourning for his dead wife.

Magnus lost his wife, Olivia during child birth 4yrs ago. She was an obedient girl who Magnus had trained to obey and satisfy him in every way he wanted. She was the one girl Magnus saw his life with and the one girl who said yes to marry him. Everything was going well for Magnus till it was not. Olivia died after giving birth to Penny, leaving behind a very heartbroken man who had only let Olivia in his stone heart. He knew there was no replacement for Olivia but he did need a wife more like a mother for Penny. But everytime he thought he found a girl suitable to fulfill his needs and be a mother to Penny. They chose death over being with him.

Magnus was exhausted and while reading a murder case he tries his best to stay awake but sleep takes over and he falls asleep right on the chair.

Magnus jolts awake when Genelia rushes into his study, panicked.

"Sir, Aiden is not picking up my call and neither is the driver who went with them. We need to inform the cops" cries Genelia.

"Control your emotions. Aiden is well trained to protect himself and Penny" says Magnus picking up his phone.

"I know sir. And I also know he is not irresponsible too. That's why I am worried. He would not put me in panic, especially now" says Genelia running her hand over her swollen belly.

Magnus calls his father, Asher Ashford who was a retired chief of police to send cops to check on the location Aiden's phone was last active.

Asher immediately puts the cops to work and the standing officers who were in the area found Aiden. The sight they described shook the big bad man who scared everyone around him. For the second time in his life, Magnus wanted to believe in God only this time he wished god didn't fail him.

Magnus and Genelia rushed into the hospital, both praying their loved ones were safe. They both stopped when they spot Asher.

Asher guided them inside the ER where Aiden was half-conscious and fighting the nurses to let him go.

"Leave me, you fucktards" screams Aiden.

"Aiden" calls Genelia and rushes to him.

"Baby, you ok?" Asks Aiden.

"You are the one in the hospital. God look at you" cries Genelia.

"It's just some scratches. These retards don't understand I have to go find Penny" says Aiden trying to pull away from the male nurses who were holding him down.

"Where is Penny?" Asks Magnus, worried for his only daughter.

"I tried boss," says Aiden.

"Where is she?" Asks Magnus in a calm voice which only meant one thing. There was lava boiling inside him which was ready to erupt.

"When we left home, I noticed a car following us. I took note of it and called the other guards in the mansion to stand alert in case I call the cops. I didn't let Penny out of my sight the whole evening and when it was time to leave, I asked the driver to check the area for that car. When the driver gave a green signal, we left the party. But all went downhill when there was not one but four cars following us this time. I called 911 but before the cops could reached us. We were cornered to a secluded area. They wanted Penny but I hid her in the car. I fought them and tried to keep them away from Penny. They were too many for alone me. I tried my best boss" says Aiden.

Magnus took a deep breath and asks one more time "where. Is. Penny?"

"She took Penny," says Aiden.

Asher and Magnus leave Genelia with an unconscious Aiden. The doctor had to inject a sedative to relax him so that they could take care of all his wounds. He had cuts from knifes and also a bullet wound on his leg.

"Any idea who were those men?" Asks Asher to one of the cops.

"We are yet to find out. We caught one man, the rest fled the scene as soon as the cops arrived. They all seem to be part of a gang" says the cop.

"Obviously. Just need to find which one. It will be easy given the recent case you may have taken up" says Asher.

"I will pass any information the cops need. But first I need to see my daughter" says Magnus.

"For that you have to come to the police station. We couldn't bring her to the hospital or even go close to her" says the cop.

"Why not?" Asks Magnus.

"You see, your daughter is held by someone who is not ready to let her go. We tried everything but all we can do is keep an eye on her" says the cop.

"Held? Like hostage?" Asks Magnus.

"Well, it's hard to explain. Why don't you see it yourself" says the cop.

Asher and Magnus share a look of confusion and leave to see what was going on.

Magnus rushes into the police station and the cops awkwardly points to one of the corners of the station. Magnus was beyond confused and walks to the corner the cops points. He looks around and doesn't see Penny but spots a girl with her back at him. She was seated on the floor facing the wall and maybe hiding something in her lap, under her huge hoodie. The hoodie was so big that it had swallowed her completely and had enough space to fit another person in it.

Magnus had wide eyes when he saw what the girl had inside her huge hoodie.

"Penny" calls Magnus and from inside the hoodie peeks Penny.

"Daddy" calls the very scares little girl.

Magnus looks at the girl holding Penny and creases his eyebrows seeing all the cuts and bruises on her face.

"What's happening here?" Asks Asher standing beside Magnus looking down at the girl holding Penny close to her inside her hoodie.