OliverI woke up to my phone ringing and initially thought of ignoring the call. I had no inclination to talk to anyone. Then I remembered Eloá and fully woke up, reaching for the phone on the bedside table. I checked the screen to confirm that it was indeed Martina, which could indicate issues with my daughter. I wouldn't forgive her if something had happened to Eloá again!"What happened, Martina?" I asked, now quite anxious."Something very serious, Oliver," she said exactly what I dreaded the most. "I'll be passing by your building in five minutes. Come meet us, please! Hurry!""Tell me what happened, Martina!" I pressed her.I had already gotten out of bed, and still with the phone pressed to my ear, I hurriedly wa
DouglasWhen Emily showed me the news circulating on the internet about a reconciliation between Oliver and Martina, I felt truly incredulous. Even with images of the two of them hugging, I remained steadfast, respecting Emily's wish to be the first person to tell her sister about it, even though I didn't believe it could be real."But you yourself said Oliver was completely blind to Martina's actions," Emily commented when I shared my opinion."He was blind, but he saw the light," I tried to lighten the tension for my girlfriend and managed to elicit a smile from her. "Oliver will never forgive Martina for how she treats Eloá. I'm sure of it."However, I didn't intend to wait until the evening to question my friend, as we were all going to have dinner together at Brian's
OliverI looked around the dark room with no idea where I was. I strained to remember my last memory and quickly recalled getting into a car with Martina, who had used something to make me black out completely.I ran my hand over my eyes, trying to fully wake up, and sat up on the bed. I don't know Martina's intentions, but I can't complain about the comfort of the place she brought me to. The room is enormous, very luxurious, and elegant. In fact, I noticed several similarities with the decoration my ex-wife had done in our own bedroom, which means I'm not in a place unfamiliar to Martina.It's no use even looking for my cellphone. Martina wouldn't make anything easy for me, and I confirmed that when I went to the window and opened the curtains, only to confirm what I already suspected. Protective bars on the
NicoleAfter trying in every way to find any clues about Oliver and Martina, Brian decided to contact a private investigator, given his deep concern for his friend.“I know Oliver would never go back to Martina after everything she did to her own daughter!” Brian repeated for the tenth time in less than an hour “That crazy woman must have orchestrated all of this.”Brian and Douglas paced back and forth in the living room, and I thought the size of the room was quite convenient for the current situation. I discreetly smiled at Charlotte as she entered the room with one of the babies in her arms.“Is everything okay here?” Charlotte asked anxiously, seeing how agitated the two men were.Charlotte ha
OliverFaced with Martina's threat, a sense of helplessness took hold of me, but I realized I had no choice but to accept her conditions. My unquestionable priority was the safety and well-being of my daughter, Eloá. Martina's words about her biological paternity echoed painfully in my mind, but I was determined not to allow it to shake the deep bond we shared.However, behind the scenes, I had quietly gathered a series of pieces of evidence that could completely change the course of the case. My lawyer, with tireless dedication, had compiled a comprehensive dossier that proved Martina's negligence as a mother. Photos, audio recordings, and videos illustrated moments when Eloá was clearly unattended. Even the hospital report from the occasion when Eloá had been hospitalized after an incident at the beach, and the testimonies of impartial witnesses, all these elements strengthened my position.Although Martina's threat to seek a DNA analysis from the man she claimed to be Eloá's biolog
DouglasAs doors swung open to Brian's office, a new message notification chimed on my cell phone. Before I could even exchange greetings with my friend, I swiftly retrieved the phone from the inner pocket of my jacket and checked the screen."Hey, it's an audio message from Oliver!" I exclaimed, promptly opening the message to hear what our friend had sent. Putting it on speaker, both of us listened intently to the words Oliver was sharing. It became immediately apparent that something was off—Oliver mentioned Brian's name, but the audio was intended for me. Yet, before we could exchange comments, Brian's phone pinged with a new message."Another audio message from Oliver," Brian commented, his expression clearly puzzled. Just like me, Brian put the audio on speaker. This time, Oliver addressed me directly, swapping our names intentionally. There was no doubt about it."I believe he's hinting for us to meet him at the courthouse, during the hearing," Brian proposed, his face showing
