Two days had passed since the conversation with Greyson. The air still felt heavy with memories, but Elina chose to focus on what truly mattered now: her son, Auren.
The afternoon sun poured through the windows, and for the first time in weeks, Elina felt almost normal. She had dropped Auren off at Liam's place, where he played with the little boy, his laughter filling the room. She kissed his forehead, promising she'd be back soon.
"I'll be right back, my love," she whispered, a calm smile on her lips.
Liam looked up at her, a gentle but worried smile tugging at his lips.
"Be careful. I know it's just a quick errand… but…"
Elina shook her head, laughing softly.
"There's nothing to worry about. I'm just getting a few things for Auren. Nothing dramatic, I promise."
Liam nodded but his heart didn't settle.
"Okay… but if something happens, I want one message. One single alert, and I'll come looking for you immediately."
She smiled, confident.
And with that, she left the house, leaving behind the warmth of a safe home and the temporary security of Liam with their son.
Traffic was surprisingly smooth that afternoon. The blue sky and warm sunlight seemed like something out of a postcard. Elina felt light, almost forgetting the chaos of the last months. The contracts, the betrayals, Greyson… all felt distant, almost unreal.
She drove toward the specialty store to buy the last few items for Auren: a hypoallergenic blanket, a few educational toys, and a crib mobile. Simple things, but to her, essential.
She never imagined that danger was already lurking in the shadows, hidden behind the city streets. She was alone, but she felt safe—or at least, she thought she was.
As she drove, thoughts of Greyson flickered through her mind. She remembered their conversation in the garden, the documents he had given her. He had chosen to trust her, to give her the key to undo the past. And now, he was waiting somewhere, patient and silent.
She shook her head, a sad smile on her lips.
"I need to think about Auren… not Greyson," she murmured.
That's when a black van appeared behind her, silent and menacing. She glanced in the rearview mirror, thinking it was just a tailgating driver. But the vehicle followed too closely, its headlights extinguished, sending a chill down her spine.
"This doesn't feel right," she thought.
Moments later, as she turned into a narrow street toward a parking lot, the van blocked her path. Before she could react, two men appeared. Masked, imposing, silent.
"Get in," one of them commanded, his voice calm but firm.
Elina stepped back instinctively, her heart racing.
"What? No! Let me go!" she screamed, panic surging through her.
There was no room for argument. One of the men grabbed her, holding her firmly but without harming her. She struggled for a moment, but fear and shock paralyzed her. She was forced into the back of the van, the door snapping shut behind her.
Inside, it was dark and silent. Adrenaline spiked through her veins, but an odd clarity emerged: she had to stay focused to survive and protect her son.
Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Liam felt a shiver run down his spine. He was alone with Auren, but something immediately seemed off. Elina's car hadn't returned as expected. He called his security network.
A feed appeared on the screens: the black van, blocking her path, Elina being pulled inside. Time seemed to freeze for Liam.
"No… no, no…" he muttered. He knew every second now mattered.
Inside the van, Elina recovered from her initial shock. Her instincts kicked in. She scanned every detail: the seats, the sliding door, the hands that had grabbed her. She needed to remain in control, even in this moment of fear.
"Stay calm, Elina," she told herself. "Breathe. Observe. You can handle this. Protect Auren… and come back."
She began noticing small details: an exposed wire along the side, a phone in the corner… every detail might help her escape or send a signal if the chance came.
Outside, Liam mobilized his trusted team: security experts, former Greyson collaborators, private detectives. Everyone went into maximum alert.
"She's our priority," Liam said, his voice icy. "I want everything—vehicle, route, everything. No delays."
Every second mattered. Auren was safe, but Elina had to come back unharmed.
The van eventually stopped in front of an isolated warehouse. The men pushed her inside. Her legs felt weak for a moment, but she quickly regained control. The warehouse was silent, but the air was thick with menace.
She drew a deep breath and whispered,
"Breathe… think… protect Auren, and you'll get out."