Later in the evening, after the officer had left, Daniela sat in the living room staring at her phone. Alexander was upstairs, but she couldn't bring herself to join him. She felt insensitive, as though she was watching her life crumble from a distance. Her phone rung again, and her heart leapt. She opened the message, her blood running cold as she played another audio file. “ Mama! Papa! Jonah's small voice cried, filled with pain. “ Please help me! They said they'll hurt me if you don't do what they say!” The recording ended Daniela in utmost silence. She replayed the message, her heart breaking with each repetition of Noah's desperate tears.“ Alexander” She screamed, her voice pale.He came running , his face reddish. “What is it?” She gave him the phone to check for himself. He took it, his expression darkening as he listened to the recording. When it ended, he slammed the phone on the table. “ That's it”, Daniela said, her voice
As the door shut behind her, Daniela felt doubts hardening in her chest. She had spent too long depending on Alexander as the head of the house. But this time, She couldn't rely on him. Noah's life was at stake , and she wouldn't let anyone, not even her husband stop her from saving her child. She wiped her tears away, holding her trembling hands. She had no plan or clear idea of how she would raise the ransom money, but one thing was certain she would do whatever it took. Daniela went to her bedroom and locked the door. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contact lists. As she scrolled, She came across a name Liam Carter. He was an old friend,someone she had once trusted deeply before Alexander came into her life. Liam had always been helpful, and though they hadn't spoken in years, She knew he could help her navigate the cross road she was in. Her fingers clicked over the call button,but just as she was about to press it, A message notif
The car ride was heavy with speed.The rain poured endlessly, a reflection of the storm going through Daniela's life. Liam's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly,his jaw clenched in concentration. Beside him, Daniela sat stiffly clutching the bag of money on her lap as if her entire life depended on it . Her chest tightened with every passing minute . “ This is all we have”, She murmured to herself . “ What if they won't take it?” Remember, it's a hundred million they requested for properties and this is just ten million”. “ They 'll take it”, Liam assured her deeply, though the doubts in his eyes betrayed his calm tone. “ They'll have to.Stay focused. We'll handle whatever comes next”. Daniela nodded weakly, her mind racing . It wasn't enough. She knew it wasn't. The kidnappers had demanded two million , but this was all Alexander had agreed to give. She bit her lips, her fingers trembling as they gripped the bag tighter. The thoughts of leaving with
The dim light from Liam’s laptop cast shadows across the small apartment. Daniela sat on the edge of the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her mind racing. Liam was hunched over the keyboard, his face illuminated with a determined glow as he scrolled through security footage and accessed private records through his network of contacts."There’s something here," Liam said, his voice cutting through the heavy silence.Daniela jumped to her feet and rushed to his side. "What is it? Did you find him?""Not yet," Liam replied, zooming in on a grainy video from a nearby convenience store. "But this footage was taken a few blocks from the drop-off point. Look."He pointed at the screen, where a van with no license plates idled suspiciously near the curb. Two masked men climbed into the vehicle minutes after the drop-off time."They didn’t even wait," Liam muttered. "They left right after rejecting the money."Daniela’s breath caught. "That has to be them. Do you think Noah was in
Noah's eyes opened with a room filled with darkness. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to piece together where he was. The last thing he remembered was being in the backseat of his mother's car, with Blessing driving him and laughing at a silly joke she made about his favourite cartoon character. But now, he was somewhere strange, a place cold and unfamiliar and really quiet. The air was scary,and smelled like damp wood and old dust. His tiny hands reached out,searching for something familiar to hold onto, but his fingers met nothing but rough wood. Noah sat up,his head turning. He realised he was lying on a thin, itchy blanket and his body ached from the hard surface beneath it. His school shirt was wrumpled,his tiny tie squeezed, and one of his shoes were missing. His small fingers brushed Against his face,feeling the sticky remnants of tears he didn't remember shedding. He hugged his knees to his chest, trying to calm the sons in his throats. “ Mo
Noah's small body shivered with cold in the room, as the cold five into the cracks in the crumbling walls. His wrists were bound tightly with rope,the rough fingers digging into his tender skin, leaving marks with every movement on his skin. He could barely feel his fingers anymore, the blood circulation long since cut off. Tears was all over his dirt - strained cheeks, but he dared not sob loudly. The sharp sting of earlier punishments had taught him the price of crying. The kidnappers' voices echoed from the adjoining room, their tone harsh and impatient. Noah couldn't understand all the words they said, but he could hear the anger in each word. “ Stupid woman”one of them murmured, “ She brought only ten million naira . Did she think we are running a charity here?” “ We should have hurt the boy earlier” Another said,” Maybe then they will take us seriously”. The words went deep down Noah's heart . He kept on praying deep down that someone he knew would come to
