Chapter 3: The Man Who Stole My Children
For three months, I had dreamed about seeing Daniel again.
In my dreams, he would walk through the door.
He would apologize.
He would tell me he had survived somehow.
He would explain everything.
But the man standing in front of me was not the husband I remembered.
The Daniel I loved had warm eyes.
This man looked like a stranger wearing his face.
“Where are my sons?”” I asked.
My voice barely sounded like mine.
Daniel looked at Matteo.
Then at the baby in his arms.
“So that’s her.””
Matteo stepped forward.
“Choose your next words carefully.””
Daniel smiled.
“Still protecting everyone, Matteo?””
I looked between them.
“You know each other?””
Neither answered.
That scared me more than anything.
Daniel walked farther into the cabin.
“I never wanted you involved, Elena.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You never wanted me involved?””
My hands shook.
“You let me bury my children.””
His expression changed slightly.
“They weren’t safe with you.””
The words cut deeper than any weapon.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked away.
“The people who wanted them dead were watching the hospital.””
I froze.
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
Matteo did.
“Your organization.””
Daniel smiled.
“Finally understanding?””
I looked at Matteo.
“No.””
Matteo’s face remained unreadable.
“I didn’t know.””
Daniel laughed.
“That’s the problem with powerful men. They think they control everything.””
He reached into his coat.
My body froze.
But instead of a weapon, he pulled out a small envelope.
He threw it toward me.
Inside were medical records.
My sons’ names.
Their birth dates.
Their hospital numbers.
Alive.
My fingers trembled.
“Where are they?””
Daniel stared at me.
“I can take you to them.””
I stepped forward.
“Then take me.””
Matteo grabbed my shoulder.
“No.””
I turned angrily.
“They’re my children!””
“And he brought you onto a plane full of armed men,” Matteo said.
“You think that was kindness?””
Daniel smiled.
“See? He already thinks he owns you.””
Matteo’s grip tightened.
“Leave.””
Daniel ignored him.
“Elena, you need to understand something.””
He looked at my sons’ records.
“They were never supposed to be separated from you.””
“Then why did you let me suffer?””
For the first time, his face cracked.
“I was trying to protect them.””
“No,” I whispered.
“You were protecting yourself.””
The cabin went silent.
Then Daniel’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then slowly looked at me.
“He found them.””
My blood turned cold.
“Who?””
Daniel lowered the phone.
“The man who started all of this.””
Matteo immediately reached for his weapon.
“Name.””
Daniel looked at him.
Then said something that made every person in the room freeze.
“The man who ordered your daughter’s kidnapping.””
Matteo’s face changed.
“My daughter?””
Daniel nodded.
“He needed Elena because her milk was the only thing that could keep her alive.””
I stared at him.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel looked at the sleeping baby.
Then back at me.
“The person behind this planned everything.””
A guard rushed into the cabin.
“Boss!””
Matteo turned.
“What happened?””
The guard held up a phone.
“We tracked the message.””
Matteo took it.
His eyes moved across the screen.
Then he looked at me.
“Elena…”
I knew from his face.
Something was wrong.
“What?””
He handed me the phone.
On the screen was a live security image.
A warehouse.
Two small cribs.
Two baby boys.
My sons.
May you like
And standing beside them was the one person I never expected to see.
My own mother.
