My knees gave way as tears flooded my vision. Somewhere deep inside, I knew—it wasn’t her. It couldn’t be. She was safe. But I let myself fall apart anyway. I let the hysteria consume me. I wanted him to see it. I wanted guilt to pierce that stone heart of his.
Aldrin swore under his breath and unfolded the note attached to the package. His jaw tightened as he read aloud:
One hundred million. Final warning. Or the child dies.
His phone chimed. A video began to play.
Sienna’s face filled the screen. Bound. Crying. Calling for me in her small, broken voice. A masked man growled, “Pay—or we cut more.”
My legs shook as I reached for the phone, but Aldrin yanked it away.
Then—he sighed.
“As expected,” he muttered. “Another trick of yours. Just admit it, Amara. You’re behind this. These men are working for you.”
I stared at him, stunned. “Are you out of your mind? You think I’d harm my own child?”
Bianca’s voice slipped in sweetly, poisoned. “Well… didn’t you say once that your family needed money? Maybe your father planned this. And you’re helping him.”
My body went cold.
My father. The name they always used to stab me.