0004.

“I can't just forget about her, Mom!" James shouted, walking back and forth in the living room. His voice cracked with frustration and sympathy.

"She took Kendall and disappeared without a word. How can you expect me to let that go? I wasn't expecting that from you, mum. Who knows? My daughter might be in danger. I wouldn't watch while Amanda takes her away from me and neither you would stop me from getting her back"

His mother, sitting calmly on the couch with Betty by her side, sighed heavily. Looking at how pathetic he has become because of Amanda.

“That good for nothing girl,” she whispered under her breath. "James, you’re wasting your time. Amanda doesn’t want to be found. She made her choice. You need to move on with your life. Stop chasing after her and focus on the future."

James stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. “The future? What kind of future do I have without my daughter? How can I move on when my child is out there, growing up without me? If you can't help me, don't stop me.”

Betty, who had been quietly observing, stood and placed a hand on James’ arm. “Listen to your mom, James. She only wants what’s best for you. Maybe Amanda leaving was a blessing in disguise. You can have a fresh start. You can move on and forget about it all. So, you can have a new life and a new beginning”

James yanked her arm away, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t touch me, Betty. This isn’t about a fresh start or what’s best for me. It’s about Kendall. She’s my daughter, and I won’t let Amanda take her away from me.”

“James!” His mother called with anger.

“You’re being stubborn, James. You have no idea where Amanda is, and all your investigations have come up empty. You’re wasting money and time chasing someone who clearly doesn’t want you in her life.”

James ignored her and crossed his arms. “How did you even get that picture of Amanda with the other guy? The one you showed me in the hospital.”

His mother hesitated for a moment before replying, “That’s not important. What matters is that she’s gone, James. You need to accept it and move forward.”

James’s eyes flared with anger. “Not important? That picture didn’t just fall into your hands. You know more than you’re letting on.”

“James, enough!” his mother snapped, standing up. “If you won’t listen to reason, then I’m done trying to help you.”

With that, she left the room, leaving Betty awkwardly standing nearby. She turned to James, her voice soft. “I know you’re upset, but maybe your mom is right. You’ve been through a lot. Don’t let this consume you.”

James shook his head, grabbing his coat. “I’m not giving up, Betty. Not on Kendall, and not on finding out why Amanda left me like this.”

Betty watched as he stormed out of the house, the door slamming shut behind him.

She scoffed and couldn't believe he'd be so adamant over such a thing. How could he be so hell-bent on looking for Amanda?

James climbed into his car and called Jerry. “Can we meet? I need someone to talk to. If possible, let's meet right now”

“Sure,” Jerry said. “Let’s meet at Joe’s Diner in an hour.”

On his way to the diner, James’ phone rang. The screen lit up with the name of his private investigator. He quickly answered, his heart racing. He was expecting something good and nice to listen to.

“Do you have something?” James asked, gripping the steering wheel tightly and ready to hear what the good news was.

“Yes,” the investigator replied. “I found her.”

James exhaled deeply, a high sense of relief and peace flooding through him. “Where is she?”

“She’s in London,” the investigator said. “She’s been keeping a low profile in a small village on the outskirts of the city. I’ve sent you the address. You should be able to find her easily that way.”

James’s phone buzzed as the text came through. He pulled over to the side of the road and opened it. The address stared back at him like an answer to the months of torment he’d endured.

“Good work,” James said. “You’ll get your full payment by the end of the day. I love this”

Ending the call, James leaned back in his seat, staring out the windshield. For the first time in weeks, he felt so much of hope and joy. He had a lead, one he worked for, and he wasn’t going to waste it.

Back at home, James sat in his office, staring at his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen as he dialed his assistant.

“Prepare the jet,” he said firmly. “I need to leave for London immediately. Make all the arrangements.”

“Yes, sir,” his assistant replied without hesitation.

James hung up and leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. The pain of Amanda’s sudden departure was still fresh, but now he had a direction. He would go to London, confront her, and demand answers. More than anything, he wanted his daughter back.

But he kept having this nagging thought creeping into his mind, a question he couldn't answer which he was about to find out, “Why did Amanda leave in the first place?”

*

The bustling streets of London blurred past James as he made his way to the address the investigator had provided.

His heart drummed in his chest, a mixture of anxiety and anticipation coursing through his veins. He couldn't believe that he was so close to finding Amanda and their daughter, Kendall.

As James approached Amanda’s apartment, he took a deep breath, composing himself for the confrontation that was about to unfold. He raised his hand and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet neighborhood.

Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Amanda, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the sight of James.

Before James could utter a word, his gaze fell upon the scene behind her – a handsome stranger sitting on the couch in her apartment living room, and Kendall playing happily at his feet.

The sight felt like a physical blow to James and he couldn't help but recall his mother's words about Amanda moving on with a new man.

Kendall's joyful scream pierced the heavy silence as she caught sight of James, her chubby little legs carrying her towards him as fast as they could. "Daddy!" she cried, her arms outstretched.

But before she could reach James, Amanda blocked her, scooping her up and retreating back into the apartment. She dropped her with the handsome guy sitting on a couch inside and came outside to stand at the door.

She turned to face James, her eyes filled with disbelief, as if she were seeing a ghost. "James…What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.