Chapter_29
Chapter 29
“Abel, I was having nightmares. I saw Timmy being killed in my dreams. I’m beyond terrified; can you hold me to sleep, please?” Alana’s voice was shaky, but there was something unsettlingly calculated in her words.
“I don’t have that kind of sleeping habit,” Abel replied coolly, his patience wearing thin. He pushed her away gently but firmly before making his way to the study.
As Abel locked himself in the study, Alana sat back in the dark, a wicked smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. Hmph, I won’t let you off easily, Abel. Not after everything that’s happened.
In the study, Abel immediately grabbed his phone and dialed Luca.
“How’s the investigation going? Any new leads?” Abel asked, his voice sharp with urgency.
“We’re still looking into it, Mr. Ryker. But it seems someone else is also investigating the situation,” Luca responded.
“Someone else?” Abel frowned. “What do you mean?”
“There’s someone else looking for Timothy. They’re not working with us, but they are searching for him.”
Abel’s brow furrowed. “Are they on our side?”
“Yes, they should be. They’re not our enemies, Mr. Ryker,” Luca confirmed.
Abel exhaled slowly, trying to process the new information. “Well, at all costs, find Timothy as soon as possible. And be careful—don’t alert the kidnappers.”
“Understood, Mr. Ryker.”
The next day, Emmeline arrived at the Ryker Mansion. She wasn’t expecting a warm reception, but nothing could have prepared her for the venomous look Alana gave her as she walked through the door.
“Emmeline, you’re here to laugh at me, aren’t you?” Alana’s eyes were red, a clear sign that she had been crying—or at least pretending to.
“I’m not here to laugh at you, Alana. I’m just as worried about Timothy as you are,” Emmeline said, her voice calm, though her heart pounded in her chest.
Alana shook her head vehemently. “I don’t believe you. You’re a wicked woman! You must be the one who kidnapped Timmy to get married to Mr. Ryker! Isn’t that right?”
Emmeline’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? That’s nonsense! You better watch what you say!”
“I can’t think of anyone else who could’ve taken him! You must be the culprit!” Alana yelled, her accusations growing more wild.
“Alana Lane!” Emmeline hissed, her patience wearing thin.
But before anything could escalate, Abel stepped into the room, his expression unreadable. “Enough, Alana!” he commanded, his voice firm. “You’ve got it all wrong. Ms. Louise wouldn’t have done it.”
“But I don’t want to see her! Please, ask her to leave right now!” Alana flung herself toward Abel, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.
Abel looked at Emmeline with mixed emotions, frustration and guilt swirling in his chest. “I’m sorry, Emmeline,” he said quietly, his voice strained. “I think it’s better if you go for now.”
Emmeline’s heart sank, but she nodded. “It’s fine, Abel. I understand,” she replied, forcing a weak smile before quickly turning to leave.
As she walked out, Alana’s triumphant smirk was all she could see, and it cut her deeper than she expected.
Once outside, Emmeline’s phone rang. It was Benjamin.
“Ms. Louise, we’ve gotten a lead.”
Emmeline’s pulse quickened. “What is it?”
“There’s a small wooden house on an abandoned pier. Someone heard a child’s cries there,” Benjamin said.
Emmeline felt a flicker of hope. “Send this information to Mr. Campbell, and tell him to send a team to investigate. I need them to check that location immediately.”
“Understood,” Benjamin replied, and Emmeline could hear the faint rustling of papers as he jotted down the details.
Emmeline closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to hope. Please let Timothy be there. He has to be okay. Her heart ached as she thought of him—she couldn’t bear the thought of him being hurt.
If it weren’t for me, Emmeline thought bitterly, Abel would have been with Timothy yesterday. He should’ve been there. I should’ve been there with them.
As night fell, everyone at the Ryker mansion anxiously awaited the kidnappers’ next move, hoping for any kind of communication. But the phone remained eerily silent.
Alana, however, wasn’t about to sit idly by. She stood up, trying to keep her composure. “Everyone, let’s stay calm. The kidnappers told us to wait three days, so we need to be patient. Getting frantic won’t help,” she said, trying to take control of the situation.
“Alana, you’re right,” Rosaline said, her voice tight with worry. “I still can’t calm myself down, though.”
“It wouldn’t do any good to panic,” Alana continued. “Abel, am I right?” She turned to him, expecting him to agree.
Abel remained silent, his jaw clenched. The tension in the room was palpable. His frustration was reaching a boiling point, but he knew he couldn’t risk making a rash move—not when Timothy’s safety was at stake.
“Alana’s right,” Abel finally muttered. “We have no choice but to wait. We don’t want to make the kidnappers angry.”
A sense of helplessness filled the room. It was maddening. He couldn’t just sit back and do nothing, but the kidnappers had made it clear that they would only make their demands known in three days. There was nothing else to do but wait.
“Why don’t you get some rest, Abel?” Alana suggested, her voice deceptively soothing. “Even if you just close your eyes for a while. It will help.”
“Yes, Abel, please try to get some sleep,” Rosaline agreed. “It’s been a long day. We all need some rest.”
Abel knew they were right. He’d be no good to Timothy if he wore himself out. But the thought of leaving the house, of stepping away from the phone, made him uneasy.
“I’ll rest for a while,” he muttered, though he didn’t feel like sleeping at all. He stood and walked slowly to his room, his mind still racing with worry and rage.
As Abel closed the door behind him, Alana’s smirk returned. This is it. The chance I’ve been waiting for. You won’t be able to escape me, Abel.
In her mind, the plan was already set in motion. Now, she just had to be patient.
