"Stupid mask! It's making my skin itchy!" the maid cursed under her breath. She ripped off the mask that hid her true identity.
Lyra frowned, "You're not the maid… who are you?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. Do what I say, or he dies!" she hissed, pressing the pistol harder.
"Go to that car, now!" she jabbed a finger at the red sedan a short distance away, confident Lyra wouldn't dare move with Dominic in their grip.
Lyra froze, panic knotting in her stomach. The sight of Dominic's tears was enough to break her heart.
She spun, looking toward the manor. Why was no one around? Where were the guards?
"How much do you want? I'll pay you, just leave us alone." Lyra tried to negotiate.
The woman let out a low, mocking laugh. "They're not after your money. They want you."
She paused, her eyes glinting. "But I can still get something from your father."
She pressed the pistol to Dominic's head, making it clear exactly how valuable the boy was.
"Who? is that Owen Arden?" she blurted.
"Hey, woman! Don't stall. Get in the car before I shoot him!"
Lyra's heart hammered. She couldn't leave Dominic. "I'll get in the car with him."
The impostor laughed. "Are you crazy? They'll kill him later to make it clean."
"If I leave him here, you'll…!" Lyra didn't dare say the word kill.
"Don't worry. If your father gives me the money, he'll be safe... Go!" she barked at Lyra and start counting.
"Three… two…"
Lyra hesitated, took a step forward, then turned back to look at Dominic.
"Faster!" she snapped.
"One!"
"Okay! Okay! I'll go!" Lyra cried, rushing toward the red car, only to stumble after stepping on her own gown.
Her hand scraped against the ground, reddening from the scratch. She whimpered in pain.
Someone stepped out of the red car and immediately dragged her inside. Before she could scream, a cloth was pressed over her face.
Everything went dark as she lost consciousness.
…
"It's Rowan," he announced, making his presence known after he knocked.
The door opened, and Dora invited him in.
As he stepped inside, Dora glanced behind him with a puzzled look. Lyra hadn't come with him.
Agnes smiled. "Please, come in, Rowan."
"Eh? Where's Lyra?" she asked, surprised to see him alone.
"She'll be here soon," Rowan said, settling into a chair. "She's with her brother. He's been crying alone by the fountain."
Agnes laughed. "Hahaha, it's all right, it's all right. Nick just doesn't like seeing his sister get married. He'll be fine soon."
"Dora, ask one of the guards to keep an eye on those two kids," Agnes instructed.
Dora nodded and went to find a guard, leaving the door open behind her.
"I'm sorry about earlier… I got tired before the ceremony ended."
They chatted for about twenty minutes, then Rowan stepped out of Agnes's room and bumped into Alex.
"Oh, Rowan. Where's Lyra?" Alex asked, rubbing his forehead.
"She's with her brother at the fountain," Rowan replied simply.
"Dora said the same thing, but I went there twice, no sign of them."
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "That's strange…"
"Let's go check again."
They hurried to the fountain, circling it and calling out the siblings' names.
Rowan moved toward the far end of the garden estate, as Alex follow behind.
"Help!" a faint voice called.
Rowan and Alex exchanged a look, then paused, listening carefully.
"Help…"
"Lyra…!" "Dominic…!" Alex and Rowan shouted.
"Help…"
"Over there!" Rowan pointed toward the sound.
From a distance, Kane came running, looking puzzled as he saw Alex and Rowan rushing toward the bushes.
"Boss, why are you here? Did something happen?"
"Shh," Rowan hushed Kane, trying to pinpoint the direction of the faint sound.
After about ten meters of pushing through the bushes, they froze. Around a dozen guards had been tied up and dumped among the foliage.
The atmosphere turned tense in an instant. Kane and Rowan immediately rushed forward to free them.
"What happened?" Alex asked, unease twisting in his chest.
"They took the young master and Miss Lyra—and left a note in my pocket."
Rowan immediately reached into the guard's pocket and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. A single location was written on it.
"Damn it! Kane, find out where this place is!" Rowan barked.
Alex sank to the ground. The truth hit him like a bomb. His children had been taken.