“What did you say?” Maria’s voice was barely above a whisper. “What did you say?” She repeated. Kiara sniffed the tears about to run down her checks back in. She just threw a bomb. The reaction was expected. "We...we had a—something—I mean, a relationship.” She muttered. Kiara’s confession hung in the air, sucking all the oxygen out of the room. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the ceiling fan.Damian’s face contorted with a mix of shock, disbelief, and fury. Maria gasped, her hand flying to her chest as she took a step back, visibly shaken.“A relationship?” Damian’s voice was low, trembling with barely restrained anger. “You mean to tell me you’ve been... involved with Luca? The same man you accused of trying to kill us both?”Kiara nodded, her head hanging low, unable to meet their eyes. “Yes, Dad. But it wasn’t... it wasn’t what you think.”“Wasn’t what I think?” Damian bellowed, his voice echoing through the room. “You’ve been lying to m
Kiara's breath hitched as she read the message. Her mind raced. Driver Guy? The same guy she’s been hoping to meet? Who could that be? She didn’t recognize the number, but the name felt oddly familiar—the same way she’d refer to the man who saved her anytime the conversation came up. A chill ran down her spine. Could this be a trap? Or was it the key to uncovering the truth? Maybe she could finally have something tangible enough to throw Luca under the bus. Maria noticed her daughter’s reaction. “Kiara? " What’s wrong?” she asked softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.Kiara hesitated. Should she tell her mother about the message? No. She’d already dragged her family through enough. If she’s doomed to tell anyone, definitely not her mother. This was something she needed to handle on her own—at least for now.“It’s nothing, Mom,” Kiara lied, pocketing the phone. “Just a spam message.”Maria’s brow furrowed with concern, but she didn’t press. “Get some rest, sweetheart.
“Luca?”Kiara’s pulse quickened at the familiar voice—a mix of anger and cold amusement that sent chills down her spine. She was pushed into a chair; the black bag yanked off her head. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw him—Luca, leaning casually against a table, his arms crossed, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.“Luca,” she spat, her voice trembling with rage and fear. “What the hell is this?" Why did you have me kidnapped?”He laughed—a sharp, mocking sound that echoed through the room. “Kidnapped? Such a dramatic term, Kiara. Let’s call it... a necessary intervention that should have taken place a long time ago.”She glared at him, her hands struggling against the tight bindings. “Intervention? You’ve gone too far, Luca. Whatever game you’re playing, it ends here.”“Oh, Kiara,” he said, shaking his head mockingly. “You’re so naive." Do you really think you’re the heroine of this story? " That you can outsmart me and bring me down?” He leaned closer, his smirk fadin
Maria shifted uneasily in their bedroom, the morning light filtering through the curtains. Damian sat on the edge of the bed, his face an unreadable mask of tension and exhaustion. His hands rested on his knees, his posture rigid as though carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.“Damian,” Maria began softly, breaking the silence. She sat beside him, her delicate hand resting lightly on his arm. “I know you’re angry. " I’m angry too, but...” She hesitated, searching his face for any sign of softening. “Kiara is still our daughter. Whatever mistakes she’s made, we can’t turn our backs on her now.”Damian let out a sharp breath, his jaw tightening. “You think I don’t know that?” he snapped, though his voice held more frustration than malice. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to know that your best friend—a man you’ve trusted with your life—has been sleeping with your daughter—a child young enough to be his daughter? Betraying your family? And Kiara... she lied to me,
The air between Damian and Maria was heavy with unease as they stood in Kiara's room, Damian still in Maria’s embrace. Maria was about to say something when a voice interrupted. “Sir, your phone,” one of the house staff called out hesitantly from the hallway. “It’s been ringing nonstop.”Damian turned sharply, his already frayed nerves making him curt. “Why didn’t you bring it earlier?”“I’m sorry, sir,” the worker stammered, handing over the device. Damian snatched it, glancing at the screen. The call was from an unknown number.“Who now?” He muttered under his breath before dialing the number. “Hello?”There was a pause at the other end, followed by a distorted, chillingly calm voice. “Mr. Damian Lux. It’s been a long time.”Damian froze, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the phone. “Who is this?” he demanded, his voice sharp.The voice chuckled. “Let’s not waste time with introductions. " I believe you’re looking for your daughter, Kiara, right?”Maria, noticing the sudden chan
Damian stepped into the office. His intention was to maintain his usual air of composed authority, masking the turmoil inside. But his dressing gave him out the moment he stepped in. He was still in his robe. The workers around were shocked but afraid to approach him. They just murmured within themselves. Even though he noticed the awkward stares and murmurs, the turmoil his heart was in would not let him pay the least attention to it. “Is Callyer here already?” he asked the receptionist, ignoring her curious stares. The urgency in his tone made the receptionist very uncomfortable. “Yes, sir. Mr. Blake got here about a minute ago. " He’s waiting at your reception,” the lady replied. "Good,” Damian responded on his way to the office. “Damian,” Callyer Blake, his lawyer, called out the moment he sighted him, but he didn’t give him the expected audience. “Please come in,” he told the lawyer who was at that time sitting in the lobby at the front of his office. The first thing he did
