LOGINMelissa’s POVA number called and I quickly picked it up, the moment I saw that it was a Private number. Somehow, I suspected that it must be those guys that kidnapped Hearty. My heart had barely stayed calm since after we got home, and this time that the unknown number came to my phone, everything inside me tightened harder all over again.I really don't know if they were actually monitoring me or something because that is the only thing that could justify the reason they always call only when I am alone.Josh has actually gone to take his bath as we got back from the police station. We stayed all night at the police station while we tried to know how far the police men could go with the tracking. I barely slept. My eyes burned and my head throbbed, but every single time I tried to close my eyes, all I could see was Hearty’s face.But nothing so significant has been done yet, Josh suggested that we should just get back home to have some rest first and then come back later, because ho
Josh’s POVMellisa’s face crumpled and right there I could sense obviously the internal fight waging in real time. She mouthed something I couldn’t hear, then swallowed hard. “You don't get it,” she whispered. “If they call me and tell me she's dead—how will I live with that? How will I forgive myself? I can’t… I won't.”Hearing her voice crack like that did something sharp to my chest. I hugged her tighter, trying to quiet the inner chaos and pain that must be running through her mind and body. I didn’t know which one of us I was trying to stabilize—her or myself. “I swear to you, Mellisa,” I said quietly, “I won’t let them get away with this. We’ll work with the police and do everything…I mean everything to bring Hearty back. But pulling the case? That’s not a plan. It’s a surrender like the officer already stated. We need leverage, not fear.”She pulled back a little as I helped her walk towards to get inside, staring at me with those wet, exhausted eyes that looked like they hadn’
Josh's POVI felt like the worst human on earth seeing Mellisa break down over and over since all of these started. Yeah, I felt that bad and so, I can't even imagine in my head right now how Mellisa must have felt. I know how much they both care and love each other as sisters. I know the big dreams Mellisa had for her sister even right while we were in school which was more reason she didn't mind risking everything for Hearty including sacrificing her scholarship education all for Hearty when she got involved in that accident. Which was what actually led her to marry that excuse of a man, Tony. And now, when we all thought that all of that phase has passed and they can make up for the moments they missed each other, then this one came up.Mellisa literally cared for her sister, Hearty, as if she was her mother instead of elder sister.And at least, I should always be by Mellisa's side now that I know she needs me most at this point in time. Since she has refused to stay inside with u
Mellisa’s POVI was outside, feeling all restless as I moved around inside the police station building premises from one side of the space to the other. Because inside the police station report room, it seems like what they were doing with the tracking and every other thing right there wasn't enough. And again, it was like being at a particular spot made things worse or maybe I have been so comfortable which was just the least way of uncomfortability that I know that Hearty will be feeling wherever she is right now. Knowing her life was at risk and the thought of the fact that her health was stable at the moment even scared the living hell out of me.My chest felt tight, like something was squeezing me from the inside. I kept pacing with my phone clutched in my hand, staring at the screen even though there was nothing on it. Josh had tried talking to me earlier, telling me to breathe, but breathing felt like a luxury at this point. My mind kept racing: ‘What if they hurt her? What if
Sophia’s POV“Yeah, Tony,” I said into the phone as I shut the door behind me, lowering my voice so that no one would get to hear me. “Sure, the boys were able to get her to the building we agreed on keeping her when she gets kidnapped.”His sigh came through the line, heavy and irritated. “Good. That’s a good move. Just make sure you guys force her to persuade whoever she has to call to get a ransom. Threaten her however you can because we are definitely getting that money.”I pinched the bridge of my nose, listening to him continue like someone who’d been chewing on frustration all day.“You know we have gone bankrupt,” he went on, his tone sharp, “and we need that money — at least enough to get a good lawyer to know if we can get out of this police custody. Staying here is torture. I am depending on you to give your best shot. And don’t forget, you’re getting 20 percent of the money and so give it your best because that's huge.”“Sure,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady eve
Mellisa’s POVHearty and Jack left the restaurant hand in hand — or rather, Jack pushing Hearty’s wheelchair and the little corner of quiet we’d carved out for ourselves felt suddenly too big when they were gone. Josh and I only kept talking about flowers, the guest list, the stupid little things that suddenly mattered when you were planning a life together and our wedding is in a month's time. It was the kind of easy conversation that stitches you back together as you know we wanted those stitches to hold and bound us when stronger.We didn’t check the time and we didn’t notice the phone buzz like an alarm until Josh’s screen lit up.He glanced down, smiled and straightened. And just then, picked the call and placed it on his left ear, “Hi, man — you must be having a good time with my future sister-in-law and…” His words trailed off.Something in his face went cold the way the air does right before a storm. His shoulders tightened and his jaw worked. The smile disappeared like someon







