The kidnap

After that particular time, I made it a point to visit Emily regularly. Our interactions remained somewhat distant, but there was a subtle shift in her demeanor, a slight thawing of the icy walls she had built around herself. The orphanage had become a sanctuary for me, a place where the corporate world’s stresses seemed to dissolve. Yet, as the demands of my business increased, my visits grew less frequent.

I remember the last day I saw Emily before everything changed. It was a bright, sunny afternoon, and the children were playing outside. Emily was overseeing their activities, her face alight with a rare smile. I had to leave early that day, a crucial meeting awaiting my attention. As I left, I promised her I’d be back soon. She simply nodded, a shadow of disappointment crossing her face, but she didn’t voice any complaints.

The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of corporate chaos. A major merger was in the works, and my attention was required at every turn. Late nights and earl