The next morning, Elian finally returned home.
He was exhausted after staying late at work, but the moment he reached the front door, something caught his attention.
There was blood on the door.
Elian froze.
His exhaustion disappeared instantly.
"Grandma…"
He pushed the door open and rushed inside.
"Grandma Anna!"
No answer.
He ran through the living room, then upstairs.
"Grandma!"
He checked her bedroom.
Empty.
He checked the bathroom.
Empty.
Every room was empty.
Elian's breathing became heavy.
"Where is she?"
He immediately pulled out his phone and called his men.
The call connected.
"Sir?"
"Where is my grandmother?"
There was silence on the other end.
"What do you mean, sir?"
"I came home and found blood on the front door. She's gone!"
His voice was filled with anger.
His men quickly began checking around the property, but none of them could explain what had happened.
"We don't know, sir. Everything was normal when we left."
"You were supposed to protect this house!"
"Yes, sir, but we didn't see anyone come in or leave."
Elian clenched his jaw.
"So you have no idea where she is?"
"No, sir."
One of the men suddenly spoke.
"Sir…"
Elian turned toward him.
"What?"
"Maybe we should check the security cameras."
Elian immediately nodded.
"The cameras. Check everything."
"Yes, sir."
They hurried toward the security system.
Elian followed, his face tense.
"If someone came here last night, I want to know exactly who."
One of his men began reviewing the footage from the previous night.
Elian stood behind him, watching the screen.
Then the footage reached the moment Mrs. Anna opened the door.
Elian's expression changed.
"Stop."
The video froze.
He stared at the screen.
His grandmother was standing at the doorway.
Then a figure appeared.
Elian's fists tightened.
"Play it."
The footage continued.
And what Elian saw next made his blood run cold.
The footage continued playing.
Everyone in the room watched in silence as the masked figures entered the house.
Their clothes were completely black. Caps covered their heads, and face masks concealed their identities.
Elian's eyes narrowed.
"Can you zoom in?"
One of his men enlarged the footage.
The image became grainy, but they could still see one of the men bending down and lifting Mrs. Anna.
Then Elian noticed something.
A watch.
It was visible on the man's wrist for only a few seconds.
Elian stared at it.
His expression changed instantly.
He knew that watch.
He knew exactly who wore it.
One of his men turned toward him.
"Sir, can you identify him?"
Elian didn't answer.
His jaw tightened as anger burned in his eyes.
He turned around and walked out of the room.
"Sir?"
Elian continued walking.
He didn't say a word.
He grabbed his car keys, stormed outside, and got into his car.
The engine roared to life.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
There was only one thought in his mind.
Nicklaus.
Elian had seen that watch countless times before.
There was no way he could mistake it.
He stepped on the accelerator and drove straight toward the Haynes residence.
Meanwhile, at the Haynes house, Nicklaus was inside, completely unaware that Elian had already discovered the first clue.
And he had no idea that Elian was coming for him.
Elian's car came to a sudden stop outside the Haynes residence.
He barely gave himself time to get out before storming toward the front door.
He pushed it open so forcefully that everyone inside turned toward the entrance.
Nicklaus was just coming downstairs.
In the living room, Nicholas and Jennie were sitting with Cherry, looking through some documents. Nicholas had been explaining something to Cherry when the commotion made them all look up.
"Elian?" Cherry said in surprise.
Elian didn't answer.
He didn't even look at them.
His eyes were fixed on Nicklaus.
Nicklaus stopped halfway down the stairs.
"What are you doing here?"
Elian crossed the room in seconds.
He grabbed Nicklaus by the shirt.
"You!"
Before Nicklaus could react, Elian punched him hard.
Nicklaus stumbled backward and fell, rolling down several steps before hitting the floor.
"Nicklaus!" Jennie screamed.
Nicholas immediately stood up.
"Elian, stop!"
But Elian was already moving.
He lunged toward Nicklaus and pinned him to the floor.
"You took my grandmother!"
Nicklaus struggled beneath him.
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Don't lie to me!"
Elian struck him again.
Nicklaus tried to shield his face with his arms as Elian continued confronting him.
"You think I don't know?"
Elian grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer.
"I saw the cameras."
Nicklaus froze.
Elian's eyes burned with fury.
"I saw the watch on your wrist."
Nicklaus's expression changed.
Cherry covered her mouth in shock.
Nicholas stared at his son.
"What did you do, Nicklaus?"
Nicklaus didn't answer.
Elian pushed himself to his feet, breathing heavily.
"Where is my grandmother?"
Nicklaus remained on the floor, stunned.
Elian stepped toward him again.
"Tell me where she is."
"Elian!" Nicholas stepped between them. "Enough!"
Elian turned sharply toward him.
"Your son took my grandmother!"
Nicholas looked at Nicklaus, his expression filled with disbelief.
"Nicklaus…"
Jennie was already crying.
