The following afternoon, Lucas drove to the workplace of Mrs. Ning's husband, following the address she had given him. He intended to confront the man directly, to gauge the truth of the situation.
But when he arrived, he was met with unease. Mr. Lin's co-workers told him that earlier in the day, Lin had stormed out of the office in a state of agitation. His face had been pale, his eyes burning with an intensity that unsettled even the people used to his temper.
"Something's wrong with him," one whispered. "He looked… desperate."
Lucas felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't answer their questions about who he was or why he had come. Instead, he hurried back to his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly as a thought consumed him.
I need to get to Mrs. Ning's house. If my instincts are right… he'll go there.
At that very moment, the doorbell rang at Mrs. Ning's apartment.
She had been sitting at the dining table, her laptop open, working remotely while her daughter was still out. Without suspicion, she rose and answered the door.
The moment the lock clicked, the door burst inward with a violent shove. The force sent Mrs. Ning stumbling backward, her cry echoing through the hall.
And there he was.
Her husband. Mr. Lin.
Her face went pale, blood draining from her features. "Y-you!? Why are you here? What do you want? You already took so much money from me days ago!"
Mr. Lin's eyes were wild, his expression twisted by rage and something darker. He didn't waste time with explanations. Instead, his voice boomed, "Where is our daughter?"
Mrs. Ning's chest tightened. "Why should I tell you? Leave right now!"
He stepped closer, his rage palpable. "Tell me where she is! I spoke to a client today—if I sell her, I'll get a fortune!"
Mrs. Ning's eyes widened in horror. "How dare you!?" Her voice shook, filled with both fury and disgust. "Do you even hear yourself? That child is mine—I raised her. You're not fit to call yourself a father, and you've never been a husband. You'll never know where she is."
Mr. Lin's nostrils flared, his expression twisting further. "What did you just say to me? You think you can defy me, you filthy woman!?"
Fear crawled up her spine, but Mrs. Ning stood her ground. Her voice cracked as she shouted, "Get out of here! I'll transfer money to your account—just don't come near us again. Don't you dare disturb me or my daughter!"
Her words only seemed to ignite his fury. In an instant, he lunged forward, his hand tangling into her hair. With terrifying strength, he slammed her head against the wall. The sound of impact rang through the apartment as Mrs. Ning screamed, her vision blurring.
In desperation, she shoved him back with all her strength, stumbling toward her room in a frantic attempt to escape. But before she could reach the door, Lin's hand shot out, seizing her ankle.
"Where the hell do you think you're going!?" he roared, yanking her to the ground with a sickening thud.
Her body hit the floor hard. Pain exploded across her side as she struggled, panic rising like a tide. She clawed at the floor, trying to pull herself free, but Lin's grip tightened like a vice, dragging her back toward him.
And in that moment—before her scream could leave her lips—Mrs. Ning realized she was alone.
And the monster was here.
To be Continued.....