Chapter 5

Natalie Montgomery's POV

Ethan didn't find out that our daughter was gone until three days later.

His eyes fell on the tiny urn cradled in my arms for what felt like an eternity.

When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse. "Natalie… I'm so sorry. I should've made sure that she was taken care of. I'll arrange a proper memorial for her. I'll make sure she gets the best of everything. She deserves a beautiful service."

I slowly raised my gaze to meet his. "Ethan. You killed her. You killed our daughter with your own hands."

All the color drained from his face. He staggered as though the words had physically struck him. "No… No, that's not what happened. I never wanted to hurt her. Natalie, I was only trying to save Vanessa's baby. I didn't know this would happen…"

Mason suddenly came rushing toward us, his face pale. "Mr. Thamson! We've got a problem. Ms. Coleman's been abducted. The abductors gave us their terms. They said they'll only release her if we hand over Mrs. Thamson."

Mason hesitated when he said my name, his gaze dropping to the tiny urn in my arms. For a moment, something resembling pity crossed his face.

Ethan went rigid. The instant he heard that Vanessa was in danger, everything else disappeared from his eyes. Panic replaced whatever guilt and grief he felt toward our daughter, followed by a cold, dangerous fury.

He grabbed my wrist. "Natalie, please. Help me one last time."

His grip tightened as he stared desperately into my eyes. "I promise, this is the last thing I'll ever ask of you. Once I get Vanessa back safely, I'll make sure she disappears from our lives for good. You'll never have to see her again."

Ethan dragged me to an abandoned dock on the outskirts of the city. Vanessa was tied to a post, sobbing helplessly.

A man with a jagged scar across his face watched us approach, his smile sinister. "About time you showed up, Thamson."

His gaze moved between Vanessa and me. "You can only take one of them. Your choice."

Ethan looked at Vanessa, his face tightening at the sight of her in tears. He didn't hesitate. "Let her go. Take my wife instead."

Then he looked at me. For a fleeting moment, something unreadable passed through his eyes.

"Natalie, Vanessa's pregnant. She can't handle this kind of stress. Stay here in her place. I'll owe you for this. I promise I'll come back for you. It won't take long."

I didn't answer. I simply tightened my arms around the tiny urn pressed against my chest. It was all I had left of my daughter.

Within moments, Vanessa was untied and hurried toward Ethan. Mason shoved me forward to take her place.

Vanessa didn't look the least bit surprised to see me. If anything, the faintest smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

As she passed me, she suddenly snatched the urn from my arms.

"What's this?"

She looked inside and froze for a second. Then realization dawned, and she burst into shrill laughter. "Oh my God, Natalie. Don't tell me you've been carrying your dead daughter's ashes around with you. That's seriously disgusting."

Before I could stop her, she tipped the urn over, and my daughter's ashes scattered across the deck. But apparently, even that wasn't enough for her. Vanessa deliberately stepped over them, grinding her heel against the deck.

"She was just a girl. She's gone. Get over it. Even dead, she's still taking up space in Ethan's heart. It's pathetic.

"There. Now there's nothing left for you to cling to. Ethan already promised that once I give him a son, he'll throw me the biggest wedding this city has ever seen. As for you? You can go join your daughter."

I stared at her. And then, slowly, I smiled. "Is that so? Then maybe you should come with me and answer for what you did to her."