It had been two long weeks, and Tania was growing more frantic by the day. Her mind made her desperate to find Ella. Every night, she had nightmares of Ella standing over her, ready to exact revenge for the life that had been stolen from her. But no matter how hard she searched, Ella and the boys were nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Fabian and Crystal had been scouring the city, trying to trace any clue that might lead them to Ella. Crystal, the silent and deadly assassin who had often worked alongside Fabian, was as skilled as she was ruthless. Her icy demeanor masked the relentless pursuit beneath. She had worked under Tania’s command for years, and now, with Ella on the run, she was determined to finish the job that had once been left undone.
But Fabian was different. Despite his criminal past, his heart had softened when it came to Ella. His search for her wasn’t fueled by malice but by something far more complex-a deep-seated desire to protect her. Yet, his loyalty to Tania kept pulling him back into the shadows.
Fabian and Crystal raided Ella’s old apartment. Everything was gone, the space eerily empty, save for a few scattered personal items. Crystal’s eyes narrowed as she examined the room.
“She’s smarter than we thought,” Crystal said, her voice cold as she ran a gloved finger along the edge of a window.
“Smarter and more desperate,” Fabian murmured. His eyes lingered on a photo of Ella with the twins, a pang of regret tugging at him. “I just need to know she’s safe.”
Crystal shot him a sharp look, her brow arching in suspicion. “We’re not here to save her, Fabian. We’re here to finish the job.”
Fabian turned away, his jaw tightening. He knew what was expected of him, but he also knew he was losing his grip on the cold-hearted killer he had once been. “Let’s just focus on finding her,” he muttered.
Across town, Ella sat in the dimly lit kitchen of their hideout, her phone buzzing beside her. A text message from Derek flashed on the screen:
“Tania’s growing desperate. She’s looking for you with Fabian and Crystal. You need to be careful Crystal’s an assassin, and she won’t stop until she finds you. They raided your old apartment. Stay hidden. I’ll keep you updated.”
Ella’s stomach clenched as she read the message. She had known Fabian was still working for Tania, but this Crystal is a new game she did not expect. She couldn’t stay in hiding much longer. Tania’s reach was spreading, and it was only a matter of time before they caught up to her.
Her eyes drifted to the boys, who were fast asleep in the other room. She had promised them safety, but the walls were closing in. She needed to take action and soon.
Meanwhile, Ethan sat in his office, staring at the empty space where a family photo once hung on his wall. For two weeks, he hadn’t seen Ella or the twins. He had searched for her, made countless phone calls, but it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Victor, his lawyer and old family friend, walked in, holding a thick folder in his hands.
“Victor,” Ethan greeted, standing up. “Any news?”
Victor nodded solemnly and handed Ethan the file. “I’ve drawn up the custody papers for Leo and Liam, as well as Grace. I know you’ve been struggling with what’s happening, but this is something we need to address.”
Ethan opened the file and stared down at the documents, his heart heavy. Grace wasn’t his biological daughter, but he had raised her. And Leo and Liam… they were his blood, but they had been kept from him.
“I haven’t seen them in weeks, Victor,” Ethan said, his voice filled with frustration. “I don’t even know where Ella is. How can I sign custody papers when I don’t know if they’re safe?”
Victor placed a reassuring hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “You’re their father. This is about protecting your rights as much as it is about protecting them. We need to prepare, Ethan. Whatever happens with Tania… you need to be ready.”
Ethan closed the file, his mind racing. He didn’t want a legal battle with Ella, but he also couldn’t sit back while she disappeared with their children. There was too much at stake.
“I’ll think about it,” Ethan said, though his mind was already made up. He needed to find Ella and soon.