"Tell us the truth."
Nicklaus looked away.
Elian's fists clenched.
"I swear, if anything has happened to her…"
His voice broke with anger.
"I'm going to find her, no matter what it takes."
Nicklaus slowly pushed himself up, wiping at the corner of his mouth.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, glaring at Elian. "You're going insane."
Elian's expression hardened.
"What did you just say?"
"I said I don't know anything about your grandmother!" Nicklaus snapped. "You're going completely nut—"
He didn't get to finish.
Elian's anger exploded.
He grabbed an object from nearby and struck Nicklaus with it.
"ELIAN!" Jennie screamed.
Nicklaus staggered and fell heavily to the floor.
Elian stepped toward him, still furious.
"You think I'm going to believe you after what I saw?"
Nicklaus tried to move away, but Elian kicked him in the stomach.
Nicklaus doubled over, coughing violently as he struggled to breathe. A trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Nicholas rushed forward.
"That's enough!"
He grabbed Elian by the arm and pulled him back.
"Elian, stop!"
"Let go of me!" Elian shouted, struggling against him.
Jennie stood frozen, tears streaming down her face.
"Nicklaus…"
She looked at her son in disbelief.
"What have you done?"
Nicklaus continued coughing as he held his stomach.
"I... didn't…"
Elian glared at him.
"Where is my grandmother?"
Nicklaus refused to answer.
Elian tried to move toward him again, but Nicholas held him firmly.
"Tell me where she is!" Elian shouted.
The entire room fell silent.
Then Cherry stepped forward, her voice trembling.
"Elian…"
He looked at her.
"Please."
Her eyes were filled with tears.
"Let's find Grandma Anna. We need to know where she is."
Elian's breathing remained heavy, but he finally stopped struggling.
His eyes never left Nicklaus.
"I'll find her."
His voice was cold.
"And when I do, you'll have nowhere left to hide."
Elian angrily pulled his arm free from Nicholas.
"Elian, wait!" Nicholas called after him.
But Elian wasn't listening.
"Please, Elian, let's talk about this," Jennie pleaded.
He didn't even turn around.
His grandmother was missing, and all he could think about was finding her.
He stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind him.
Cherry watched him leave, tears filling her eyes.
Nicholas slowly turned back toward Nicklaus.
His expression changed completely.
"Nicklaus."
Nicklaus remained on the floor, still recovering from the beating.
Nicholas walked toward him.
"Where is Mrs. Anna?"
"I don't know."
"Don't lie to me."
"Dad, I'm telling you the truth. I have nothing to do with her disappearance."
Nicholas stared at him.
"Elian saw your watch in the security footage."
Nicklaus's eyes flickered for a moment.
"I don't know how that happened."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes!"
Nicklaus pushed himself up slowly.
"I didn't take her. I don't know where she is."
Jennie stepped closer, her voice trembling.
"Nicklaus, please. If you know anything, tell us."
"I don't!" he insisted.
Nicholas's eyes narrowed.
"Then explain why your watch was visible when Mrs. Anna was being taken from her house."
Nicklaus fell silent.
He couldn't find an answer quickly enough.
Nicholas stared at him, suspicion growing in his eyes.
"I'm giving you one chance to tell me the truth."
Nicklaus shook his head.
"I swear, I had nothing to do with Mrs. Anna's disappearance."
Nicholas didn't respond.
For the first time, he wasn't looking at Nicklaus like a father defending his son.
He was looking at him like a man who was beginning to suspect his son was hiding something terrible.
Nicklaus watched the front door after Elian had left.
His jaw tightened.
"Damn Elian…"
Despite the pain in his stomach, anger burned hotter than anything else.
He cursed under his breath, blaming Elian for everything that had happened.
"He thinks he can just come here and attack me whenever he wants."
Nicholas stared at him.
"Enough."
Nicklaus ignored him.
He slowly got to his feet, still holding his stomach.
Jennie watched him with disappointment.
"Nicklaus…"
He didn't answer her.
He simply turned and walked upstairs, leaving his parents standing in the living room.
Once he reached the top of the stairs, his expression changed.
The anger remained, but underneath it was fear.
Elian had seen the watch.
If the security footage was clear enough, they might eventually discover the truth.
Nicklaus hurried into his room and shut the door behind him.
He pulled out his phone and immediately called Cindy.
She answered after a few rings.
"What happened?"
"Elian knows," Nicklaus said quietly.
Cindy went silent.
"What do you mean?"
"He saw the cameras."
Her breathing changed.
"Did he see your face?"
"No. But he recognized my watch."
Cindy cursed under her breath.
"Then we need to be careful."
Nicklaus sat on the edge of his bed.
"My father is already suspicious."
Cindy was quiet for a moment.
Then she said, "We need to make sure Anna never gets the chance to tell them anything."
Nicklaus stared at the floor.
"I know."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"We have to find her before Elian does."