"Because..." Anastasia hesitated, her gaze fixed on Alexander. Her apprehension was evident.

"I don't care what they told you, but think about it. You can't hide it now that I know. It doesn't matter whether or not you tell me," Alexander said patiently. "Don't you trust me? Don't you trust Lily?"

He appealed to her emotions. While Anastasia might not fully trust him, her faith in Lily was absolute. Alexander felt they would have easily resolved this if Lily were present; Anastasia would have confided in her and sought her advice. Lily possessed a unique charisma that inspired unwavering trust, a quality he lacked. But Lily was currently unavailable, a fact that weighed heavily on Alexander.

"Lily..." Anastasia's eyes flickered at the mention of her name.

Frowning, Anastasia produced her phone, scrolled through it, and handed it to Alexander. The video displayed a blindfolded person—Cameron. Despite the blindfold, his identity was unmistakable to those who knew him. His hands were tied behind his back; he sat motionless in a chair, his head drooping, seemingly asleep.

The video was brief and unremarkable, save for Cameron's presence. After watching it twice, Alexander looked up at Anastasia. "So, it's because of this video?"

"That's Dad. Can't you recognize him?" Anastasia asked, her eyes wide.

"I know. But Cameron didn't say anything. Are you sure this isn't an imposter?" Alexander analyzed. "And besides this video, they haven't contacted you otherwise. How do you know your father is truly with them? If he is, why aren't they letting you report it to the police or tell anyone? They're actively concealing it. What's their motive?"

Anastasia was speechless. She had only seen the video and reacted impulsively, sleep-deprived and overwhelmed. Alexander's words brought clarity.

"Are you saying that's not my father? Then...where is he? There's no news, and he's not answering his phone," Anastasia asked, bewildered. "If it's not Dad, what are they trying to do?"

Alexander remained silent, pondering the same question. After a moment, he asked, "Is there anything else?"

Anastasia shook her head.

"Oh, right. They said Dad would be home safely in three days if I didn't call the police. Otherwise..." She looked nervous. "Alex, will they find out I told you? Will Dad be in danger?"

Alexander finally understood her anxiety, her attempts to conceal things. She had been threatened.