Chapter 2 - The Morning the House Became Empty
Nate returned to the Blackwood estate at 7:12 the next morning.
He expected to find Hannah asleep upstairs.
He expected the staff to tell him whether the baby had arrived.
He expected to walk into a hospital room and hear his son crying.
Instead, the house was silent.
Too silent.
He walked through the front doors.
“Where is my wife?”
The head housekeeper stared at him.
“Mr. Blackwood…”
“Where is Hannah?”
“She hasn't returned.”
Nate frowned.
He checked his phone.
No messages.
He called the hospital.
The receptionist told him Hannah had been transferred.
He demanded details.
No one could explain where she had gone.
Nate's blood ran cold.
He drove to the hospital himself.
The room was empty.
The bassinet was gone.
The nurse who had cared for Hannah overnight had vanished.
Nate walked to the bedside.
Then he saw it.
Her wedding ring.
Sitting alone on the table.
Next to it was the note.
He read it.
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
Don't look for us because you are afraid of losing us.
Nate crushed the paper.
He called her.
The number had been disconnected.
His breathing became shallow.
“Find her.”
His security team moved immediately.
Phones.
Cameras.
Hospitals.
Airports.
Private clinics.
Nothing.
No trace.
Then Nate's security chief entered.
“We found the hospital footage.”
“Show me.”
They watched.
Nate saw Hannah being moved through a service corridor.
He saw Walter.
His father.
Nate stood frozen.
“Why was my father there?”
No one answered.
Then another image appeared.
Three men entering the hospital.
All wearing uniforms.
Nate recognized one.
Julian Cross.
His father's oldest adviser.
His stomach turned.
“Get Julian.”
They called him.
No answer.
Nate's anger became something darker.
He returned home.
Celeste was already there.
She had been waiting.
“Where is Hannah?”
She froze.
“I don't know.”
“You were with me last night.”
“Yes.”
“You knew she called.”
“I saw the calls.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Celeste looked away.
“She would've survived.”
Nate stared.
“What?”
“I thought you would go back to her.”
“You thought I wouldn't?”
“She always had you.”
The sentence sounded rehearsed.
Nate looked closely at her.
For the first time, he noticed something.
A scratch on her wrist.
He grabbed it.
“Where did you get that?”
She pulled away.
“Let go.”
His eyes hardened.
“Who were you talking to last night?”
“No one.”
He released her.
Then called his security chief.
“Search her phone.”
Celeste went pale.
“That's private.”
Nate looked at her.
“Nothing about my wife and child is private anymore.”
Her phone was taken.
Within minutes, investigators found a hidden messaging application.
There were dozens of messages.
Most were deleted.
One remained.
Is the husband still with you?
Celeste had answered:
Yes. His phone is off. The wife is alone.
Nate stopped breathing.
He read the next message.
Send the room number.
Then:
Before sunrise, the mother and child will be gone forever.
He looked at Celeste.
“What did you do?”
She started crying.
“I didn't know they were going to kill her.”
“Who?”
“I was told it was only to make her disappear.”
“Who?”
She whispered one name.
“Margaret.”
Nate stared.
His aunt.
A woman who had helped raise him.
A woman who had attended his wedding.
A woman who had held Hannah's hands when she announced the pregnancy.
His phone rang.
Walter.
Nate answered.
“Where is my wife?”
Walter's voice came through cold and controlled.
“She is alive.”
Nate closed his eyes.
“And my son?”
“Alive.”
“Where are they?”
“I won't tell you.”
“Dad.”
“You chose Celeste.”
Nate went silent.
Walter continued.
“You chose her while your wife was giving birth.”
Nate's shame became anger.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand exactly.”
“Where is Hannah?”
“Safe.”
“I want to speak to her.”
“You have not earned that privilege.”
Nate's jaw tightened.
“I am her husband.”
“You were.”
The call ended.
Nate stared at his phone.
For the first time in his life, he felt completely powerless.
He turned toward Celeste.
“Call Margaret.”
She refused.
Nate looked at her.
“Call her.”
Celeste obeyed.
Margaret answered.
“What happened?”
Nate took the phone.
“Where is Hannah?”
Silence.
“Margaret.”
“You should never have married her.”
Nate froze.
“Why?”
“She was always going to destroy this family.”
“No.”
“She made you weak.”
“Where is my son?”
Margaret hung up.
Nate turned to his security chief.
“Find her.”
The search began.
At the same time, Hannah opened her eyes inside a safe house outside Chicago.
Her son slept beside her.
She touched his cheek.
Walter sat across the room.
“I need to know everything.”
“About what?”
“Who wanted my baby?”
Walter hesitated.
“People who want control of Blackwood Holdings.”
“Why?”
“Because the company is changing hands.”
“What does that mean?”
Walter looked toward the sleeping child.
“Your son was born to inherit a war.”
Hannah frowned.
“My son is a newborn.”
“Exactly.”
She felt cold.
“What are you not telling me?”
Walter placed a folder in front of her.
Inside were financial records.
Property transfers.
Offshore accounts.
And one name.
Julian Cross.
Hannah stared.
“I thought Julian was loyal.”
“He was loyal to your husband’s father.”
“And now?”
“He is loyal to whoever pays him.”
She closed the folder.
“Then why help me?”
Walter's expression changed.
“Because your mother saved my life twenty years ago.”
Hannah stared.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“And you owe her.”
“I owe her everything.”
Walter stood.
“Your mother once told me that if anything ever happened to her daughter, I was to protect you.”
Hannah began crying.
No one had ever told her.
Her mother had died believing Nate would protect her.
Now she understood that perhaps her mother had known better.
Walter walked toward the window.
“Nate will come.”
Hannah looked at him.
“I know.”
“Do you want him to?”
She looked down at her son.
“I don't know.”
That was the truth.
Because the woman who had loved Nate enough to wait for him had already died the night her baby was born.
May you like
What remained was a mother.
And a mother had different priorities.
