Chapter 3 — The Race Against Time
Daniel untied Emily with trembling hands.
The moment her wrists were free, she nearly collapsed.
"I have to get to my son," she whispered.
Daniel lifted both sleeping twins into his arms.
"We're leaving."
He called his security team before reaching the staircase.
"Lock every gate."
"No one leaves this property."
By the time they reached the driveway, Victoria's sports car was already gone.
Daniel didn't chase her.
Emily's son mattered more.
The drive to St. Mary's felt endless.
Emily stared silently through the passenger window, praying under her breath.
When they finally burst into the pediatric intensive care unit, a doctor hurried toward them.
"You must be Emily."
She could barely breathe.
"My son..."
The doctor smiled gently.
"He's still alive."
Emily collapsed into tears.
"They kept asking him what wish he wanted us to grant."
"He only repeated one sentence."
The doctor looked toward the small hospital room.
"He said..."
"Please don't let me die before Mommy gets here."
Emily rushed inside.
On the bed lay seven-year-old Oliver.
Pale.
Fragile.
Covered in tubes.
The moment he saw her, his tired eyes lit up.
"Mommy..."
Emily threw her arms around him as carefully as she could.
"I'm here."
"I'm so sorry."
Oliver smiled weakly.
"I knew you'd come."
Daniel quietly stepped outside the room.
He couldn't stop thinking about one question.
What kind of person could prevent a dying child from seeing his mother?
His phone vibrated.
It was his head of security.
"Sir..."
"We found Mrs. Cole."
"She didn't run."
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"She went to your corporate headquarters."
"And there's something you need to see immediately."
