Warning

Thomas sat on the hospital bed, his mind racing as he contemplated a strategy to counter Michael's looming threat. He understood that he couldn't afford to let Michael win, no matter the cost. He had decided to reveal everything to his family in the morning when they returned to visit him. However, the weight of his revelation was becoming unbearable, and he began to question if he should have waited.

...

Lilian was always the first to wake, her years of working part-time jobs and night shifts had given her an irregular sleep pattern. She moved to the kitchen to prepare breakfast after freshening up. Amber and Cole soon emerged from their rooms, dressed in matching workout clothes. Cole had insisted on these outfits, and although Lilian couldn't join them in their morning jog, she encouraged their enthusiasm.

"Be safe," she called out as they grabbed their water bottles and headed out the door.

"Good morning," she heard Caleb's voice as he entered the kitchen, approaching her from behind. Caleb had startled her once by hugging her unexpectedly while she was frying food. Her instinctual reaction had been to move the pan defensively, which had led to a near accident. Chuckling, Caleb had called her "Rapunzel."

Morning," she replied with a smile. "How was your night?"

"Great, and yours?"

"It was fine. Can you help me set the table?"

"Of course," Caleb said, going to the dining area.

"Will Amber and Cole be long?"

"No, they won't. It's just their morning jog. They should be back before you leave for work. They're excited to visit Dad today, so they decided to skip the gym."

Lilian hadn't yet told Caleb about the conversation she had with her father. She wanted to hear the full story first before sharing it with him. As they worked together to set the table and have breakfast, Caleb remained unaware of the looming darkness.

However, Caleb's comforting presence couldn't prevent the mounting anxiety that gripped Lilian as time passed without Amber and Cole's return. She had contemplated searching for them, but her tracker would alert the police if she left the house without Caleb and a police officer accompanying her. She couldn't afford to act recklessly; actions had consequences.

As hours ticked by, Caleb shared her growing concern. He could see the anxiety in her eyes and wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine.

Caleb paced anxiously, his worry growing with each passing moment as Amber and Cole failed to return home. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Finally, unable to bear the suspense any longer, he turned to Lilian.

"How about I go look for them? I'll find out what's holding them up," Caleb suggested, his voice trembling slightly with concern.

Lilian, her fear gnawing at her, nodded in agreement. She knew there was little else she could do while waiting helplessly at home. Caleb swiftly left the house, his steps heavy with unease, while Lilian remained behind, her anxiety spiraling into sheer panic.

Two agonizing hours dragged by. For Lilian, they felt like an eternity. Each ticking second was laden with the fear of the unknown, imagining the worst scenarios that could be unfolding for her beloved sister and nephew. She was paralyzed by fear and helpless despair.

When Caleb returned, his expression spoke volumes before he uttered a word. He entered the house, his shoulders slumped, his face a reflection of anguish. The weight of his silence was unbearable, and Lilian's heart pounded in her chest as she waited for the dreaded news.

"Someone took them," Caleb's voice was heavy with sorrow, his words slicing through the room like a blade. "They were taken while they were running in the park. The people who witnessed it called the police, and the commissioner was involved. They're doing everything they can to find them."

Lilian felt as though a sledgehammer had struck her. Her legs gave way beneath her, and she crumbled to the floor, her world collapsing around her. Her sobs racked her body as she imagined the horrors her sister and nephew might be enduring, far from the safety of their home. Caleb rushed to her side, his arms enveloping her in a comforting embrace, but the pain in his own eyes was evident.

"It will be fine," Caleb murmured, his voice trembling with determination. "All the forces have been mobilized, and the city is on lockdown. Nothing is coming in or going out. We'll find them, Lilian and those criminals won't get away with it."

But as she clung to Caleb, Lilian couldn't help but envision the worst, her mind haunted by gruesome possibilities. The waiting was torture, and all she could do was pray for her sister and son's safe return

By afternoon, they received a call from the commissioner, summoning them to his office immediately. Anxious and fearful, they made their way to the police station.

Inside the commissioner's office, the tension was palpable. Lilian couldn't hide her desperation and cut straight to the point, demanding answers. She couldn't sit still with the uncertainty surrounding Amber and Cole.

"Have you found them?" she asked urgently.

The commissioner, a calm and seasoned officer, tried to maintain control of the situation. "No, ma'am. Please, have a seat."

"How can I sit down when you haven't found them? Why did you call us here?" Lilian's voice quivered with anxiety.

Caleb moved closer to her, gently placing his arms around her shoulders, providing a sense of stability. "Let me handle this," he whispered.

"Please continue, Commissioner," Caleb requested, keeping a reassuring hand on Lilian's arm.

"We haven't located them yet, but we did find this," the commissioner said, revealing a bag that contained the matching jackets Amber and Cole had worn that morning.

Lilian's heart sank as she gazed at the contents of the bag. Tears welled up in her eyes. "We had believed they were kidnappers or traffickers. But the letter inside the bag indicates this was an act of vengeance against both your families."

Lilian and Caleb opened the letter with trembling hands, the words inside filled them with dread.

"Hey, the newest future couple in town, you know I don't have anything against you two, and those little cuties you borrowed for a while are safe. I'll return them soon. My friend always said I had terrible manners, and he was right. I should have asked you nicely, but I was impatient. You see, this is a family feud from your parents' generation, but now it's your turn to inherit it. I know the sins of the father shouldn't be paid for by the children, but it's always best when the children suffer for the father's sins. So, expect to have these little cuties back by evening. I wasn't going to harm them. I'm just going to introduce myself as a granduncle from the father's side of the family. Tata, see ya. P.S. Tell your dad, Lilian, that my first gift will be soon. Love from Mickey."

Lilian and Caleb exchanged worried glances. Caleb's uncle, who had passed away a year before his father took control of the Lane family, had returned from the dead with a vengeance.

...

At the Lane mansion, a grand room's door swung open, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the opulent space. However, the room's occupants displayed no fear of the newcomer's presence. Mrs. Aurora turned to face the man who had entered.

"Son," she greeted, her smile unwavering.

"Hello, Mother," the man replied, his demeanor seemingly relaxed.