Chapter 6

Stopping over at the immediate five-star hotel, I went in to try to find out if, by any chance, he had lodged in here. My mind was in a state of frenzy. I tried my best to stop the tears that fought so hard to flow down my cheeks. Could I have lost my children?

“ I'm sorry, ma'am, there's no one like this here,” the receptionist said after checking the computer in front of her.

“ Thank you,” I managed to say. My heart sinking deeper and deeper. I paused outside the hotel confused. Crouching, I cried. I couldn't take it anymore. Where was I going to search for Justin and my children? He was rich enough to leave with my children without a trace.

Honk! Honk!! Honk!!! I heard a car honk in front of where I stood, I didn't flinch even a bit. I was too weak, devastated, and frustrated to pay attention to about a car in front of me. The driver didn't go away as I expected but kept on blaring his horn, what was his deal?

I felt a figure stand over me. It had to be a man given the stature, but to be honest, I wasn't bothered by whoever it was. I didn't care if I looked like a baffling woman right now.

“ Do you really intend to sit here?” I looked up as I heard the masculine voice that came, it was familiar. Glancing up, James towered over me with his hand stretched out to support me up.

“ What are you doing here?” I asked in surprise. I thought he had left after we argued. Why was he still here?

“It's kind of obvious that I turned back to support you,” he beamed as he tugged me up. Was he not furious at me? I had really said certain words I shouldn't have.

“Weren't you enraged with me? I---I mean, I spoke some hurtful words to you that I really shouldn't have…,” James’ hug cut me short. He hauled me in for a hug before I even realized it. James was indeed sweet. I rested my chin on his shoulder as I let my tears flow.

Freeing me from his embrace, he cupped my cheeks in his hands and looked me in the eye.

“ I was wrong to get worked up by the news of your kids’ father being around. You probably didn't want to let me know, and I should have respected your privacy and decisions. We're running out of time. Let's continue searching for the twins,” he suggested.

“ Yes, you're right. We need to keep looking.” I wiped my tears away.

“ Let's go,” James beckoned as he walked towards the car. I hadn't realized he was the one honking all along. Opening the door for me, I got into his car and buckled up before he got in the car.

We headed to the airport peradventure he was planning to leave with them. We may just be able to catch up with them if we hurried. Getting down from the car, we rushed into the runway. We galloped down to business as we got in the airport. We searched the airport lobby and the waiting lobby. After searching for them at the runway, there was no hope of finding them in time.

I broke down in tears. I had lost my children in a matter of days and all because of Justin. Why was his entrance into my world always in the end heartbreaking? The first time, he had abandoned me for Nina after using me and acting like he loved me, and now he had reappeared into my life to take my children and leave me devastated.

“There's still hope that they are in still in the city,” I heard James' reassuring voice as I felt his hand on my shoulder. I gave him a slight nod. “We still have plenty of motels to search, so you don't have to panic. Something tells me they are still in the city,” he tried his best to calm me.

We left and checked all the lodges we could check. My heart was pounding, and my mind was becoming blank. I couldn't help myself but to think of all the outcomes that could occur. My kids were my only hope, the reason I could move on in life. They were my strength, my weakness, and my confidence. My world revolved around them and if they were to leave my life, I wasn't confident how I would live on.

We searched for them until sunset. It was futile now. They were gone and gone for good. We had overturned every stone in search of the kids but hadn't found a clue on where they could be.

“What am I going to do?” I asked no one in particular as I sat on a bench in the park beside James. He didn't know what to say or how to react.

“ I'm sorry,” he said in a low voice. His words made me break down even more, and I didn't much recognize why. I clutched my chest as I cried heavily. I was probably never going to see them again.

Buzz! Buzz!! My phone vibrated. It was an incoming call from an unknown number. I stared at it for some time unsure of whether or not to answer it. I wasn't in the mood to entertain any sort of call.

“ Who's calling you?” James looked at me after the phone rang for a while. I shrugged before deciding to answer it.

“ Hello?” I asked.

“Mummy,” I froze at the sound of Amelia's sound. Could I have started hallucinating and hearing things?

“ What is it?” James whispered to me from the background in concern.

“Amelia?” I sought to confirm the voice I was picking up as tears flowed down from my eyes once more.

” Yes, it's me, mummy,” she replied cheerfully.

“ Where are you now? Stay wherever you are, mummy will be there to get you and your brother,” I needed to make sure she was safe and remained wherever she was, that would make finding her easier.

“ We're safe mummy, don't worry,” she said assuring me.

“ Where's your brother?” I needed to talk to Aiden, he was more mature and would be able to explain their situation and location better.

“ Mummy,” Aiden's voice came as he took over the phone call from Amelia.

“ Baby, where are you? Are you okay?” I asked anxiously.

“ We're at home, dad suggested we call you since you hadn't returned home ever since,” he said plainly. He had already realized and confirmed that Justin was their dad, if not he wouldn't call him dad. Their striking resemblance was enough to tell that they had to be related.

“ Alright, I'll be right there. You and your sister should wait for mummy, hmm? I told him and he affirmed. I can't believe we had missed out my own apartment, I mean that was the last place I expected Justin to take them to.

“ What is it? What happened?” James asked confused. “ Where are they?” he went further to ask.

“ Justin took them to my apartment, they were there the whole time,” I answered before rushing over to his car. “ Let's go!”

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