Chapter 5: Everything Turns Personal

Scarlett's pov

I felt the insides of my stomach twist as I reread the message on my phone. 

Eloise is missing. 

My hands trembled as I tried to steady my breath. This couldn’t be happening. Not her. Not to my baby.

I stood up from my chair, almost knocking it off. Adrian was already moving, his expression was dark and unreadable. "Scarlett, look at me. We’ll find her."

I shook my head, I could feel my chest tightening. 

"You don’t understand. If Celeste took her—"

Adrian’s gaze hardened. "Then we take her back."

Without another word, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and started making calls. I could barely focus, my mind racing with scary thoughts. 

Was Eloise scared? Was she crying for me?

My phone rang, shifting me from my thoughts. With shaking fingers, I answered. "Hello?"

"Scarlett," my father's voice came through the line, calm and calculated. 

"You should have known there would be consequences for your actions."

I gripped the phone tighter. "Where is she? If you hurt her, I swear—"

But he chuckled. 

"You’re in no position to make threats. Walk away, Scarlett. Stop this war before it’s too late. If you don’t... well, let’s just say children are fragile."

I felt my blood get cold. "You monster. She’s just a child. Let her go."

"That depends on you," he said smoothly. "You want her back? Then leave my company alone. Stop this pathetic rebellion, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll see your little girl again."

The line went dead.

I stood frozen, my heart hammering so hard.

Adrian stepped closer. "Scarlett, what did he say?"

I lifted my eyes to face him, my breath shuddering out. "Victor has her. He wants me to back down."

Adrian’s jaw tightened. "That’s not happening."

Adrian's pov

I had seen many things in my life—lies, betrayal, destruction—but nothing compared to the way Scarlett looked at the moment. 

She was barely holding herself together. She was terrified. I had no intention of letting Victor Delacroix win. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. "I need a location on Eloise Whitmore. Now."

Scarlett grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?"

I met her eyes, my voice firm. "Getting her back. You are not alone in this, Scarlett."

"I can’t lose her, Adrian. I can’t." She cried.

I softened, brushing my fingers over her wrist. "You won’t. I promise."

Moments later, my security team confirmed what I already suspected—Eloise was being held in a private estate outside the city. 

Victor had planned this carefully, but he had underestimated just how far I was willing to go.

I turned to face Scarlett. "We leave now."

Scarlett pic

The drive to the estate felt like a never ending and fruitless ride. Adrian sat beside me, his expression unreadable. 

My hands were clenched in my lap, my nails digging into my skin. 

Hold on, Eloise. I’m coming.

As the car parked outside the towering gates, Adrian’s men were already in position. 

He turned to me. "Stay behind me."

I glared at him. "Like hell I will."

His lips twitched. "I thought you’d say that. Just stay close."

We moved quickly, slipping through the gates as Adrian’s security disabled the alarms. The estate was huge. 

"Eloise," I whispered, my heart pounding. "Where are you?"

Then suddenly, a noise made me freeze. Footsteps. Voices. Adrian pulled me behind him just as two guards rounded the corner. 

They barely had time to react before his men took them down silently.

I exhaled, heart beating rapidly. 

"Let’s go." Adrian called out to me.

We reached the main house, and I spotted a door slightly ajar. Without thinking, I rushed inside.

And there she was.

I could see her tiny frame, curled up in the corner of a lavish bedroom. She was sobbing silently. "Mommy?" Her voice was small, frightened.

Tears filled my eyes as I ran to her, scooping her into my arms. "I’m here, baby. I’ve got you."

Eloise clung to me, her little fingers digging into my dress. "I was so scared. They said you weren’t coming."

"I will always come for you. Always." I said, my voice laced with fury.

Adrian stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the room. "We need to move. Now."

I nodded, lifting Eloise into my arms. But just as we turned to leave, a slow clap echoed through the hallway.

My dad.

Adrian

Victor Delacroix stood there like he owned the damn world, smug and composed. 

"Impressive," he said. "I didn’t think you had it in you, Scarlett."

Scarlett stiffened beside me, holding Eloise tightly in her arms. "Stay away from us." She yelled.

"Or what? Do you really think you can win this? Do you even know what you’re up against?" Victor smirked.

"I do know that you’re a coward who uses children as leverage. That tells me everything I need to know."

Victor’s smile didn’t waver, but there was something dark in his eyes. "This isn’t over, Scarlett. You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life."

I could feel adrenaline surge through my veins as I stepped forward. 

"You don’t scare us, Delacroix. And if you come near her again, you’ll regret it."

"Oh, Adrian. You still don’t get it, do you?" His gaze flickered to Eloise, and something in his expression made my stomach drop. "She isn’t Damian’s child. She never was."

"What?" Scarlett's breathe hitched.

Victor’s smirk widened. "You didn’t know? Oh, this is delightful. Eloise’s real father is someone far more powerful than Damian. And when he finds out where she is…" He shook his head mockingly. 

"You don’t even know the war you just started."

Scarlett’s grip tightened on Eloise, her entire body trembling. My hands curled into fists as I took a slow step forward. 

"Who is he?"

Victor tsked. 

"Ah, but where’s the fun in telling you that?" He leaned in slightly. "Let’s just say you won’t be the only ones looking for her soon."

I forced myself to stay calm. "We’re leaving. Now." I said, leading Scarlett out of the room.

Victor didn’t stop us. 

He simply stood there, watching, his smirk never fading. Asif he knew something we didn’t know.