For two weeks Serena fed Clara a steady stream of updates: the times Amara left the house, when she went for walks in the garden, the days she had visitors. Every small movement was reported, annotated and crosschecked. But Amara stayed mostly indoors under Damian Knight's watchful care, and that patience-starved surveillance had frayed both women's nerves. Opportunity had been rare. Frustration had been constant. Each failed attempt made them angrier, sharper, hungrier for a breakthrough.
Then the call came.
Serena's phone buzzed on the table where she sat, miles away from the city. She lifted it to her ear and listened while the thug leader on the other end spoke in short, practiced tones. "She stepped out just now, ma'am.
Serena's mouth flattened into a smile that had nothing of kindness in it. "Kidnap her," she said, crisp and calm. "Make sure there's no trace. No witnesses that can link this back to us.
"Yes, ma'am," the leader answered. He repeated the coordinates and the car's planned arrival window, then clicked off.
Serena put the phone down slowly, watching a shadow of satisfaction cross her face. Finally, at last, the plan would move from paper to reality. Distance would be their alibi; their names would never have to be spoken.
Damian drove through the city in companionable silence, the car humming softly beneath them. Amara's hand rested on her dress, fingers tracing where life had already begun to curve beneath the fabric. The sunlight threaded through the trees and made patterns on the dashboard. Her phone chimed and she landed it in her palm with quick fingers.
"Mia?" she said when she saw the name on the screen. Her voice brightened. Am back Mia say "You're back? Just now
" Mia's warm laugh came through the speaker. "I'm starving-and I need to see you."
"I will send you my location. We're at a quiet place. Come over," Amara answered, eyes shining.
Damian glanced at her, amusement softening his face. "Abandon me for your friend, oh come on bae just for today she say hold his hand .
They reached the restaurant and sat beneath warm lights. Damian ordered something light and barely touched it; his attention belonged to Amara's laughter and the softness in her features. When he rose to leave, he kissed her forehead. "Enjoy. I'll see you soon."
"I wanted you to meet her," Amara said with a small regret in her voice.
"There is plenty of time to do that " Damian promised. " He left with one last look.
Moments later, Mia arrived at the restaurant. The moment Amara saw her, she jumped up with excitement, hugging her tightly.
"Oh my God, you're really here!" Amara exclaimed.
"Of course I am," Mia said with a grin. "I couldn't stay away too long."
They sat down and immediately launched into hours of chatter, laughter spilling out like music. Mia teased Amara about her new life, and Amara blushed, admitting shyly that she was already married to Damian.
"I can't believe it," Mia said, her eyes sparkling. "You? Married? And to Damian of all people!"
Amara laughed. "I know. Even Clara and Serena couldn't handle it. They're so embarrassed, Mia. Damian chose me over them, and they couldn't stand it."
Mia shook her head, both of them laughing again.
But what Amara didn't know was that her words were overheard.
At a nearby table, one of Serena's hired thugs sat quietly, pretending to scroll through his phone. He had been watching Amara since the moment she arrived, waiting for his signal. His ears perked up at every mention of Clara and Serena, every hint of triumph in Amara's tone.
Enjoy your laughter while you can, he thought darkly. It won't last much longer.
Hour passed, and finally, Amara's phone buzzed. She looked down to see a text message: Ma, I'm outside.
Relieved, she slipped her phone back into her purse. "Mia, let's go. Eric's here."
Mia hesitated, frowning. "Are you sure? What about Damian?"
"He's already gone back to the office," Amara explained lightly, tugging Mia's arm. "Come on, I want you to see my house. You'll love it."
Mia followed reluctantly, but as they stepped out of the restaurant, Amara's eyes caught the waiting vehicle. For a brief second, she thought the car looked different, not the one Eric usually drove. But she brushed the thought aside, too distracted by excitement.
The car doors clicked shut. Amara didn't notice the sound was sharper, colder than usual.
Settling into the seat, she quickly pulled out her phone and texted Damian: Babe, Eric has picked us up now. On my way home.
Back at the office, Damian was in the middle of a meeting with Eric. They were reviewing documents when his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and for a second, his face relaxed. But then confusion clouded his expression.
"Eric," he said slowly, showing him the screen. "Did you pick up Amara already?"
Eric blinked, startled. "No, sir. I've been here with you the whole time."
Damian's heart skipped a beat. "What?" His voice rose, urgent. "You didn't go to the restaurant?"
"No, sir," Eric said firmly. "You told me to wait here for the reports. I haven't left the building."
A chill swept over Damian. His chest tightened with dread as realization struck him like lightning. He showed Eric the message again, his hands trembling slightly. "Then who the hell picked her up?"
Eric's eyes widened. "Sir... something is wrong."
Damian didn't waste another second. He dialed Amara's number with shaking fingers, praying she would pick up.
"Damian, hi-" amara say Eric already picked us bae I texted you already,
"Amara, listen to me carefully," Damian's voice thundered through the line. "Eric is standing right in front of me. He didn't pick you up. Whoever you're with right now - it's not Eric!"
Amara froze. Her smile faded as the truth dawned on her. "What? But he texted me and
In the background, Mia's voice broke through, panicked. "Amara, is this isn't Eric! Is this isn't his car!"
Damian's heart pounded so loudly he could barely think. "Get out of the car! Amara, do you hear me? Get out!"
But before she could respond, a hand shot forward from the front seat, yanking the phone from Amara's grasp. Mia screamed, Amara cried out in shock, and the line went dead.
For a moment, silence filled Damian's office. Then, his phone slipped from his grip and clattered onto the table.
"They've taken her," he whispered, his voice laced with fury and terror.
Eric's face was pale. "What do we do, sir?"
Damian's jaw clenched as his entire body trembled with rage. His mind screamed with a single thought: Whoever dared to touch her will pay with their lives.