When Kane carried Basia back to the apartment, he saw Aria crouched in the corner of the living room, looking utterly lost.
“Mom!” Basia wriggled out of Kane’s arms and rushed straight to Aria.
She cupped her little hands around Aria’s face, her voice urgent. “Mom, what’s wrong? Mom!”
The moment she heard her daughter’s voice, the blankness in Aria’s eyes began to fade. As clarity returned, she saw Basia standing there and immediately pulled her into her arms.
“Basia, where have you been? Do you know how worried Mommy was?” Aria’s voice broke, her eyes rimmed red. “Don’t scare me like that again, okay? I was terrified.”
“Mom, you’re hugging too tight, I can’t breathe!” Basia squirmed in her arms, patting Aria’s arm.
Aria’s heart clenched. She loosened her hold, but still kept both hands wrapped tightly around one of B
On the matter of returning to the village, Mona and Frank remained at odds.Over the next few days, Mona brought it up several times, insisting she should leave, but Frank shot her down every time. His excuse was simple—her injuries still needed treatment.Only after her wounds healed would he consider letting her go.Mona was frustrated, but she couldn't out-argue Frank.And unlike four years ago, she no longer had the heart to fight him tooth and nail. After vanishing two years earlier without a word, guilt toward him lingered in her chest, making it harder for her to walk away now.Frank knew exactly how to use that guilt. Whenever she talked about leaving, he dragged out the past, reminding her how long he had waited, how much he had endured—only to be abandoned.And every time he played that card, no matter how irritated she was, Mona lost the will to push him.To keep her grounded, Frank even threw Cliff's condition into the mix, making Mona hesitate further.After some coaxing,
Mona squeezed Frank's hand, too choked up to speak.It took her a long moment before her emotions steadied enough to continue."My mom kept it all to herself," Mona said softly, biting her lip. "But when Arnold's men pushed her to the edge, she finally told them the truth—that the treasure was gone.""They didn't believe her, did they?" Frank guessed, his tone low.Mona's expression darkened as she nodded. "Greed makes people blind. They convinced themselves the treasure must still exist. They thought she was lying, so they kept harassing the village again and again."Back then, Mona wasn't living in the village, so she hadn't known. Only when she returned four years ago—just in time to witness Arnold's men causing trouble—did she finally hear the truth from her mother."She said that because she was desperate," Frank said gently, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat before pulling her into his arms. "If they thought she lied, that's no surprise. What matters is—you're still here. You
Mona flushed as she spoke, an embarrassed smile tugging at her lips.Frank caught the shy curve of her mouth and narrowed his eyes in curiosity."Actually... after I left New York four years ago, I brought back a lot of medicine to my village and used it to save many children and elders," Mona admitted, scratching the back of her head. "Because of that, everyone trusts me completely.""And I've returned to the village a few times, but I never found my mom." Her brows knit together. "I think whenever Arnold's men showed up, my mother must have left with a few of the younger villagers to keep them safe.""So you're saying you're even more respected than your mom?" Frank blinked, piecing things together. "If that's true, Arnold's people probably targeted you because they couldn't find her."Mona nodded. "That's what I suspect too. Honestly, if people in the village hadn't started falling sick two years ago, Cliff and I wouldn't have risked leaving to buy medicine. My mother planned to na
Frank cupped Mona's face in his hands. Even though her cheeks were smudged with dirt and she looked anything but presentable, his gaze on her was still filled with tenderness.It had been so long since Mona had been looked at this way by Frank that her heart tightened with a mix of nerves and shyness. She couldn't quite put a name to the jumble of emotions inside her.Seeing the faint blush spread across her face, Frank's lips curved, and he slowly leaned closer. Their faces were only inches apart, his lips about to brush hers, when Mona suddenly remembered the state she was in. In a panic, she shoved him away.Her wrists and ankles had been bound tightly by the men who had taken her. Every time the ropes loosened, they had pulled them tighter again. Her skin had been rubbed raw, the wounds layered over one another, making them look even more pitiful.She pushed too hard, forgetting how badly she was injured. The sudden movement tore at her wounds, and pain shot through her, forcing a
Two hours before nightfall, Frank already had his men in position around the suburban warehouse.The place wasn't big, but it was exposed on all sides. If they rushed in too early, they'd risk alerting the captors—and Mona could be caught in the crossfire.Before dark, Frank sent one of his best scouts to circle the area and slip inside.When the man returned, he confirmed Mona was inside. Three men were guarding her.The memory of Cliff's broken state flickered through Frank's mind, and his stomach twisted. What if Mona ended up the same?As the shadows deepened and the clock ticked on, Frank finally signaled his team.The plan was simple: they'd advance in waves, quietly surrounding the warehouse, then move in inch by inch.Frank crept closer and peered through a cracked window. Inside, three men were huddled together, muttering over something while glancing toward Mona.She lay on the floor, bound hand and foot, left unattended like discarded baggage.Frank's jaw tightened. This wa
Cliff slept for two full days before finally waking up.When he opened his eyes, a nurse was swapping out his IV.Seeing him stir, she smiled. "Well, look who's finally awake!""W–where... where am I?" Cliff's throat was so dry his voice came out rough and cracked."You're in the hospital. Our director brought you in," the nurse said, giving his shoulder a light pat. "Hang tight, I'll go get the doctor."Director? Frank!The realization jolted Cliff upright in panic. "No—wait! I need to see your director!"The nurse hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, stay put."She hurried out of the room.Cliff lay back against the pillows, every inch of his body aching. Even breathing felt like work.Fragments of memory flashed through his mind, and his chest tightened when he thought of Mona. Fear gnawed at him, sharp and relentless.Before long, he heard footsteps. Frank entered with a doctor at his side."Frank." Cliff locked eyes on him like a lifeline. "Go—go save Mona!"Frank froze at the name,