Children were running across the playground, climbing monkey bars, and playing on slides. Among them, two young girls sat on the swings, their small legs kicking forward as they tried to soar higher. Claire giggled as she swung back and forth, enjoying the light breeze against her face. Beside her, her classmate and friend, Emily, smiled, trying to match Claire’s rhythm. “This is fun!” Emily said, gripping the chains tightly. Claire smiled brightly. “I told you! Swinging makes you feel like you can fly!” Just as Emily was starting to relax, a shadow suddenly loomed over them. A bigger boy, taller and older than them, stood in front of the swings with his arms crossed. His dark shone with arrogance, and he tilted his chin up in a display of confidence. His name was Lucas, Claire and Emily's classmate, and everyone in school knew him. He was the son of a very wealthy and influential man, and he never let anyone forget it. “Get off right now,” Lucas ordered the girls in a sh
Christian quickly masked his expression, forcing himself to remain composed despite the unexpected revelation. He hadn't anticipated running into Allison’s son like this—let alone seeing how close he and Claire had become. His mind was still racing when Henry, his tone curious, spoke up. “Claire, why do you call him Uncle Chris instead of ‘Dad’?”Claire blinked at the question, glancing up at Christian with a nervous smile. She didn't even know when she had addressed Christian as ‘Uncle Chris’ in front of everyone, whereas everyone thought he was her dad. Before she could respond, Christian smoothly stepped in, flashing his usual confident grin. “Well, you see, Henry,” he said, crouching slightly to the boy’s level, “Claire and I like to play a little game sometimes. She calls me ‘Uncle,’ while I call her…” He trailed off for a little dramatic effect, turning to Claire with an amused smirk. “What’s that name again? Oh, right! My little tornado.”Claire groaned, rolling her eye
Claire sat on the swing while Henry stood behind her, gently pushing her forward. Unlike the other children playing wildly, their play was calm—almost too quiet.After a few moments, Claire suddenly dragged her feet on the ground to stop the swing. She twisted around to look at Henry.“Henry, what’s wrong?” she asked. “You’ve been very quiet. Are you okay? Are you tired of pushing me?”Without hesitation, she got off the swing and offered, “If you're tired, I don't mind pushing you on the swing.”Henry blinked at her and quickly shook his head. “No,” he murmured. “I'm not tired.”Claire tilted her head, unconvinced. “Then what is it?”Henry hesitated. His gaze shifted slightly, and Claire followed his line of sight to see the two men standing a few meters away. They were dressed in black, their eyes scanning the playground with vigilance.Henry’s special guards.He sighed and kicked at the dirt with his shoe. “I just… I don’t like being followed all the time,” he admitted. “It’s annoy
Christian felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him. His heart pounded violently, his ears ringing as Ms. Maryjane’s words replayed in his head. “Mr. Muller… Claire is missing.” For a second, his mind refused to process what he had just heard. It had to be a mistake—some sort of sick joke. But the sheer terror in Ms. Maryjane’s eyes told him otherwise. Claire. Was. Missing. His blood ran cold. “How is this possible?” His voice came out sharp, slicing through the tense air. “This is the most prestigious school in the country! You have top security, the best facilities, and guarantee the safety of every child here! How the hell do Claire suddenly go missing under your care?” Ms. Maryjane visibly flinched at his harsh tone, her hands twisting together as she struggled to find words. “The last time I saw her, she was playing with Henry…” she stammered, her voice trembling, “Henry was on the swing with her. I—I don’t know when they suddenly disappeared…” Chris
David’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove to Henry’s school, his jaw clenched in frustration. His mind was racing, filled with a mixture of fear and rage. Who had dared to take his son? And how had they managed to do it under the high security of the school? He didn’t waste time as he made call after call, demanding answers. Each response he received was vague, unhelpful, or simply infuriating.His usual calm and composed demeanor was long gone, replaced by a storm of emotions he barely held in check. Beside him, Allison sat stiffly, her face pale and stricken with worry. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “David,” she whispered, her voice tight with panic. “Where is our son? What if—” David’s grip on the wheel tightened even more. “We’ll find him.” His voice was controlled, but she could hear the tension beneath it. Allison shook her head, her breath coming in short gasps. “He must be so scared,” she choked out. “Henry is just a ch
Allison didn’t waste any time—she ran toward the entrance, David right behind her. The moment her eyes landed on Henry, she gasped. A man stood at the doorstep, holding Henry in his arms. The boy’s tiny figure was curled up against the stranger’s chest, his face hidden. Next to the man stood Christian, carrying a little girl in his arms. Her face was turned away from David and Allison, concealed by his shoulder. Allison rushed forward and immediately took Henry from the man’s arms. “Henry! Oh my God—” She crushed him against her, sobbing into his hair. “My son—” Her hands ran over his small frame, checking for any injuries. “Are you okay? Henry, what happened?” But Henry said nothing. His body trembled slightly as he clung to her, his face buried in her shoulder. His silence sent a sharp pang through her heart. David rubbed his son’s head and let out a heavy sigh of relief, his tense shoulders finally relaxing. But as his heartbeat slowed, his mind caught up with the s
