Steve’s P.O.V. One Week Later It’s been two weeks, and we still have no clue about Giana. Every day, it feels like a burden. I can’t stop myself from wondering about the worst possibilities. If someone had kidnapped her for money, he would have called her till now. But nobody called us. We’re clueless about where our daughter is. I miss everything about Giana: her innocent smile, her gorgeous blue eyes, and her sweet laugh. God! With each passing second, the pain is intensifying. Will we ever be able to see her again? Is she fine? How will she be living without us? These thoughts drive me and Grace insane. Sometimes it feels like good days will never come back. Grace stays strong for me, but I can see that she is living with guilt every day that she failed to protect our daughter. I seriously don’t know what would I have done if Grace wasn’t with me these days. Her words give me hope that we’ll surely get back our daughter to us. The loud ringing of Grace’s phone brings me ba
Steve’s P.O.V. After sitting in the car, I immediately dial the detective’s number. I demand, “Have you traced his number?” Just say fucking yes. The detective begins, “Yes, but…” I interrupt, my frustration boiling over. “But, what?” “He called from a telephone booth. We rushed over, but he had already left by the time we arrived.” He informs me, his tone grave. I slam my hand on the steering wheel in frustration and growl, “Fucking find him. Search all the nearby places. He has my daughter. If anything happens to her, I won’t let you off the hook, either.” After a few seconds of silence, he enquires, “But did the kidnapper demand anything or reveal his identity?” I tell Max, the detective, everything because if they have all the information, it’ll help him to locate that bastard. Max utters, “I have a plan.” “What?” I demand eagerly. “You just need to agree to meet his demand…” “What the fuck? No. I can’t.” I interject in a firm tone. The thought of Grace in danger send
Grace’s P.O.V. The next day, as I feed Evan, Steve sits on the bed, staring straight, tensed. In just an hour, I have to leave to confront the person who attempts to rape me in the past, and who now holds our daughter captive. It’s no surprise that he’s the one behind Giana’s disappearance. He’s not human; he’s a monster. Once I have my daughter back, I’ll burn him alive. I’m not afraid to face him, not anymore, because I’m no longer the frightened child he once preyed upon. I have become strong now. Today, I feel even stronger because I have to protect my daughter from that beast. Two weeks without Giana feels like an eternity. There hasn’t been a single moment when I haven’t missed my little princess. I long to see her again, to hold her in my arms and see her bright blue eyes sparkle with joy at her favourite toys and chocolates. “Sissy Sissy…” Evan says in his babyish tone as he stops drinking the milk. My eyes well up every time he calls for his sister. He misses Giana just
As I park my car outside the under-construction building, my heart thumps with fright, and my breath becomes heavy. I’m about to confront my childhood nightmare once again, and I pray I don’t falter. Breath in. Breath out. You’re strong, and you know that, Grace. You’re no longer the weak girl. Now you have the strength to face monsters like him. After encouraging myself, I step out of the car, taking a deep breath. The cold air sends shivers down my spine as I approach the building. With every step, my heart pounds in my chest. But I can’t let fear consume me. I’m not the scared child I once was. I have grown stronger, braver, and more resilient. Today, I’m not just fighting for myself; I’m fighting for my daughter, my family, for everything that matters to me. As I step inside, finally, I come face to face with the man who stole my daughter from me and has haunted my nightmares for years. He sits on the sofa, puffing on his cigarette. As his gaze falls on me, his lips curve in
Steve’s P.O.V. Grace and I are returning home after our unsuccessful mission. She’s fallen asleep, her head resting on my chest, silent tears slipping from her closed eyes. I hold her closer, my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the car window. Today, she fought like a warrior to get back our daughter, but fate had other plans for us. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that the monster was playing mind games with us. He hadn’t actually kidnapped our daughter; he was merely toying with our emotions to get to Grace. A part of me wanted Grace to kill him on the spot, but it wasn’t enough. I want that bastard to suffer every day until his last breath for the pain he inflicted on my wife over the years. His actions have left scars on her soul that may never fully heal. And today, he committed one more sin by lying to us and making us feel vulnerable. When he demanded Grace to strip before him, I nearly lost control, ready to storm in and beat the life out of him. Bu
Two weeks later, Evan is peacefully sleeping, lying on my chest, while I’m lost in my little daughter’s precious memories. I miss the way she used to kick her tiny legs while I converse with her and the way her innocent blue eyes look at me. Will I ever be able to experience this again? Grace is seated on the sofa and engrossed in seeing our family photo album, tears trickling down her cheeks. It hurts to see her so upset. One month has passed since Giana went missing, and each day feels like an eternity without her. Despite our best efforts and tireless searching, there’s been no sign of our daughter. We’ve followed every lead, contacted every authority, and appealed to the public for help, but Giana is still nowhere to be found. It’s like she’s vanished into thin air, swallowed by the darkness. Evan continues to search for his sister, calling out her name with hope and sadness that tears our souls. We do our best to reassure him, promising that Giana will come back soon,
“She’s alright, Steve,” Grace murmurs, resting her head on my shoulder. “The doctor has confirmed it.” “I know, but I still can’t stop myself from worrying about her. She was away from us for a month, Grace,” I respond, constantly checking Giana’s forehead, hand, and every inch of her body to make sure that she isn’t hurt. Grace and I sit on the bed, Giana nestled in my lap, while Evan sleeps nearby. It’s been hours since we reunited with our daughter. It feels surreal, almost too good to be true. How did Giana end up here, alone and unharmed? And why did the kidnapper choose to return her now, after all this time? Grace brushes a stray lock of hair away from Giana’s forehead. “I understand, Steve. It’s been a harrowing ordeal for all of us, but the important thing is that she’s back now, safe and sound.” “I just can’t help but think something isn’t right,” I respond, my gaze fixed on Giana’s peaceful face as she sleeps soundly in my lap. “Why would the kidnapper leave her at
Jace’s P.O.V. I can no longer conceal the truth from Steve, the truth that has shattered my life. Perhaps he understands and doesn’t take any action. "I didn’t do this," I finally speak up. “What? Then what the bracelet—” “Zara did this.” As I reveal, his grip on my collar loosens and his expression shifts to one of confusion. “So you were protecting her?” He asks, walking towards my room. “Where is she?” "Steve, I can explain," I plead, grabbing his arm to stop him. He pushes me away, seething in anger. “You can’t protect her anymore, Jace,” he yells. “She committed a crime.” “Steve, please listen to me.” He is about to take a step towards my room, but stops, listening to my words. “Zara isn’t fine.” “What do you mean?” Steve turns towards me, his brows narrowed in confusion. It's time for me to lay bare the truth, to reveal the pain and struggles that Zara has been facing. Only then can Steve truly understand the situation. “Zara was pregnant with a baby girl