Kamille's POV

After the meal, we prepared to leave. I'd barely finished eating, but Belle, being a doctor, quickly prepared something else for me to eat before we departed.

"Are you alright?" Amanda asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied.

I nodded, but I was far from alright. My heart pounded erratically; my mind raced with the possible outcomes of Zeke's trip to the abandoned warehouse.

Belle joined us, and we got into Amanda's car. Zeke's security personnel were behind us, with some ahead. The sun was setting; soon it would be dark. I silently prayed everything would be over by morning.

We arrived at my apartment building. The sight of it brought tears to my eyes. I stumbled from the car, up the steps, my heart pounding, silent tears streaming down my face. Amanda unlocked the door, and we went inside. Outside, we saw the security personnel park and set up a watch.

"Kamille, are you sure you're alright?" Belle asked, her voice trembling.

I collapsed into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "They have my kids, Belle. They've been kidnapped. I don't know what to do."

Belle held me close, her own eyes filling with tears. Amanda came to my side and patted my back.

"It's going to be okay, Kamille," Amanda whispered, stroking my hair. "We'll find them. I promise."

Amanda gently guided me to the couch. I sank into the cushions, my body shaking with sobs. Belle sat beside me, holding my hand, while Amanda fetched a glass of lemon water.

"Here, drink this," she said softly, pressing the glass into my hands. "It will help calm you down."

I took a few sips, my hands trembling. The water was cool and soothing, but it did little to ease the pain.

My phone buzzed. I snatched it up, hoping for news from Zeke. Instead, it was a text from an unknown number:

You should not have come here. Leave Luxstorg and never return. Your kids will be at the airport. Or you die and they will die with you.

Attached was another photo of my children, this time lying in sickbeds, with oxygen masks on. My heart shattered again.

I gasped for breath, feeling like I was losing my mind. Desperation clawed at me. I clutched my phone, my knuckles white.

"Kamille, what's wrong?" Belle asked, coming to me.

I showed her the message, my hands shaking. "What will they do to my kids?" I cried.

Belle's eyes widened in shock. "Kamille, don't worry; we'll get this sorted out."

Amanda, furious, saw the message. "Who the fuck do they think they are? I'll make sure their faces are exposed and they trend on every blog for a year!"

Normally, I would have laughed at such a comment, but all I felt was pain.

Belle's expression turned serious. "We need to call Zeke. He needs to know about this."

"Don't. Please. He's done enough," I pleaded. "Let him be."

"Then what do we do?" Belle asked.

"Let's just wait for Zeke to return," I said.

They looked at me in surprise. I didn't know what else to say. I was already hurting, and Zeke was already doing so much. I needed to be strong to get my kids back safe.

"Then we should get some rest," Belle suggested.

"Yes, we should," I agreed, and walked slowly to my room.

I stopped at the boys' room. It was quiet—no boys, no scattered toys, no nanny Dona yelling at them or coaxing them to tidy up. I went to their closet and started packing their clothes into a bag.

"What are you doing?" Belle asked from the doorway.

I sniffed back tears and turned to her. "I'm just organizing their clothes. I don't want them to be bothered with scattered clothes when they return."

"Oh, Kam," Belle cried, hurrying to hug me.

Amanda walked in and sighed. "You need to be strong, Kam. We'll get through this stronger."

"Can we get through it faster first?" I cried.

They consoled me until we were all exhausted. Finally, we went to our rooms. I decided to stay in Tyris's room.

As I lay on the bed, clutching the big teddy bear Zeke had gotten for her, my phone buzzed again. Another text, from another unknown number:

Everything or your kids. Make a choice. Time is running out. If you choose your kids, meet me by ten p.m. I’ll send you the location when you’re ready.

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I felt like I was hanging on the edge of a cliff. My children's lives were in my hands, and I had no idea what to do.

"I can't do this," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I can't lose them."

"I should have never come back," I muttered, my voice breaking. "I should have stayed hidden. This is all my fault."

I thought of how to help my kids. I had no choice. I had to go see them. If Ellen was behind this, as we suspected, I'd leave everything behind for her, then leave with my kids.

I checked the time—it was about nine p.m. If I was going to meet them, I had to leave soon. I looked outside and saw Zeke's security clustered around the house. I had to find a way to sneak past them. Then an idea struck me. I sprang up and went to my room.

Hang on, babies, Mother's coming for you.