EVA'S POV
"You want me to go WITH you to your mother's house?" I stare at Adrian like he's lost his mind. "The woman who framed me? Who knew I was pregnant and had me arrested anyway? THAT woman?"
"Yes." Adrian's jaw is set. "Because if she's involved in Bella's kidnapping, you deserve to look her in the eye. And if she's not, we need whatever information she has."
"This is insane!"
"Everything about this is insane!" Adrian runs his hands through his hair. "But we're running out of time. Bella's out there somewhere, scared and alone. My mother says she knows who took her. Whether she's lying or not, we have to find out."
Nadia steps between us. "This is a trap. Obviously a trap."
"Probably," Adrian agrees. "But what choice do we have?"
My phone buzzes. Another message from the unknown number: Four hours left, Evangeline. The plane better be warming up.
I stare at the message. Then at Adrian. Then at the photo of my baby tied to a chair.
"Fine," I say. "We go together. But I'm bringing security."
"No security. My mother said alone."
"Your mother also said YOU alone. We're already breaking her rules." I call my head of security. "Meet me in the garage. Full team. Weapons. Now."
Ten minutes later, we're in my bulletproof SUV. Adrian sits beside me in the back. Nadia's in the front with the driver. Three more security vehicles follow us.
The drive to the Thorne estate takes thirty minutes in traffic. Every second feels like an hour. I keep checking my phone. No new messages about Bella. No calls from the kidnappers.
Just silence.
"Tell me about her," Adrian says quietly.
"What?"
"Bella. Tell me about her. Please."
I should say no. Should tell him he doesn't deserve to know. But talking about Bella makes her feel closer. Makes her feel real instead of just... gone.
"She speaks French and English," I say softly. "She wants to be a ballerina. She's obsessed with stories about princesses and dragons. She hates vegetables but loves chocolate. She..." My voice breaks. "She asks about her father sometimes. Asks why she doesn't have a daddy like her friends."
Adrian's face crumples. "What do you tell her?"
"That her daddy lives far away. That he doesn't know about her. That it's complicated." I wipe my eyes. "I never told her the truth. That her father threw her mother away like garbage."
"Eva—"
"She deserves better than you. Better than both of us, probably. But she's mine, and I'll die before I let anyone hurt her."
The SUV pulls through massive iron gates. The Thorne estate spreads before us—a white mansion that looks like something from a movie. I've been here before. Five years ago, for family dinners and charity events. Back when I thought I'd be part of this family someday.
Now I'm returning as an enemy.
Security guards stand at the entrance. They look confused seeing our convoy.
"Mr. Thorne," one says. "Your mother said you'd be alone."
"Plans changed." Adrian gets out. "We're going in."
"Sir, I have orders—"
"I don't care about your orders. My daughter's been kidnapped. My mother claims to have information. We're going in whether you like it or not."
The guards look at each other. Finally step aside.
We walk through the front doors. I remember this entrance hall. Crystal chandelier. Marble floors. Oil paintings of Thorne ancestors looking down with judgmental eyes.
"This way," Adrian says, leading us toward his mother's study.
But when we reach the door, it's already open.
Victoria Thorne sits behind her desk, calm as ice. She's older than I remember. More lines around her mouth. But her eyes are still cold, calculating.
"Adrian," she says smoothly. "And Evangeline. What a surprise."
"Cut the crap, Mother. Where's Bella?"
Victoria's eyebrow raises. "Bella? Is that the child's name? How... quaint."
I lunge forward. Adrian catches me. "Where is she? What did you do?"
"I did nothing. But I know who did." Victoria stands, walks to a cabinet, pours herself a drink. "Would you like to know who's been terrorizing you? Who took your daughter?"
"Tell us!" Adrian demands.
"First, we negotiate." Victoria sips her drink. "You want information? I want something in return."
"You're negotiating while my daughter is in danger?" I can't believe this. "What kind of monster are you?"
"The kind who protects her family." Victoria's smile is ice. "Even from themselves. Adrian, you've been destroying Thorne Global. Selling assets. Firing family members. All for this woman who's using you—"
"Using me?" Adrian laughs bitterly. "She's using me because I destroyed her first! Everything she's doing, I deserve!"
"You were protecting the company—"
"I was being a coward!" Adrian slams his hand on the desk. "You framed an innocent woman! You knew she was pregnant and you had her arrested anyway! You ruined her life!"
Victoria doesn't flinch. "I did what was necessary. She was beneath you. Beneath this family."
"She was the love of my life!"
"And now she has a child. Your child. My grandchild." Victoria's eyes gleam. "Which is why I'm willing to help you find her."
"In exchange for what?" I ask coldly.
"In exchange for you leaving Adrian alone. Forever. Take your daughter and disappear. Go back to Europe or wherever you've been hiding. Leave New York. Leave my son."
"No!" Adrian moves to stand beside me. "That's not happening."
"Then I can't help you find Bella." Victoria shrugs. "Your choice."
My phone buzzes. A video message from the unknown number.
My hands shake as I open it.
The video shows Bella in that same concrete room. Still tied up. Still crying. But now someone's in the room with her. A figure in a black mask.
They walk toward Bella slowly.
"Maman!" Bella's voice is muffled by the tape. "Maman, help me!"
The masked figure reaches for her—
The video cuts off.
I scream. Actually scream. Adrian grabs me before I collapse.
"You see?" Victoria says calmly. "Time is running out. Make your choice, Evangeline. Your revenge or your daughter. You can't have both."
Adrian's phone buzzes. He pulls it out. Reads something. His face goes white.
"What?" I ask. "What is it?"
Adrian shows me his screen. A message from James: Found something in the background of Bella's video. The concrete wall has a company logo partially visible. Thorne Global subsidiary. Aurora Shipping. The warehouse your mother owns.
I look at Victoria. She's still smiling. Still sipping her drink.
"You," I whisper. "You have her. You took my daughter."
Victoria's smile widens. "Wrong, dear. But you're getting warmer."
Then the study door slams open.
Marcus Thorne walks in. And in his arms, squirming and crying, is Bella.