CHAPTER 79
LILY’S POV
The amusement park was filled with happy sounds from children laughing, parents chatting, and birds singing. It’s been a week since the two incidents that nearly took my life. The kids were on summer break, and Jane came to visit after such a long time of not being able to see us. But she came alone, leaving Christabel behind because she was taking piano lessons. As a way to unwind and let the kids have some fun after a demanding academic session, we decided to spend the afternoon at an amusement park.
Liam and Lila were playing on the swings, giggling and kicking their feet in the air as they did. I smiled seeing how happy they were before getting up and walking to a nearby ice cream cart to get some ice creams for everyone. Jane followed me and we chatted along the way. Having been apart for quite a long time, we had a lot to catch up on.
She looked chic and casual in her white summer dress and sandals, and as always, radiated a warm, graceful charm that turned heads wherever she went.
“I can’t believe all that happened to you, and I wasn’t here to support you and help you through it,” she said in a soft sympathetic tone as we joined the small line at the ice cream cart.
“You don’t have to worry,” I reassured her for the umpteenth time. Ever since I told her about the incidents, she’d been worried sick about my well-being, eating herself up. “They didn’t get to me. I’m fine and that’s all that matters.”
With Noah watching over me and the kids like a guardian angel from above, I literally had nothing to worry about. Security measures around the house have toughened up. We no longer went anywhere on our own now, Scarface and Hawkeye followed us everywhere and I was now okay with it. Their intimidating presence was enough to deter anyone with bad intentions from getting too close to us.
“And you still have no clue on who could be behind it?” She asked.
I shook my head. “Initially, I had thought it was Robert or Scarlett, but I have my doubts. Before coming to LA, I took extreme measures to make sure no one knew about my departure. If Robert was behind this, he’d probably show his face and threaten to take the kids from me. He wasn’t one to lurk around in the shadows. Scarlett, on the other hand, got what she wanted. She has no reason to keep tailing and bothering me. But investigations are ongoing. Before the end of this week, we’ll know the bastard that is behind this nightmare and put an end to it once and for all.”
“I still think it’s Scarlett,” she said with a furious expression. “She’s one heck of an unsatisfied bitch. She won’t stop until she’s eliminated you completely. If it turns out to be her, then I say we take action immediately and beat her up before getting her arrested because I’d like to get my hands on that plastic face of hers. She can’t keep doing this to you.”
I let out a sigh, resisting the urge to laugh. That was when the ice cream man called for our attention as we didn’t realize it was our turn.
“What flavour?” He asked with a warm smile.
“One Chocolate, strawberry and two vanilla,” I said with an excited smile. Jane and I will be taking vanilla. Lila loved chocolate so the chocolate flavour was for her while Liam will be taking strawberry.
“So when are you going to tell me about this Noah guy?” Jane asked, grinning like a mischievous teenager as we held the ice cream cones in our hands and made our way to the swings. “Is he hot? When do I get to meet him?”
I chuckled and was about to say something but the words knotted in my throat on realizing my kids were no longer in the swings. My brows furrowed as I glanced around, hoping to spot them around, maybe with other kids but there was no sign of them.
“Jane… where are the kids?” I asked, my breathing escaping quickly as panic began to well up in my chest.
She froze on looking towards the swings, confusion etching in her features. “They were just here when we left…”
My head spun, making it feel like I was standing on jelly as I dropped the ice cream cones I was holding without even knowing.
“Liam! Lila!!” My heart beat wildly in my chest as I shouted their names but there was no response. Where could they have gone? We weren’t gone for longer than three minutes to get the ice creams so where could they be?!
“Calm down, Lily. Maybe they’re playing hide and seek or went to pee,” Jane said, but I wasn’t paying attention.
Something was wrong. I could feel it. I have never felt this way before and it was driving me crazy. If they were going to quit using the swings or any other spot in the park to play hide and seek, then they would have told me or asked me to join like they always do. And if they went to the toilet, they should be back by now.
Jane and I looked everywhere-behind the slide, near the sandbox, under the benches and even in the toilet she suggested but they were nowhere to be found. The twins were gone.
“Liam!! Lila!!! Where are you guys?!!!” I screamed, my voice breaking into sobs as tears began to form in my eyes, blurring my vision.
Other parents and kids stopped to watch. Some came around asking for Liam and Lila’s description so they could help look around in search of them while the others comforted me along with Jane. But they weren’t making me feel better. I’ll only feel better when I have my kids here with me.
Scarface and Hawkeyes rushed into the scene. “What’s the problem, ma’am?” They asked with a mix of alarm and intense curiosity laced in their tone. “Why are you crying?”
They had come with us to the park earlier, but after Jane complained about their stern expressions and intimidating presence making her feel uneasy, I decided to give them a break. Since Jane and I were keeping an eye on the kids, I figured we didn’t need them hovering nearby. Besides, their presence had made some of the other children hesitant to approach and play with the twins, which I didn’t want.
“The kids…I can’t find them anywhere…” I said through laboured breath, trying hard to hold back my tears but they kept streaming down effortlessly as if released from a tap. “Please help me find them…”
They moved out swiftly, searching every nook and cranny of the park and beyond. But they came back minutes later without any sign of the kids.
I grabbed my phone with shaky hands and dialled the first person that came to mind, Noah. He picked in the first ring.
“What’s up, Lily?”
“Noah…” I said with a trembling voice, clutching the phone as if it were my only lifeline. “The kids…”
“What happened with the kids?” I could hear him adjusting in the background, alarm steadily building up in his tone.
“They’re missing…I think they might been kidnapped.”