Callyer shook his head, his expression equally perplexed. “Of course not. Damian, you know I’d never betray your trust. But this just confirms what I’ve been saying—you’re not telling me everything. If the police are already involved in something, you’d better let me in on it now.”Damian exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay composed. “This has nothing to do with what I asked you to do. Stay out of it for now.”Before Callyer could press further, Damian signaled to the employee, “Tell the receptionist to let them in.” He turned back to Callyer, “Give me a moment,” he said, grabbing the clothes the employee had left and heading to the restroom attached to his office.Minutes later, Damian emerged, dressed sharply—with a few points of dressing perfection—but still carrying the heavy air of a man under siege. He adjusted his tie as he settled in his chair. As if it were calculated, there was a slight knock on his door. They saw Harrison standing by the door. “Come in.” Detective H
Hours later, Callyer stood outside Damian’s office, clutching the completed power of attorney papers. His concern for his friend hadn’t lessened, but Damian had made it clear that further questioning would only create tension. He knocked lightly before entering.“Here’s the document you requested,” Callyer said, placing the papers on Damian’s desk.Damian looked up, his face unreadable. “Thank you, Callyer. I’ll handle it from here.”Callyer hesitated, wanting to say more, but Damian’s tone left no room for discussion. With a curt nod, he turned and left the office.The moment the door closed, Damian reached for his phone and dialed the number he had been dreading calling. The line connected after the first ring.“Do you have what we asked for?” The voice on the other end demanded, cold and impatient.“Yes,” Damian replied, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. “I have the papers." Where do you want me to bring them?”The kidnapper gave him an address—a secluded wareho
Harrison studied Kiara for another long moment, waiting for any sign she might answer him. But she remained silent, her expression distant and unreadable. He sighed heavily, realizing he wasn’t going to get anymore out of her today.“Alright,” he said quietly, standing up. “I’ll leave you to rest. But Kiara, please think about what I said. You’re not alone in this, and we’ll figure it out together. You just have to trust me.”She didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on a random spot on the floor. Harrison took a final glance at her, his frustration simmering under the surface, before turning and heading toward the library doors.As he approached the entrance, he noticed a shadow moving just out of sight. His sharp eyes quickly identified the culprit: Maria, hovering near the doorway, her expression a mix of curiosity and feigned nonchalance.“Mrs Lux,” Harrison greeted flatly, his voice laced with suspicion. “I see you’ve found an interest in library doors.”The woman straightened abruptly,
“Errmm, sir…” “Don’t make me ask again.” Harrison spat. “The library.” The butler mumbled, scared the consequences of whatever was about to happen would land him in trouble. “Do I also need to tell you to lead the way?” Harrison asked, waiting for the man to show him where the library was. After hesitating a while, the butler showed him where the library was situated. Harrison stormed into the library, his frustration evident in the sharpness of his movements. Kiara sat curled up in an armchair near the window, her knees pulled to her chest. She flinched at the sound of the doors swinging open, her wide eyes darting at him like a cornered animal.“Kiara,” Harrison said, his voice firm but not unkind. “We need to talk.”She shrank back further into the chair, her fingers gripping the fabric as if it might protect her. Her lips trembled, but no words came out.Harrison sighed, dragging a chair closer and sitting down across from her. He kept his voice low and measured, trying not to
“What?” Luca exclaimed, terrified Harrison had more things to interrogate him about. Harrison closed in the distance again. It’s obvious it makes Luca very uncomfortable every time he does that. “At Eric’s house, we found a mask—a perfect match to the one used in the kidnapping of Kiara Lux, and a file that had the name Thompson Greco. Then there’s the CCTV footage.”Luca’s heart pounded in his chest. “CCTV footage?” he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.Harrison nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket. He tapped the screen a few times and turned it toward Luca. “Take a look. Recognize that car? It was out there when Kiara entered that restaurant. Can you see it’s the same car Kiara and this mysterious man who was obviously hiding from the CCTV returned to? The same vehicle that took her? Funny thing, it’s registered under an alias we’ve traced back to one Thompson—Thompson Greco. Rings a bell?”“And guess what?” Harrison scoffed. “The car that chased Kiara’s the other day