Christian stepped out of David’s home, taking a deep breath to clear his mind. The weight of everything that had happened today still pressed against his chest, but for now, he focused on the sleeping child in his arms. Claire had refused to let go of him, even in sleep, her small hands clutching his shirt tightly. He couldn't help but wonder how scared Claire must have been before they found her and Henry.He glanced at Ali, his friend, who happened to be a hacker and a private investigator, one of the best in the country, nodding in gratitude. “Thanks for coming to help.”Ali gave Christian a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t have let you handle this alone. You've helped me in the past; I only returned the favor.”Christian’s gaze darkened momentarily as he thought about the janitor. That dumb, senseless man was fortunate—very fortunate that he hadn’t dared to harm Claire when they traced his fat ass. If he had, Christian wouldn’t have hesitated to make him regret it.Wi
Emma stirred the simmering pot of soup, the aroma filling the kitchen as she focused on finishing breakfast. She was getting everything ready when a small, sleepy voice called out to her."Mommy..."Turning swiftly, Emma found Claire standing by the doorway, rubbing her tiny fists against her eyes, with her toy in hand. Her soft curls were tousled from sleep, and she yawned as she looked around.A smile softened Emma’s face as she wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and walked over to her daughter. Kneeling down, she scooped Claire into her arms, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead."Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"Claire snuggled against her, nodding sleepily. "Mhm... but I had a dream."Emma chuckled lightly. "A dream? Do you want to tell me about it?"Claire shook her head. "Not now, mommy. Later."Emma smiled, brushing back a stray curl from her daughter’s forehead. "Alright then. Go upstairs and freshen up while I finish breakfast. I'll come help you in a few min
"Claire, don’t forget to put your lunch bag in the car," Emma called out from the kitchen as she zipped up her bag."Already did, Mom!" Claire shouted back from the living room, hopping around with her little pink backpack.Emma suddenly heard the front door open. She assumed it must be Claire, already heading to the car to wait for her.She smiled faintly and wiped her hands on a towel.Just as she turned to grab her keys from the counter, she felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind. She stiffened slightly, caught off guard."Good morning," Christian murmured softly into her hair, his breath warm against her neck as he planted a soft kiss on her neck.Emma closed her eyes for a moment. "Hey... you're early.""Wanted to see you before I headed out to work," he said, his arms holding her a little tighter. "How’s work been these past few days? I'm sorry I've been so occupied with work these days."Emma smiled. "It’s fine, I understand. Work has been okay. I mean,
After finishing their drink, Max leaned back in his chair and checked the time."Oh man. I have an early morning meeting," he said, pushing his chair back and reaching for his jacket. "Gotta head home now."David gave him a short nod and a half-smile. "No worries. Thanks for tonight.""You guys take care," Max said as he patted Felix on the shoulder and gave David a nod. A few seconds later, he exited the dimly lit lounge and headed for the parking lot.Felix turned to David, who had been relatively quiet for the past ten minutes, staring into the near-empty glass in front of him."I'm going to use the restroom quickly," Felix said, standing up. "Wait for me here. I'll drop you home."“I'd rather wait outside. I could use some fresh air anyway."“Alright. That sounds cool. I'll be with you shortly.”Felix walked off without thinking much of it. The night had just been…uneventful so far— especially when he had gotten the message an hour earlier, before they headed to the bar, about Gav
Dr. Allen adjusted his glasses as he removed the stethoscope from David’s chest. A small, satisfied smile curled his lips as he read the vitals on the monitor beside the bed.“Well, I must say,” he began, scribbling something on his clipboard, “you’ve responded remarkably well to treatment, David. Much better than expected.”David, still seated upright in his hospital bed, gave a faint smile. “That means I’m finally getting out of here?”Dr. Allen chuckled. “That’s exactly what it means. I’m officially discharging you today.”David sighed in relief. It had been weeks of pain, rehabilitation, and heavy silence. The idea of leaving those sterile hospital walls felt like finally breathing after being underwater.“However,” Dr. Allen added, his tone firm, “there are some things you must avoid for now if you want to make a full recovery. No carrying anything heavy, no sudden strenuous movement, no driving yet, and definitely no alcohol.”David raised both hands in surrender. “Got it. No he
