Chapter 42

VALERIA

"I thought you had sent someone to pick him up earlier." The teacher's words echoed in my head again, haunting me as I tried to grapple with what she had just said.

No! This had better be a bloody joke! How was this even possible?! Who on earth took my son from school?!

Blood drained from my face, and my heart thudded frantically underneath my ribcage in panic.

"No, I didn't!" I managed to croak out the words as my breath hitched in my throat.

The teacher looked more confused than ever.

"But I thought that you knew about this." She added, furrowing her brows at me.

I shook my head frantically in the negative.

"Who took him?" I quizzed.

"A man came to pick him up," she explained. "He claimed to be the boy's father. Dave called him 'father'."

My eyes widened in utter shock as several confusing questions swirled inside my mind.

A bone-deep chill ran down my spine, leaving me paralyzed in fear. I gulped.

Had Reese discovered my identity? Or was Chase behind this? The uncertainty g