He laughed, low and cruel. “You’re so desperate you’d exploit your own child’s fear. Even if those so-called kidnappers kill him, it means nothing to me. He isn’t my blood.”
The door opened.
“Daddy!”
Asher’s voice rang out—bright, cheerful, wrong. He ran inside clutching a toy car, tugging on Dominic’s sleeve.
“Can we go now?” he asked happily. “You promised the amusement park!”
The contrast was sickening.
I lay crumpled on the floor, my son’s screams still echoing in my ears, while this child smiled without a care in the world.
Something inside me broke completely.
I crawled forward and collapsed against Dominic’s legs, gripping him like a drowning woman.
“Please,” I whispered, tears soaking his trousers. “Please, Dominic. Let her unfreeze the account. I’ll do anything. I’ll sign the divorce papers. I’ll vanish. Just save Ethan. He’s only a boy. He’s—he’s ours.”
“I never froze anything,” Marina said softly. “Maybe she drained it herself. Maybe this whole thing is just another act.”
“Stop pretending you’re innocent!” I screamed.
Asher frowned at me suddenly. “Who’s she?” he complained. “She’s annoying me, Dad.”
Dominic’s expression softened instantly—but only for him.