Chapter 2

With a face like thunder, Ethan stormed into the old manor.

He searched every single room, but there was no sign of me.

The video of Mia tied to the chair, struggling weakly, kept replaying in his mind.

Furious, Ethan snatched a priceless porcelain vase nearby and smashed it onto the floor, sending shards flying everywhere.

He roared.

"Chloe! Where are you hiding Mia?!"

"If you don't show yourself right now, you can rot out there! You'll never set foot in this family again!"

Ethan continued to scream threats.

But I couldn't answer.

I was in the clutches of the kidnappers.

My hands and feet were bound, my mouth taped shut. I couldn't move, let alone make a sound.

Just yesterday, a gang of thugs had broken into the manor to drag me away.

I fought with everything I had, only to be brutally beaten.

They beat me until blood filled my mouth. Lightheaded and dizzy, I blacked out.

They dragged me out, threw me into the trunk of their car, and sped away.

There was still blood pooled on the living room carpet. If Ethan had paid any attention, he would have realized something terrible had happened to me.

But he didn't.

Ethan kept searching the house, finding nothing.

His frustration was boiling over.

Suddenly, he heard a faint rustle coming from the bedroom closet. Thinking it was me, he yanked the door open.

Instead, he found my frail son, dressed in faded, oversized clothes, trembling inside the closet.

Seeing him, Ethan's face showed no warmth—only deep disgust.

"Where is your bitch of a mother? Tell her to get out here!"

My son had watched the kidnappers drag me away with his own eyes.

His world was already locked away, and the trauma of that day had completely paralyzed him.

His eyes were lifeless as he stared at the floor in silence, devoid of any childlike innocence.

His silence only deepened Ethan's irritation.

"I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?!"

Ethan yelled, shoving my son's head, but still got no response.

His expression darkened as he violently dragged Leo out of the closet.

Leo's knees slammed hard against the floor. The sharp pain made him curl into a ball, whimpering softly.

Ethan sneered.

"Oh, so you can make noise. I thought that bitch gave birth to a mute!"

My son's voice trembled as he squeezed out a few words.

"Mommy... got taken..."

Ethan froze for a second, then let out a cold laugh.

"Chloe really is something, teaching even her little bastard how to act! Hasn't she had enough of these pathetic games over the years?"

"Tell me where she is right now! I don't have time to waste on you!"

Helplessness filled Leo's eyes. He looked up at Ethan, hesitating before gathering the courage to speak.

"Uncle Ethan, are you here to take me home?"

Two years ago, Mia had slipped poison into the food of Leo's beloved cat.

That kitten was his only comfort in his silent world.

But that day, the kitten had writhed in pain right in his arms.

He had watched his only friend take its last breath.

His world shattered completely.

Already suffering from autism, he shut himself away even deeper.

When I found out, I pushed Mia in a fit of rage, and she fell.

Unfortunately, Ethan walked in at that exact moment.

Without letting me say a word, he banished me and Leo to this abandoned old manor to "reflect on our sins."

For two whole years, Ethan never showed his face.

Now, looking at the boy's desperate eyes, a flicker of guilt finally crossed Ethan's face.

He slowly knelt down, his expression softening slightly as his voice dropped.

"Leo, if you just tell your mom to let Aunt Mia go, I'll take you home, okay?"

At the mention of Mia, Leo's face went completely pale, drained of what little color it had.

He pushed Ethan away violently, his voice shrill with terror.

"No! She's a monster! She took Mommy!"

"Uncle Ethan, please save Mommy!"

Smack! A sharp slap landed on Leo's cheek.

The blow sent his fragile body spinning, and he crashed hard onto the floor again.

His scraped knees began to bleed, leaving a bright red stain.

Ethan showed no mercy.

His face contorted with fury.

"Is this what Chloe taught you? You're just like her—wild, classless, and willing to do anything to get what you want!"

Leo tried desperately to hold back his tears, but a sob escaped his throat.

"You're all bad people! I don't want to go with you!"

"Go away! You took Mommy! I'm calling the police to lock you all up!"

He shoved Ethan with all his remaining strength.

Ethan's face turned livid. He grabbed Leo's wrists in a death grip.

"Mia is sweet and innocent. She would never kidnap your wicked mother! How long are you two going to keep up this act?"

"Chloe, you don't want to show yourself, do you? You think faking Mia's kidnapping will threaten me? Fine!"

"Don't you love your son more than life itself? I'll give you twenty-four hours. If Mia isn't back by tomorrow, don't blame me for taking your son!"

"You know what happens to people who cross me. Let's see how long you can keep this up!"

With a look of pure disgust, Ethan glared at Leo one last time, turned on his heel, and slammed the door shut.

The moment the door banged shut, Leo finally broke down.

His tiny body shook as he curled into a tight ball, tears streaming down his face.

He sobbed, his voice cracking with absolute despair.

"Mommy, I'm sorry... I'm so useless. Why won't they believe me?"

"Mommy, what should I do..."