Emma's POV I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered inside me. Esmeralda's words kept echoing in my mind, "You're so perfect, Emma... But perfection is boring. And you're so... replaceable.” I remembered her threat when I mistakenly clashed with her in the Corridor. I knew I had to make a choice, but my heart was torn. I couldn't bear the thought of hurting Gabe, but I couldn't deny my feelings for Angelo either.As I lay in bed, I realized that I couldn't choose between them. I couldn't break anyone's heart, not now, not ever.So, I made up my mind. I would leave. I would leave this place, these people, and these complicated emotions behind.I would go to Chicago, to search for my children. I had to find them, had to know they were safe.And then, I remembered what my friend had told me about a mage, a powerful being who could help me locate my children.I had to try, had to visit the mage. It was my only hope, my only option.I packed my bags, my heart heavy with s
Gabe's POVI walked quietly beside Emma, leading her to her room. She was lost in thought, her mind consumed by the journey ahead. I couldn't blame her. I was nervous too.Once we reached her door, I turned to her and whispered, "Get some rest, Emma. We leave early tomorrow." I kissed her forehead lightly. She nodded, her eyes barely meeting mine. I could sense the tension between us, but I knew it wasn't the time to address it.I waited until she was inside her room before I made my way to Carly's room. My sister was sitting on her bed, reading a book."Hey, sis," I said, closing the door behind me.Carly looked up, a curious expression on her face. "What's up, Gabe?"I took a deep breath, knowing I had to be careful. "I'm leaving tomorrow, Carly. I'm going to Chicago very early."Carly's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?"I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'll tell you everything when I get back, I promise. But I need you to keep this a secret for now. I don't want Esmer
Emma's POV As I settled into the hotel room, my mind raced with thoughts of my children's safety. The flight to New Orleans had been a blur, my anxiety spiking with every passing minute. All I wanted was to ensure their wellbeing, free from Angelo's manipulation or any other external influence. But, to my dismay, Gabe had insisted on accompanying me, citing his concern for my safety.I couldn't help but feel frustrated by his stubbornness. Can't he see I just want to protect my children? I thought, trying to calm my racing thoughts."Get some rest, Emma," Gabe said, breaking the silence. "We have an early start tomorrow. We need to see the mage as soon as possible."I nodded, trying to hide my irritation. "Yes, because we're leaving very early. The earlier, the better," I replied, my voice laced with a hint of resignation.As I lay on the bed, my thoughts drifted back to my children. My babies, I hope they're okay... I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, the uncertainty of what
Emma's POV As we stepped into the mage's house, I was immediately enveloped in a thick, acrid smell of black dust. Steam wafted from various tubes and contraptions scattered around the room, creating an eerie atmosphere. Gabe's grip on my hand tightened, his overprotective nature surfacing once again. I wanted to roll my eyes, but the mage's presence commanded my attention."Welcome to my territory," the mage said, her words dripping with a lovely, exotic accent. Each syllable was enunciated with precision, making her speech sound almost musical. "What can I do for you?"Her gaze locked onto mine, piercing and intense. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I explained our situation, trying to keep my voice steady. "My children are missing. I need your help to track them down."The mage's expression remained unreadable, but her eyes sparkled with interest. She nodded slowly, her dark hair bobbing with the motion. "I sense a great disturbance in the energy surrounding your children. It
Emma's POVAs we stepped into the warehouse, a chill ran down my spine. I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been building up inside me. I knew the mage's words were always laced with truth, but what if... just what if he was wrong this time? What if we were walking into a trap, or worse, what if we were too late?The thought of the triplets, innocent and helpless, sent a wave of fear crashing over me. What if we didn't make it in time? What if they were already... gone? The mere thought made my heart skip a beat. I couldn't bear the idea of living with the guilt of not being able to save them.I felt a gentle squeeze on my hand, and I turned to see Gabe offering me a reassuring smile. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a small sense of calm wash over me. But it was short-lived, as the creaking of the old warehouse door and the faint rustling of unknown noises sent my anxiety soaring again."Let me go get Alex from the other side," Gabe said, his voice low and steady,
Gabe's POV I rushed through the warehouse, my heart racing with adrenaline. We had found Emma's kids, but now we had to find the person who had taken them. I could feel my anger burning inside me, fueling my determination to bring this person to justice."April, keep watch!" I called out, as I turned a corner. She nodded, her eyes scanning the area, her gun at the ready.Augustine was searching every nook and cranny, his face set in a fierce expression. "I've got something!" he called out, as he disappeared into a side room.I followed him, my gun drawn. We had to be careful, we didn't know what we were up against.As we searched, I couldn't help but think of Emma and her kids. They had been through so much, and now we had to make sure they were safe."Found something!" Augustine called out again, as he emerged from the room. He held up a small piece of fabric. "This was caught in a nail. It looks like our guy was in a hurry."I took the fabric, examining it. It was a piece of a blac
Emma's POV I stared at the tied figure on the wooden chair, my eyes fixed on the person who had betrayed me in the worst possible way. Disappointment was etched on my face, my expression a mixture of shock and disgust. Every atom of love and trust I had once felt for this person had been replaced with disappointment, anger, and a deep sense of hurt.As I looked at them, I couldn't help but think about how they had deceived me, how they had manipulated me and used me for their own twisted purposes. My mind was racing with questions, with thoughts of how and why they had done what they did.But most of all, I felt a deep sense of sadness. Sadness that someone I had cared about could do something so heinous, so cruel. Sadness that my trust had been broken, and that my children had been put in harm's way.I took a step forward, my eyes locked on the figure in the chair. "Why?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "How could you do this to me, to my children?” I felt like I had been pun
Emma's POVIn blind fury, I remembered everything I went through. The masked men who came to attack me, the terror I felt as I fought for my life. The endless days and nights I spent searching for my kids, my heart heavy with worry and fear. The sleepless nights, the tears, the desperation.It all came flooding back, and with it, a wave of anger and hatred towards Angelo. I remembered the feeling of helplessness, of being at the mercy of my attackers. I remembered the pain, the fear, the uncertainty.And now, I realized that Angelo was behind it all. He was the mastermind, the one who had orchestrated my suffering. The one who had taken my children, who had threatened to hurt them.My vision blurred, my mind consumed by rage and fury. I took a step forward, my hands clenched into fists. "You," I spat, my voice low and venomous. "You did this to me. You took my children, you hurt me, you destroyed my life."Angelo smiled, but I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. He knew he had unleashe