Daniela drove straight to Noah's school in frustration , as she gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her mind was filled with the thoughts of her son, his small innocent face flashing in her mind as she struggled to hold the tears. She had already gone to the police, hired private investigators, and called every friend and family member she could think of, but there was still no sign of Noah. The weight of Noah's presence pressed on her heavily , suffocating her with every step.Daniela stopped as She made her way to the car, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to hold herself together.How could they have let this happen? How could anyone at that school have been so careless? As soon as she reached her car, she slammed the door shut behind her, gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. Tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening to spill, but she stubbornly blinked them back.There was no time to cry. Noah needed her to be strong.She p
Daniela sat in her car for a moment before pulling into the parking lot of Liam's office. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turned white as she tried to calm herself to breathe well. Her chest felt heavy,weighed down by the fear and the uncertainty that had consumed her since Noah disappeared. She had been to the school, spoken to the principal and hired investigators but every path felt like she was just wasting her time and effort. With nowhere else to go to, She decided to go to Liam's office. Liam had always been her rock, her voice of reason when the world felt like it was falling apart. She hoped and prayed that he will know what to say from giving home fully. Gathering her courage, Daniela stepped out of the car and Walked smartly towards the doors of the office building. The receptionist greeted her with a smile, but Daniela could barely acknowledge her as she made her way to Liam's private office. When she pushed the door
Gabriel stared at Daniela's name on his phone screen, his thumb hanging over the call button. His mind screamed at him to stop, to delete her number and erase her from his life. But his foolish bleeding heart refused to listen. He pressed the button. The phone rang once and then twice then also the third time. His ear began to shake as he imagined her reaction. Would She scoff at the sight of his name? Would she Ignore him completely? Or worse still was she Lying in Alexander's arms, Laughing at his desperation?. On the fourth ring, The call connected . A cold, detached voice filled his ears. “ Hello?”. Gabriel's breath almost left him. He hadn't really prepared for this . Now that She was on the line, the words tangled inside him, choking him. He had imagined her reaction when she saw his name on her screen. Was she smiling at his call?Would she groan in annoyance and cut the call while rolling her eyes at Alexander? But now that she had picked the call, all he could do
Gabriel sat in the dimly lit living room, staring blankly at the wall. The silence of the house was suffocating, pressing against his chest like a heavy weight. The absence of Daniela felt like a gaping hole in his life, one that he never imagined would exist.Just days ago, this house was filled with warmth, laughter, and the familiar presence of the woman he loved. Now, it was just an empty space—lifeless, cold, and unbearably quiet.He let out a long, shaky breath as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. His eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep, flickered toward the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. He had never been much of a drinker, but tonight, the burn of alcohol seemed like the only thing keeping him grounded."Why, Daniela?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you do this to me?"The pain in his chest tightened as memories of her flooded his mind. The way she used to smile at him, the way she would rest her head on his shoulder after a long da
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the vast, fertile lands of the village as Alexander’s convoy approached. The air buzzed with excitement, and the entire community had gathered in anticipation of the arrival of their new king and queen.Alexander sat in the back of his luxurious black car,his fingers joined together as he stared out of the window. Beside him, Daniela sat quietly, her expression unreadable. She was dressed in a flowing royal blue gown, adorned with intricate golden embroidery that shimmered in the fading sunlight.She had not spoken much since they left the city. Alexander had noticed the distant look in her eyes, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was here with him, and soon, she would be crowned as his queen.The journey had been long, winding through dusty roads and dense forests, but finally, they reached the grand palace at the heart of the village. The palace, though ancient, stood with an air of majesty—its walls adorned w
