Chapter <b>474 </b>
Once everything was in ce, the man stood up and tossed Megan a knife. His voice
was cold and emotionless.
“You can call Sebastian and Caitlin now. Lure them over here. As long as they give in, your son lives.”
Megan nodded eagerly.
“Okay, okay. I know what to do.”
The man walked off down the stairs, disappearing into the shadows. It was clear he was handing over control of the situation to Megan now.
Megan had already gone all–in. If it meant saving her son, she was willing to risk everything. She took out her phone, ready to call Caitlin and tell her: her daughter was in her hands.
If they didn’t bring her son out, she wouldn’t give Patricia back. Simple as that.
“Imani… Imani…”
Patricia cried helplessly, looking at the woman she believed had always cared for her.
Why would Imani lie to her?
Hadn’t she always been kind?
Megan’s patience was long gone.
“Stop crying! I’m not your precious Imani!”
She ripped off the white wig and peeled away the fake skin mask from her face.
“You’re not… you’re not Imani…”
Patricia gasped, tears falling in sobs as she realized–this wasn’t her nanny. This was aplete stranger.
“Hmph. Little fool. This is what happens when you’re too trusting.”
Megan jabbed her finger into Patricia’s forehead.
“If you want to me someone, me your mother. She’s the real monster. A heartless woman. You got that?”
“My mommy’s not a bad person… you are…
..you’re the bad one…”
Patricia sobbed out a protest. But all it earned her was a harsh p.
“Aah… uhh…”
Her cries grew louder, red fingerprints blooming across her pale cheeks.
And that wasn’t the end of it.
“You better behave. Or you’re in for a whole lot worse.”
Megan tore off a strip of ck duct tape and sealed Patricia’s mouth. Finally, the room was quiet.
She pulled out her phone–previously powered off–and turned it back on. Scrolling through <i>the </i>contacts, she found Caitlin’s number and
In the speeding car, Caitlin had already called Megan several times, but her phone had been off.
<b>1/4 </b>
<b>Now</b><b>, </b>unexpectedly, it lit <b>up </b><b>with </b>an <b>iing </b>call,
“It’s Megan!”
<b>“</b>Answer it!” Zinnia urged<b>, </b>her voice tense.
Caitlin took a breath, forcing herself to stay calm as she picked up.
“Megan? is my daughter with you?”
“That’s right. She’s with me. You want her back? Get my son out. Do that, and I’ll tell you where your daughter is.”
So it really was about her son. Caitlin gritted her teeth. Megan had gonepletely insane.
They had already pinpointed Megan’s location. She didn’t need to tell them anything–they were on their way to the abandoned site now.
But Caitlin knew she had to keep her talking.
“How do I even know you’re telling the truth? I haven’t heard my daughter’s voice. For all I know, she’s not with you at all.”
“Fine. I’ll let you hear her.”
Megan tore the duct tape from Patricia’s mouth.
“Mommy… mommy…” Patricia sobbed, her voice hoarse and full of fear.
Hearing her daughter’s voice, Caitlin’s heart felt like it was being crushed. Tears rolled uncontrobly down her cheeks.
“Patricia! Don’t be scared. Mommy’sing. I’m on my way!”
Megan pped the tape back over the child’s mouth.
“Now do you believe me?”
“Megan! I’m warning you–if youy a single finger on her, I’ll make sure you never see the light of day again.”
“You want your daughter? I want my son! No son, no daughter–simple as that.”
Megan had nothing left to lose. Caitlin had no choice but to y along.
“Don’t do anything crazy. I promise you–I’ll call Felix right <i>now</i>. I’ll get them to release your son.”
“You’ve got thirty minutes. If I don’t see him by then, you can start nning your daughter’s funeral.”
She hung up.
Caitlin quickly called Sebastian.
His convoy was still racing down the road. On James’sptop, Megan’s GPS had popped up again.
“Megan’s signal is back–same location. She hasn’t moved.”
“Good. How much longer until we arrive?”
“Less than ten minutes.”
Caitlin’s call came through just then. Sebastian listened carefully, then reassured her.
“Don’t panic. We’re almost there.”
Sebastian’s <b>group </b>was pushing top speed–<b>they’d </b>reach the site ahead of Caitlin,
<b>Because </b>Patricia’s life was on the line, Caitlin contacted Félix immediately and requested that Joshua <b>be </b><b>brought </b><b>in </b>as bait to <b>buy </b>time
Felix and his task force cooperated fully. With Joshua in custody, they began transporting him to the location
Following the GPS, Sebastian and his team approached the abandoned construction site.
Tyler spotted something first.
“Mr. Vanderbilt. That’s the van.”
Everyone’s eyes locked on the ck vehicle parked ahead. If the van was still there, the girl was almost certainly inside the building.
And if they came in a van, Megan wasn’t working alone. She had help.
“Stop here.”
Sebastian ordered the convoy to halt. They parked behind the van and checked it–empty.
“They must be in that building.”
He led the team toward the unfinished structure nearby.
“Someone’s on the fifth floor!”
James had spotted a head ducking back from the edge.
Sebastian signaled, and everyone stormed up the stairs.
At the top, they saw Patricia tied to a scaffold–her small body suspended dangerously. Megan was perched nearby, seated at the edge of the tform.
“Megan! Let my daughter go!”
herseling
Sebastian’s heart nearly stopped at the sight. Patricia was dangling in mid–air, and one wrong move could send her plunging five stories down.
Megan
stood up and screamed,
“Don’t move! Any of you! One step closer, and I cut the rope!”
She held the knife to the cord tied to Patricia’s body. If anyone pushed her, she could end it all in a second.
Everyone froze.
Sebastian forced himself to stay calm and looked toward Patricia.
“Patricia, don’t be afraid. Daddy’s here. I’m going to saye
you.”
Patricia looked up with teary eyes. She couldn’t speak, but the relief on her face said everything.
Sebastian turned his icy stare on Megan.
“If you hurt her, I will make sure you pay for it with your life.”
“You forced me into this!”
Megan’s voice was hoarse with rage.
“Sebastian! Get Caitlin to release my son. If she does that, I’ll give your daughter back!”
*Tine. I’ll get your son. Just let <b>my </b>daughter go first!”
Sebastian had no choice but to stall her, giving James, Tyler, and the others time to look for another <i>way </i>to get to Patricia. <b>They </b>changed <b>i </b>nces, silently splitting up in search of a way to break through.