OliverMy sole concern was ensuring Eloá's well-being, but I received far more than I anticipated. Martina had lied about it, and she must have fabricated numerous other things as well. However, she won't have another opportunity to attack me. I intend to make this abundantly clear to her during the upcoming hearing."My attorney is aware of the new terms, dear," Martina murmured softly, presumably to avoid the judge overhearing.I offered no response, and her expression immediately changed."Oliver?"Once again, I responded with silence. At that very moment, the judge initiated the session, preventing any further interactions between Martina and me.Less than an hour later, following several attempts by Martina's lawyer to have me consider a new extrajudicial agreement between the parties, I stood my ground and reiterated that there was no possibility of an agreement between us. I am now certain that the outcome of the case will not be favorable for my ex-wife."You must do what you
NicoleWhen Oliver arrived at my house, all I wanted was to throw myself into his arms and be embraced by him, but as soon as I opened the door, I realized he looked different, more distant and cold."I need to thank you for taking in my daughter and taking care of her so well, as I know you did," Oliver said, while Emily accompanied Eloá to retrieve her backpack from my room."Eloá is very important to me too, Oliver," I pointed out, feeling a bit hurt by his behavior."Martina is extremely irresponsible, but considering what she intended to do, I felt much more at ease when I found out Eloá was in your care.""Are you okay, Oliver?""Everything is under control now, Nicole," Oliver maintained his impersonal tone. "You shouldn't worry."It's evident how shaken Oliver appears due to what happened in the last twenty-four hours, and I felt sad that he's trying to be as impersonal as possible now, as if I were nothing more than a stranger."I'm ready, Daddy," Eloá announced, still coming
Charlotte I arrived home earlier that night because one of the professors, the one who was supposed to teach the last class of the day, had to cancel due to a sudden personal issue, and there was no time for a replacement, so the whole class was dismissed at the last minute. I didn't bother calling Brian to let him know about the unexpected change, and that I would be home earlier because I was so tired that I thought it would be better to take a taxi than wait for the driver to pick me up at the university, where I was currently taking my administration course. But I found it quite strange that everything seemed so quiet, even though it was still relatively early, and considering there were three children at home who didn't usually go to bed early at all. I was genuinely fearful. I went to the spacious living room of t
Ramona felt a tightness in her heart as she watched the church where her son Douglas's wedding would take place. It was a moment of joy and celebration, but also a painful reminder of the distance between them. Even though she hadn't received an invitation to the ceremony, she decided to go and confront her own mistakes. With courage and determination in her heart, Ramona went to the church where the wedding would be held. She dressed modestly, her face marked by sadness and hope for a possible reconciliation. She arrived before the bride's entrance, taking the opportunity to approach her son. Upon seeing Douglas, nervous and anxious, Ramona felt a mixture of love and regret overflowing in her chest. She approached him, seeking a moment alone before the ceremony. "Douglas, my son, may I speak with you for a
OliverIt was one of those gala nights in New York City, where high society gathered to celebrate, socialize, and, of course, show off. Nicole and I found ourselves at yet another one of these grand events, and she looked absolutely stunning that night.On that evening, Nicole shone like never before. Her elegant and sophisticated black dress accentuated her graceful figure, while her hair cascaded in perfectly arranged waves around her shoulders. Her confidence was soaring, and I could see it in her demeanor, her smile, in every graceful gesture she made.We were surrounded by familiar and unfamiliar faces, all dressed in expensive attire and watchful eyes. I couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky to be by Nicole's side. She had come a long way since we first met, and the confidence she exuded that night was a testament t
OliverAfter putting Eloá to bed, I sat down next to Nicole, eager to hear what she had to say. It was a moment of honesty and confession, and I was determined to listen to every word attentively.Nicole sighed and looked deeply into my eyes. I could see the sincerity in her gaze, mixed with a hint of regret.“Oliver, I know I've made a lot of mistakes and was very immature when I ended our relationship. I acted impulsively, letting my fears and insecurities get the best of me. I deeply regret hurting you and throwing away something so special that we had.”I held your hands, conveying support and encouragement. I wanted her to know that I was willing to listen to her and give our love a chance."Nicole, I understa
DouglasEmily and Charlotte awaited us in the apartment, but after all the emotions of the reunion between them and Nicole, as well as the immense happiness we all felt seeing them safe, it was clear that Eloá and Nicole needed rest. The doctors had attended to them at the cabin, but they were undoubtedly worn out and tired."I think it's best to leave you all alone," Charlotte said, exactly what I was thinking. "In fact, we all need some rest after everything that's happened in the past few days.""You're right, my love," Brian gazed at his wife with remarkable devotion. "Let's head back to our homes.""I suggest a dinner at my place to celebrate life," Emily suggested, and I believe my expression matched Brian's when I looked at my fiancée. "What do you think?"