Luca froze, stool in hand, as the loud bang on the door reverberated through the room. Open up. It’s the police.” The voice cut through everything that made sound in his house. His pulse quickened, anger and paranoia blending into a volatile mix. He knew that voice—Detective Harrison.The last person he wanted to see.Luca tossed the stool aside, its legs clattering against the broken glass on the floor. He stalked to the door and yanked it open, his face a mask of barely controlled rage.“What the hell do you want, Harrison?”Detective Harrison stood there, his imposing frame casting a shadow over Luca’s disheveled entrance. “Detective, sir! I love to be referred to as Detective Harrison.” Harrison corrected him subtly. His sharp eyes took in the state of the house—broken bottles, shards of glass, the remains of a demolished TV. His lips curled in disdain.“I address you however I deem fit, detective—I mean, Harrison.“Well, well,” he drawled, stepping inside without waiting for an
Luca slumped in the leather armchair in his living room, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The echoes of Annie’s words reverberated in his mind: “I’m going to fight for full custody, Luca. And this time, you won’t win.”His jaw clenched as he stared at the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the desk. The house, once his pride, now felt like a hollow monument to his failures. The silence was deafening—a stark reminder of what he’d lost.Luca wasn’t angry because he loved the children that much or even because he wanted them around. No, his rage stemmed from something deeper, something darker. He’d lost control. Katie and Sam had always been pawns in his game—a way to keep Annie tethered, a means to assert dominance. Winning custody had been a symbolic victory, proof that he still held power over her. But now, that power was slipping through his fingers.“Damn it!” he roared, sweeping the whiskey bottle off the desk. It shattered against the wall, a
Maria sat down beside Kiara on the bed. She’s trying to persuade her to give the therapist another chance. It's been days since the last time it resulted in chaos. They hadn’t even gone through any form of therapy before it happened. She recounted the incident from that day in her mind. “Tell me, baby, who’s the driver guy?” Kiara’s panic attack escalated quickly. Her breathing grew rapid and shallow, her body trembling uncontrollably as she clutched her chest. Damian carried her into the house, his movements frantic but careful. Maria followed closely, her hands shaking as she dialed the family doctor.Within minutes, Dr. Rourke, their trusted physician, arrived at the mansion. He examined Kiara, who was still hyperventilating and crying softly. After administering a mild sedative to calm her, he turned to Damian and Maria.“She’s having a severe panic attack,” Dr. Rourke explained gently. “This isn’t just fear—it’s deep psychological trauma. It’s crucial that we get her to open up
Katie pulled out her phone with trembling hands, her fingers fumbling over the screen as she dialed their mother’s number. The pounding on the door was relentless, the sound reverberating through their tiny room. Sam clung to Katie’s side, her stuffed animal crushed against her chest."Mom, pick up," Katie whispered, her voice shaking as she stared at the phone. The ringing felt endless, each second dragging out painfully. Finally, Annie's voice came through the line."Katie darling. How…” Katie’s shaky voice interrupted her usual questions about their well-being. What's wrong?" Annie's voice was filled with concern."Mom, it's Dad," Katie said quickly, her voice cracking. "He's out of control. He’s drunk—I think, and... and he's trying to break into our room!""What?!" Annie’s tone turned sharp with alarm. "Are you and Sam okay? Did he hurt you?""We’re okay for now," Katie replied, her voice breaking. "But the door... it's not going to hold much longer. You have to come home. Ple
Luca’s eyes darkened as the table crashed to the ground, spilling its contents in a noisy heap. His jaw clenched, and a vein throbbed at his temple. The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension as Sam stood frozen, her small hands trembling at her sides."You clumsy little brat!" Luca bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "Can't you do anything right?"Sam’s eyes filled with tears as she stumbled backward, her small frame trembling. "I-I’m sorry, Dad," she stammered, her voice barely audible. "I didn’t mean to... I promise I’ll fix it."But Luca wasn’t hearing her. His rage blinded him, fueled by his own frustrations and fears. He took a step forward, his injured hand throbbing but forgotten in the storm of his anger.“Sorry isn’t good enough!” he roared, raising his uninjured hand. Before Sam could react, the first blow landed—a harsh slap across her cheek that sent her sprawling to the floor. She whimpered, clutching her face, her tears streaming freely now.“Get up!” he
Meanwhile, back at Luca's, it's been turmoil. He had been on the run, unsure of what his fate would be. He has been hiding away, scared that the police are looking for him. When he realized that there had been no search or warrant for him, he decided to return to his house. "That betrayal must have gotten away with Kiara. If they are unable to find Kiara, they might never find out that I've been the one behind the kidnapping all along." He thought. However. That afternoon, word came from one of the boys he forced out to find Kiara, that Kiara had been found and, as in fact, been discharged from the hospital and now home with Damian. Luca stormed into his room, his injured hand hastily wrapped in a bloodied cloth. His face was a mask of fury and frustration as he paced back and forth. He couldn't even go to the hospital to have proper treatment. The faint smell of antiseptic from his poorly tended wound mingled with the scent of whiskey he had poured himself moments ago. He gulped