"I'm just tired, Sophie," Emma admitted, leaning her head back against the wall. "I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. Everything feels like it's spinning, and I can't catch my breath."Emma sat on the edge of her bed, her phone pressed tightly to her ear. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, though she tried to keep it steady.Sophie, on the other end of the line, responded gently. "Emma, calm down, okay? Take a deep breath. Everything will be fine."Emma let out a hollow laugh. "You always say that. But things aren’t the same as before, Sophie. Ever since you moved overseas, everything changed. I feel like I lost one of the few people who actually understood me."Sophie sighed. "I know. I miss you too, Em. But you have to stay strong. For Claire, at least. She needs you more than anyone. You have to find a way to completely move on. Let go of him."Emma's voice grew quieter. "I have, Sophie, I have. I just….I honestly wasn’t thinking straight when I sent those messages to
David stood motionless in the middle of the hospital parking lot, watching the tail lights of Christian's car disappear into the distance, taking Emma with them. His heart felt like it had been ripped apart and left open in the cold. The wind picked up again, fluttering his shirt, but he didn’t feel it. Not really. Not when the weight of those messages he had once thought were filled with hope had now become a cruel reminder of what he had lost.Slowly, he turned away, each step heavier than the last. He didn’t know where he was going, didn’t even care. His body just moved, his feet dragging him forward, down streets he didn't recognize, past people he didn't see. All the while, his mind played the memory of Emma's voice again and again."I thought I was texting Christian."Those words. That mistake. That accidental plea for help that had revived the hope in his heart only to crush it completely.By the time David became aware of his surroundings, he had already left the hospital gro
David froze when he saw that several text notifications had suddenly appeared at the top of the screen.And they were all from Emma.One by one, he opened them.Emma: Where are you?Emma: Please...Emma: Can you come?Emma: I'm really scared right now.Emma: Please...Emma: I don’t know who else to call.Emma: Are you coming?Emma: Please answer me...Emma: Are you there?Emma: I need you.He stared. Stared like the wind had been knocked out of him. The silence of the hospital room suddenly felt deafening.Ten messages.All from Emma.His fingers trembled as he held the phone. His breathing became shallow. Every part of him froze, as though struck by lightning. He blinked, but the messages remained on the screen.What happened to Emma?!His mind was full of questions he couldn’t answer. But then something hit him…Emma had texted him.When she was afraid.When she didn't know who else to call.She had thought of him first.A wave of emotion surged through him—disbelief, hope, relief,
David walked slowly into his hospital room, his eyes dull, his steps heavy. His two closest friends, Max and Felix, stood up from the chairs near his bed the moment they saw him."There you are!" Max said, walking toward him. "We were just about to go look for you. Where the hell did you go? Why did you leave your room in your condition?""Yeah, man, we came in and didn’t find anyone here. Not even Allison," Felix added. "The guards outside said you left without telling them where you went. We’ve been really worried."David didn’t answer. He didn’t even acknowledge their presence. He just walked slowly toward his bed and sat down, staring blankly ahead.The two friends exchanged glances."David," Max said carefully, bending down a bit so he could meet David’s eyes. "What’s going on with you? You okay? Did something happen?"Still no reply.Felix pulled a chair closer and sat beside the bed. "Talk to us, man. We’re not just here to visit. We’re your friends. You can tell us anything."
"Are you going to pretend you didn’t see me?”Emma froze. Her fingers tightly clutched the clipboard as she closed her eyes.“Stay away from him, Emma,” She said to herself. “Stop caring. Draw the line.”Yet just as she opened her eyes, hardened her resolve not to meddle into David's affairs anymore, and turned to leave again, she heard it—a low, painful groan.Emma turned around sharply.David had slumped down to the floor, holding his side, his face twisted in pain."David!" she called, rushing toward him without thinking. Her heart thudded in her chest as she knelt beside him. Her hands trembled as she touched his arm.He shouldn’t have been out of his room. His body was still weak, still healing. He had no business walking around the hospital like this."You shouldn’t be here," she whispered, trying to steady her voice.David groaned again.Emma glanced around. It was obvious he wouldn’t be able to return to his ward in that condition. Emma didn’t have a choice. She had to take hi
Dr. Allen had seen enough patients to know when someone was pushing themselves too far. And David, seated upright on the bed with a restless expression and an IV line still in his arm, was doing just that."I just need a walk, Dr. Allen," David muttered. "I’ve been in this room for too long. I feel fine now."Dr. Allen arched a brow, folding his arms. “You feel fine? David, you were brought in barely breathing a week ago. Your body’s still recovering. Walking around unsupervised is not just reckless—it’s dangerous."David exhaled, his eyes fixed on the window. His once sharp features were now pale and hollow, his frame thinner than usual. The last seven days had taken a toll, though he would never admit it aloud.“I hear you,” David said after a pause. “I do.”Dr. Allen studied him for a long moment. There was something else behind that tired gaze—impatience, yes, but also pain. Emotional, not physical. But he had done his duty.“Good,” Dr. Allen finally said. “Get some rest. I’ll che