Chapter 1

Two security guards in blue uniforms trailed right behind Victoria Pearson, the after-school program’s instructor.

With her smile no more, Victoria pointed her finger at me furiously. “Get her! This woman is posing as a parent to kidnap one of our kids! Talk about audacity!”

I froze on the spot, my mind going blank.

Kidnap? Posing as a parent? What on earth was the lady talking about?

Before reality sank in, the two security guards pounced on me and restrained my arms.

As a sharp pain shot through me, I let out a cry of agony.

“What are you doing? Let me go!”

I put up a fight. “I’m not a kidnapper! This is a mistake! Unhand me!”

“A mistake?”

The instructor lunged forward and said in disgust, “Who are you kidding?”

The commotion caught the attention of other instructors in the office and corridor.

They poked their heads out, their chatters ringing in my ear.

“What’s going on?”

“Apparently, she’s a kidnapper.”

“Oh, my goodness! She has some nerve to come to the school.”

“I’m glad that she’s caught. There’s a place in hell for the likes of her!”

“She definitely looks the part of a criminal.”

The hostile gazes cut through me like a knife.

“I’m not a kidnapper! I’m Maddie Rowe’s mother! Just get her out here if you don’t believe me. She’ll tell you who I am.”

“Maddie Rowe?” Victoria sneered.

“You certainly have done your homework. You can even name one of our kids. It’s a shame that you’re silly enough to pose as her mother!”

She turned to the crowd of instructors. “Hear that? She knows the child’s name. Doesn’t that sound like a prepared predator?”

“No! Maddie is honestly my daughter!”

In the heat of the moment, I recalled the photos with my daughter stored in my phone.

“I have pictures! I have pictures of Maddie and me together.” I squirmed my arm free and unlocked my mobile phone before pulling up the most recent photo in my camera roll.

It was a shot of Maddie and me in the park last weekend.

Wearing a pale-yellow jacket, Maddie had her arms clung around the nape of my neck while I affectionately pressed my cheeks against hers.

“Look! This was taken last week!”

After a brief silence, Victoria inched closer for a look before letting out a scoff. “Impressive setup. If only the photo were the right one.”

The other instructors broke out in laughter.

“Tsk. She’s not the brightest bulb…”

“Do kidnappers even try anymore?”

“It looks like she just lifts someone else’s photo.”

That was impossible.

I jerked my head down, my gaze fixed on the enlarged photo on the screen.

This was my daughter, Maddie, for sure.

The head of security barked, “Don’t waste your breath with her. Take her down to the precinct!”

Before security yanked me away, I broke free with all my strength and dashed into the classroom.

The door to the classroom flung open, and the children lifted their heads at the loud bang and stared at me, all confused.

“Maddie!”

I shouted my daughter’s name as my eyes roamed around the room for her.

A young girl rose to her feet.

Tilting her head, the girl looked bewildered and asked in confusion, “Why are you looking for me, ma’am?”

I was stunned to see the face.

How could a mother possibly fail to recognize her own daughter?