NicoleAt the moment one of the men hired by Martina pushed me abruptly into an isolated and unknown cabin, where it was clear that I would have no access to any help, terror overcame me. However, I maintained a facade of calm, avoiding causing panic in my young daughter. I gripped Eloá's hand firmly, and we were roughly led through some dimly lit rooms until we stood in front of a closed door. At that moment, several terrifying scenarios flooded my mind."Go in," the man ordered, opening the door and pointing to the interior of the room. Fear grew, and I felt my body tremble. Although the thought of inquiring about Martina's whereabouts and appealing to reason, given that Eloá was her daughter, crossed my mind, I chose not to. Once again, I was determined not to reveal the concern I felt to my daughter."Nicole, I'm scared," Eloá murmured as she hugged me tightly. Her body was trembling, or perhaps it was my own tremor affecting me, but I tried to calm her, even though I didn't know
OliverBrian rushed into the room. He had returned to his apartment with Charlotte, as we had decided to take turns during the night, which had been too long for me. I had only managed to get two hours of sleep, exhausted from worry."What happened?" Douglas was the first to ask. Douglas had also managed to get some sleep, and now, it was almost six in the morning, and we were all on alert once again."The location indicated by Charlotte's phone led the police team to an abandoned house a few kilometers north of New York," he said with clear frustration."I admit I was expecting something like this," I said with a sense of discouragement. "Martina is doing well in keeping her hideout hidden from us."I resumed pacing back and forth in the room, feeling helpless."Can I speak to you privately, Oliver?"I found Brian's request strange, but I followed him out of my apartment."The investigator believes there are cameras in your apartment," Brian revealed. "Martina isn't that clever, and
OliverAs I anxiously awaited any clue that could lead me to Eloá and Nicole, the feeling of helplessness in the face of the situation was overwhelming. I needed to act quickly and find my daughter and my wife before something very bad happened.I'm sitting on the couch now, restless, while my friends Brian and Douglas try to calm me down. They understand my distress and are doing everything they can to help. In the meantime, I'm constantly looking at my phone, waiting for any news about Eloá.The hired private investigators are working hard to find clues about the whereabouts of Nicole and Eloá. They are investigating possible locations where Martina might be hiding and reaching out to people who might have relevant information.The police are also involved
OliverI returned from the bedroom feeling more confident and calmer. The sheriff wasn't around anymore, but Brian assured me he would stay in touch about any updates in the case. That didn't make me feel at ease, of course. I won't be able to feel that until my daughter is with me. However, I can think more rationally now. Arguing with the police won't get us anywhere."Charlotte?" I asked, noticing that she wasn't among them anymore."She had to go back home," Brian explained. "The babies still need a lot of her attention. But I'll keep her informed."While Brian took charge of staying in constant contact with the police and private investigators, Douglas was scouring the internet for any information that could help us find Martina.Even with the certainty that the police were also committed to the case, I knew I couldn't rely solely on the authorities. Martina had proven to be cunning in the past, and I feared she would be capable of doing anything to harm me and hurt my daughter.