Oh! Who Wants My Children?

The message remained on the screen.

NOW HE’LL LOSE THEM TOO.

Cold crept down my spine. Noah’s fingers tightened around mine. Nate pressed against my side. Adrian moved instantly. His phone flashlight cut through the darkness as he turned toward the screen. Stay behind me. I didn’t argue.

For once, I didn’t care about pride or the five years between us. Someone had just threatened my children. That changed everything. Adrian’s security team rushed into the lobby, their flashlights sweeping across the walls. Find the source. His voice was controlled. The lights flickered, then came back. The strange phone was gone. I stared at the empty spot where it had been. Someone had stood there. Someone had watched us. Someone had known exactly what to say.

Adrian looked at me. Give me your phone. Why?

Because whoever sent that message may have access to your number. I handed it over. He checked the screen. He found nothing. No missed calls, no unfamiliar applications, no new messages. Then he looked at the boys. They need to leave. My heart jumped. I’m taking them home. No! The word was sharp. Your home is compromised. I stared at him. You don’t know that. I do. How? He turned toward the security guard. Show her.

The guard pulled up another camera feed. It showed the street outside my apartment. A black sedan sat across from the building. I recognized it.

My stomach tightened. That car had been there before. How long? The guard looked uncomfortable. Three days. I couldn’t breathe. Three days. The exact number of days I’d felt watched.

Adrian looked at me. Why didn’t you tell me?Because I didn’t know if it was connected. He crouched in front of Noah. Are you scared? Noah shook his head. Adrian glanced at Nate. What about you? Nate looked suspiciously at him. Are you going to hurt Mommy? Adrian froze. My chest tightened.

No, his voice was quiet. I’d never hurt your mother. Nate studied him. Then why did she leave? The question hit harder than anything Adrian had said.

He looked at me, I couldn’t meet his eyes. Because she thought I wanted her gone. Nate frowned. Did you?

No, never. The certainty in Adrian’s voice made my throat ache. Noah stepped closer. Then why didn’t you find her? Adrian looked down. I tried. For five years. Noah didn’t answer. Neither did I. Because suddenly, I wanted to believe him. And that frightened me.

Adrian stood. We’re leaving. I shook my head. Where? My house. Absolutely not! My temper flared.

You don’t get to decide where I take my children. Our children. I glared at him. Don’t. His jaw tightened. Fine.

Then come with me because someone has been watching you for three days, someone just threatened your children, and someone inside this building knows about a key connected to your father’s death. I hated that every word made sense.

I looked at Noah and Nate. They were watching us.

I exhaled. Where are we going? Blackwood House.

My stomach turned. No, Elena— I said no. The last place I wanted to return to was the house I’d fled five years ago. The house where my marriage had begun. The house where I had learned that love could become fear overnight. Adrian lowered his voice. My house has security. Your apartment doesn’t. And if someone wants your children, they’re going to come looking for them.

I looked at my sons. That was enough, fine. But I don’t trust you. I know. We left the building through a private entrance. Adrian’s security team surrounded us. I hated how familiar the arrangement felt.

Five years ago, Adrian had always protected me this way. Back then, I had thought it was love. Now I wondered if it had been surveillance. A black SUV waited outside. Adrian opened the rear door. The twins climbed inside, i followed. He entered beside me. The moment the door closed, silence filled the car. Noah sat between us. Nate leaned against the window. Adrian kept looking at them. I caught him.

You can ask. His gaze met mine. Why didn’t you tell me about them? I swallowed. Because I thought you would take them. His expression hardened. I would never take your children from you. You don’t know what you would have done. I know exactly what I would have done. He looked at Noah. I would have stayed. The words hit me unexpectedly. I looked out the window. The city passed in a blur.

Then my phone vibrated. I frowned. I had forgotten Adrian was holding it. He handed it back. Unknown number, one message.

CHECK THE LEFT POCKET OF YOUR SON’S BACKPACK.

My heart stopped. I looked at Noah. His backpack was beside his feet. Adrian noticed my expression.

What is it? I didn’t answer. I reached for the backpack. Noah looked at me. Mommy? I opened the front pocket. I found nothing. Second pocket, nothing. Then I reached into the smallest compartment. My fingers touched something cold. Metal. I pulled it out. A small silver key. My father’s initials were engraved across the top (D.H.)

I stared at it. Adrian went completely still. Where did that come from? I shook my head. It wasn’t there this morning. He took the key from my palm. His expression changed the moment he saw the engraving. This isn’t just a key. I looked at him.

What is it? He turned it over.

There was a tiny Blackwood crest beneath my father’s initials. My heart pounded. Adrian looked at me. This opens the private vault beneath Blackwood House. I couldn’t speak.

Then Noah suddenly whispered from the back seat.

Mommy, i turned. He was staring at the key. I saw it before. My blood ran cold. Where? Noah pointed toward the window. On the man who came to our house last night. Adrian’s head snapped around. What man? Noah’s face went pale. The man who told me not to tell you. Silence filled the car… I looked at Adrian. He was already reaching for his phone. But before he could make a call, Noah spoke again. He said Daddy wasn’t supposed to find us.

Adrian stopped breathing, and I realized someone hadn’t merely found me. They had found my children first.