Chapter 8 - The Race Against TimeMarcus tore through the mansion.
Security cameras had been disabled.
Doors were locked from the outside.
The kidnappers had planned everything.
I found Lily's purple shoe near the back entrance.
Mr. Bun was gone too.
Marcus nearly lost control.
“Find her.”
Every available man moved.
Phones rang.
Cars started.
But Marcus stayed beside me.
“I'll bring her back.”
I believed him.
Because something had changed between us.
He was no longer protecting an employee's child.
He was protecting Lily.
His family.
They traced the kidnappers to an abandoned warehouse owned by one of Vanessa's father's old companies.
Marcus went inside alone.
Vanessa stood beside Lily.
The CFO held the blue file.
“You're too late,” Vanessa said.
Marcus looked at Lily.
“Let her go.”
“You don't understand,” Vanessa replied. “This company should have belonged to my family.”
“You stole from my mother.”
“I took back what was ours.”
Marcus looked at the CFO.
“You betrayed me.”
The man lowered his weapon.
“Your father betrayed everyone.”
Then Lily spoke.
“You're the mean lady.”
Vanessa stared at her.
Lily hugged Mr. Bun.
“You took Mommy's phone.”
Vanessa's expression cracked.
For the first time, the powerful woman looked afraid of a three-year-old.
Marcus noticed.
He smiled without humor.
“Lily remembers everything.”
The CFO panicked.
He reached for the file.
Marcus moved first.
The police arrived seconds later.
Vanessa was arrested.
The CFO surrendered.
And the blue file was finally safe.
May you like
But Marcus wasn't finished.
Because the last page contained one more secret.
