CHAPTER 5 – The Kidnapper's Message Wasn't About Money... It Was About Revenge
Clara dropped to her knees.
"No... Noah!"
The tiny toy car slipped from her shaking hands as she read the note again.
"Come alone."
The words echoed in her mind like a death sentence.
Victoria immediately barked orders.
"Seal every exit!"
"Lock down the estate!"
"Find my nephew!"
Dozens of security officers sprinted through the ballroom while police officers blocked every road leading away from the venue.
Amelia rushed to Clara's side.
"We'll find him."
But Clara was already running.
"Noah is terrified of the dark," she cried. "If he's awake, he'll be calling for me."
Meanwhile...
Miles away...
Inside an abandoned lakeside warehouse...
Little Noah slowly opened his eyes.
His hands weren't tied.
The room wasn't dirty.
There was even a blanket covering him.
Confused, he looked around.
An elderly man sat quietly near the window.
Gray hair.
Elegant black suit.
Perfect posture.
He wasn't wearing a mask.
He simply smiled.
"Good afternoon, young man."
Noah held his toy car tightly.
"My mommy says I shouldn't talk to strangers."
The old man chuckled.
"Your mother used to say the same thing."
Noah frowned.
"You know my mommy?"
"I've known her longer than she knows herself."
Back at the wedding...
Police traced the note.
Nothing.
No fingerprints.
No DNA.
The paper had been professionally cleaned.
Victoria slammed her fist onto the table.
"This wasn't a random kidnapping."
"This was planned."
Just then, Ethan—still sitting in handcuffs inside a police vehicle—asked to speak.
"I know who's behind this."
Everyone turned toward him.
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"If this is another lie..."
Ethan interrupted.
"It's Richard Ashford."
Silence.
Victoria's face lost all color.
"No..."
Amelia looked confused.
"Who's Richard?"
Victoria whispered,
"My uncle."
"The man who took control of our family's empire after Clara disappeared."
"He inherited everything because everyone believed my sister had died."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"He came to me months ago."
"He offered to erase all my debts if I married Amelia and distracted your family while he searched for Clara."
Clara stared at Ethan in horror.
"You knew?"
Tears filled Ethan's eyes.
"I thought he only wanted documents."
"I swear I never knew he planned to take Noah."
Victoria closed her eyes.
"It all makes sense."
"If Clara is alive..."
"Then Richard loses everything."
At that exact moment, every phone in the ballroom vibrated.
One new video.
Unknown sender.
Victoria opened it.
The screen showed Noah sitting safely beside the elderly man.
The boy wasn't crying.
He was smiling.
The old man gently poured him a glass of milk before looking directly into the camera.
"My dear Victoria..."
"You've been searching for your sister for twelve years."
"But you've forgotten one important detail."
He smiled calmly.
"I raised her."
Clara froze.
Her breathing stopped.
The old man continued,
"She doesn't belong to the Ashford family anymore."
"She belongs to me."
The video suddenly ended.
A new text appeared beneath it.
"If you want Clara... come to the place where the fire started twelve years ago."
Clara stared at the message in disbelief.
Then, for the first time in her life...
A forgotten memory flashed through her mind.
Smoke.
Flames.
A little silver teddy bear.
And a man carrying her away while whispering,
"From today on... I'm your father."
Clara slowly covered her mouth.
"Oh my God..."
"I know who took my son."
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END OF CHAPTER 5...
To Be Continued... Clara's lost memories are finally returning, and the man everyone believes is the kidnapper may have been the one who saved her life twelve years ago.
