I held Arlo by the arm and looked at him. Neither of us spoke. Then my phone rang, and I quickly answered—it was Valerie. I put the call on speakerphone.
“Lily, if you violate any of my instructions, you will never see your child again,” Valerie threatened.
“Don’t worry, Valerie, my child’s life is at stake here. Just tell me where we’re meeting,” I said, my voice trembling as Arlo held my hand to reassure me.
“No unnecessary noise, so no one hears me. Tonight at 8 PM, by the seaside. If you’re late, there will be no further discussion.”
“I’ll be there before 8, Valerie.”
“Good, because I’m not someone who likes to wait.” She ended the call abruptly.
Arlo immediately began discussing plans with his friends. Dad and Philip coordinated with the police. Everyone was busy preparing for my meeting with Valerie.
Time passed quickly, and we began getting ready. They made me wear a life jacket in case something went wrong. Arlo told me that once Valerie’s yacht set off, she wouldn’t have any escape route because measures were in place to block her.
While driving to the meeting place, I prayed fervently that nothing bad would happen to my child. Arlo called me on my other phone to let me know they were always close by and tracking my location. He constantly reminded me to be careful and reassured me that we would get our child back from Valerie.
When I arrived at the meeting spot, I got out of the car with trembling knees. Fear and nervousness consumed me. The place was dark and cold, with only the sound of the waves breaking the silence.
My phone rang, and it was Valerie on the line.
“Start walking. Do you see the yacht with the lights? Go there,” Valerie ordered.
I looked around and scanned my surroundings. There was no one in sight except for the yacht. My knees shook as I began to walk, carrying the black suitcase filled with money. I had grabbed it from Dad’s hand without even checking its contents, but I knew it held a substantial amount.
“Hurry up,” Valerie commanded.
I kept walking, not stopping until Valerie told me to.
I couldn’t see Arlo or any of his companions. All I could think about were Arlo’s words of reassurance.
“Stop!” Valerie commanded sharply.
“Come out and bring my child! I’ve brought the money you wanted!” I shouted.
Valerie stepped out, laughing as she stared at the suitcase in my hand. I didn’t see my child. Her laugh echoed until another man emerged. My eyes widened in shock as I realized it was Mr. James. He stood beside Valerie, holding a gun, and handed another gun to Valerie.
I started shaking, my nerves getting the better of me. Questions flooded my mind. How were Valerie and Mr. James connected? Mr. James had been a long-time board member of the company. How had this happened?
“You’re surprised, huh? Wondering how Mr. James and I know each other?” Valerie said with a smirk, while Mr. James laughed.
Then Mr. James stepped closer. I stepped back, but he shoved me with the barrel of the gun, causing me to drop the suitcase.
He picked up the bag and tossed it in front of Valerie before grabbing my arm and dragging me onto the yacht.
“Let me go! Where’s my child, Valerie? I kept my end of the deal!” I shouted.
“What do you take me for, a fool? I’ll only release you and your child once we’re out of the country,” Valerie replied coldly.
Valerie ordered me to descend the yacht’s small staircase and pushed me into a tiny room. My head hit something hard.
“Mommy! Mommy!” I heard my child’s voice.
When I saw her, a wave of relief washed over me. I burst into tears, stood up, and rushed to my daughter, who was crying.
I hugged her tightly, kissing her head, face, nose, and hands.
“My baby girl, did they hurt you? Did they feed you? Did they give you milk?” Tears streamed down my face as I asked her questions and checked her body for bruises or injuries.
“No, Mommy. They even gave me a new toy. Valerie told me you were coming to pick me up,” my daughter replied.
I sighed in relief, grateful that they hadn’t scared her.
“We even played magic games, Mommy,” my daughter added, but our moment was interrupted when Valerie opened the door and called us.
I carried my daughter up the staircase. I hadn’t realized the yacht had already set sail until it came to a stop. Valerie ordered me to step onto a small boat.
My legs and entire body trembled. Gabriella buried her face in my neck, scared.
“Arlo, where are you?” I asked.
As my daughter and I sat in the boat, I felt an overwhelming sense of fear. I didn’t know what to do.
My daughter was crying out of fear—it was so dark, and we were in the middle of the sea. When Valerie’s yacht left, I held my daughter tightly. I couldn’t believe Valerie had abandoned us like this.
“I’m scared, Mommy,” my daughter said, tightening her hug around me.