Gabriel stood frozen, his entire world crashing down around him. The wrumpled note in his trembling hands felt heavier than it should, as if it carried the weight of all the emotions swirling inside him. His chest tightened, his breathing uneven as the words replayed in his mind. I’m sorry. I don’t expect you to understand, but I have to go. Please don’t look for me.His throat left him and before he knew it, hot tears welled up in his eyes. His hands trembled as he wiped his face, but the tears kept coming. He let out a sharp breath, gripping the edge of the dining table for support.Why?Why would Daniela suddenly leave him like this? After everything they had been through, after everything he had done for her?He staggered backward, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. His mind reeled with unanswered questions. This wasn’t just a simple breakup—it didn’t make sense. Daniela had given no signs of being unhappy. She had never complained. If anything, she had seemed happy
Gabriel stirred in his sleep, shifting slightly as he reached out for Daniela, expecting to feel the warmth of her body beside him. His fingers touched nothing but cold sheets. His brows furrowed as his eyes flickered open. The dim glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the empty space beside him.“Daniela?” he called groggily, his voice thick with sleep. No response.His heart pounded slightly as he sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. He reached for his phone on the nightstand and checked the time—2:37 AM. A strange sense of unease crept up his spine.Maybe she had gone to the bathroom? He swung his legs off the bed, planting his feet on the cold tiles before standing up. He walked toward the bathroom door and knocked lightly.“Dani?”Silence.His chest tightened as he pushed the door open, only to find the bathroom empty. He frowned, stepping out into the dimly lit bedroom. His eyes darted around, his mind struggling to stay rational.“She must be in the kitchen,” he murmure
The city was wrapped in silence, the streets nearly empty except for the occasional flicker of headlights cutting through the night. The digital clock on the bedside table blinked 2:13 AM in bold red numbers, casting a faint glow in the dimly lit bedroom.Gabriel lay beside her, deep in sleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. The rhythmic sound of his breathing should have been comforting—it always had been. But tonight, it suffocated her.Daniela sat up slowly, careful not to make a sound.Her mind was a tangled mess.She didn’t understand what was happening to her. A few hours ago, she had been living her normal life—working, loving Gabriel, planning for their future. But now, all she could think about was Alexander.His voice.His face.His presence.It was like an invisible thread was pulling her toward him, tightening around her chest, making it impossible to breathe unless she was closer to him.Her heart ached for him.And she had no idea why.Shaking off the confusion, s
The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting soft golden hues through the curtains of Daniela’s cozy apartment. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional chirping of birds outside. It was her day off from work, and she had planned to rest, maybe even do some cleaning, but she hadn’t expected a visitor.And certainly not him.Alexander stood at her doorstep, his usual confident smile in place, holding a neatly arranged gift bag. Daniela's brows furrowed in mild surprise. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him in weeks. She had moved on—at least, she thought she had.Still, curiosity got the better of her."What are you doing here?" she asked, crossing her arms.Alexander let out a small chuckle, his deep voice smooth. "Relax, Daniela. I just wanted to check on you. No pressure, no trouble. Just... an old friend bringing a gift."Her eyes flickered down to the bag in his hand.She hesitated.She knew Alexander too well. He was never one to do things wit
Alexander sat in his lavishly furnished bedroom, the golden chandelier above casting a dim glow over the space. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and faint traces of burning incense—remnants of the chief priest’s visit from the previous day.On the polished mahogany table in front of him lay a small, dark vial.He picked it up, rolling it between his fingers. The chief priest had promised him that this would change everything. One drop of the sacred potion, and Daniela would no longer resist him. She would no longer see Gabriel. She would no longer refuse his love."Daniela, you will be mine again. You don’t have a choice."The thought sent a wicked thrill through him.He leaned back in his leather chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. He had spent the entire night thinking about how things had spiraled out of his control.When he and Daniela were together, he had never once thought she would leave him. He had been confident—too confident—tha
The morning sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows of Alexander’s penthouse, casting long shadows across the floor. He had barely slept, his thoughts consumed by the memory of Daniela—her laughter, her sharp tongue, the way her eyes once softened when she looked at him. But that was in the past. Now, she was engaged to another man, willingly giving herself to someone who wasn’t him.That knowledge burned through his veins.No matter what, she would be his.A sharp knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts. He straightened, already knowing who it was. He strode toward the door, his heart pounding with anticipation, and pulled it open.Chief Priest Okanga stood before him, draped in a flowing red robe embroidered with ancient symbols. His presence was as commanding as ever, his dark eyes holding the wisdom of generations past. Around his neck, cowries and beads rattled softly as he stepped inside.“You summoned me, my prince,” Okanga said in his deep, measured voice.Alex