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Security gave chase, but the men were long gone.Joanna could only thank her lucky stars for acting on her instincts.
The boy continued to eat his meal contentedly, oblivious to the fact that he had been abandoned and had been seconds away from being kidnapped.
Joanna took a seat on the bench and waited.Soon enough, two, then three hours passed. Tired, the boy, who sat three tables from her, anxiously stared in the direction of the ice cream trucks, hoping to catch a glimpse of his sister.
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It was almost 9 p.m. when Amelia and Zaria got home, carrying shopping bags and laughing at something, to a very worried set of parents.
“Amelia, you’re back,” Olivia said, jumping to her feet. She had never been so glad to see her husband’s ex-wife. She hurried toward her, peering behind Zaria.
“Well, that’s some welcome. What’s the occasion?”
“Where is Xander?” Olivia asked when she realized he wasn’t with them.
“Xander?” Amelia asked innocently.
“Where have you two been? Where is Xander?” Martin demanded.
“Isn’t he here?”
Olivia looked at her husband as fear gripped her chest. “Amelia, this isn’t funny. Where is my son? What did you do with him?”
“Look, that son of yours said he wanted to go play at his friend’s house. I said no, he insisted and started acting like a brat. So I let him go.”
Olivia stared in disbelief, nearly fainting. Xander had no friends-his friends had long stopped coming over because of Zaria’s cruel antics. She turned to Martin, shaking her head as tears brimmed in her eyes.
“What friend did he say he was going to?”
“Honey, don’t mind her. We’ll find him,” he assured her, rubbing her arm.
“My son, Martin,” she said tearfully. He pulled her close just as the doorbell rang. Olivia broke away and rushed to the door.
Joanna stood on the other side. Disappointment washed over Olivia. She nearly buckled but gripped the doorframe for support.
“Honey, who is it?” Martin asked, joining her. “Oh, good evening. How may we help?”
“I think I have something that belongs to you,” Joanna said, stepping aside and looking over her shoulder.
Xander sat on the fountain border, fork in hand, chewing salad from a bowl. His mouth was smeared with mayonnaise.
“Son? Xander!” Martin cried and ran down the stairs to him.
Olivia straightened at the sound of her son’s voice calling to his father through a mouthful of food. She bounded down the stairs, yanking him from Martin’s embrace into a tight hug. Tears streamed down her face, soaking his shirt.
“Xander, don’t you ever do that again. You scared Mummy half to death.”
“Thank you for bringing him home,” Martin said gratefully.
“It’s nothing. By the way, the girl she was with—is she his sister?” Joanna asked.
Olivia’s reddened eyes demanded answers as Joanna recounted the events. With every word, Olivia’s anger surged. Hearing how her son had been abandoned by his own family left Olivia filled with rage, resentment, and hatred—a potent mix she’d never felt before. Her maternal instincts roared to life, fueling fierce protectiveness and deep animosity toward those who’d endangered him.
The realization that Amelia and Zaria had left her son vulnerable intensified her fury. This primal rage was both terrifying and empowering, shattering her usual composure. Her chest heaved with pent-up anger—a rare emotion for her. She despised them now, their actions crossing an unforgivable line.
As she watched Joanna and Xander, her gaze shifted to the doorway where Amelia and Zaria stood, their nonchalant expressions stoking her fury further. Martin’s touch on her wrist calmed the storm. He pulled her into his arms, offering silent reassurance.
As her anger finally receded, Olivia glanced one last time at the doorway. Amelia and Zaria showed no remorse, only cold, unsettling indifference that promised more trouble ahead.
A heavy dread filled her, but it was quickly overshadowed by a fierce determination. She would protect her family at any cost.
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The front door slammed shut with a sharp crack, rattling the frames of the family photos in the hall. Martin, his face tight with controlled fury, found Amelia in the living room, leisurely examining her reflection in the darkened television screen.
“Amelia!” he growled, the word ripped from his throat.
Amelia turned slowly, a hint of a bored smile playing on her lips. “Oh, is the little family reunion over? Your little Olivia is quite for the theatrics.”
“What the fuck did you do?” Martin demanded, stepping closer, his entire body rigid with rage.
“Me? What did i do?” She walked over to the sofa, sat elegantly, picked up a magazine from the table, and began casually flipping through it as if enjoying afternoon tea.“Xander said he wanted ice cream and then went to meet a friend. Zaria and I went shopping. What’s the big deal? He seems fine.”
“He was alone in a park! Anything could have happened to him, Amelia! Anything!”
“Well, it didn’t, did it?” she shrugged, completely unfazed. “He’s back safe and sound. A little adventure never hurt anyone. Builds character.”
Martin clenched his fists, his knuckles white. The casual cruelty in her tone made his blood boil.
“Character? You were playing games with Xander’s safety! Zaria led him to believe he was coming back, and you let her walk away.”
“Oh look at that, so touching. So you actually do care.I thought you were a heartless beast dressed in human skin, or do you only care if it’s Olivia and her son?”
“Don’t you dare, Amelia!” Martin ground out, his breathing ragged. The anger he felt was a physical force, overwhelming his usual calm nature.
Amelia shot to her feet, throwing the magazine away. “Why not? You, that woman, and her son have hurt us first. What’s wrong with venting my anger?”
“Amelia,” he growled lowly.
“Does it hurt? Bet it does, too bad. That’s exactly how I felt when you ripped my Zaria from me to play happy house with that woman.”
The veins on his temple pulsed as his jaw clenched.
Amelia sneered. “Too bad that meddling fool foiled my plan.”
“Amelia!” he growled, warningly.
“”What Olivia felt today was nowhere near the pain I’ve endured these past few years,” she jabbed a finger at his chest, her eyes burning with rage. “You deserve everything that happened. Maybe Xander needs to learn a lesson about the real world; a world where fathers lie, cheat, and abandon their families.”
“You are a monster,” Martin whispered, the words coated in venom.
“And you are a weak, pathetic hypocrite who can’t own up to his own mistakes,” she shot back, a superior smirk firmly in place.
His control snapped.
In a sudden, violent motion driven by pure, unadulterated rage, Martin grabbed a tall water glass from the coffee table. He hurled it with all his might, aiming at the wall behind her.
The glass shattered against the wall with a deafening CRASH, sending shards of water and glass flying. The sound echoed through the silent house.
Amelia froze, the smirk wiped clean from her face. Her eyes were wide, staring at the glittering fragments of glass and the spreading wet stain. The sheer, unexpected violence of his action left her momentarily stunned.
“Get out of my house,” Martin articulated slowly, every word heavy with finality, pointing a trembling finger toward the door. “Get out now.”
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