Chapter 3

I didn't talk to Vivian much. But judging by her behavior lately, she was just as toxic as her sister Georgina.

Still, I answered. The next second, her shrill, irritated voice exploded in my ear.

"Did you and Howard plan this? What kind of pathetic, childish game are you guys playing now?"

"He claimed you were on your deathbed in the ER, yet here you are, fully energized enough to call Georgina and pick a fight. You're completely fine, aren't you?"

"Playing these petty, jealous games all day... aren't you guys embarrassed?"

My voice was raspy as I replied, "I have no reason to lie to you. I was poisoned. I was..."

Vivian cut me off, her tone turning even more hostile and impatient.

"Do you think I'm an idiot?! You and Howard spend all your time plotting in the dark. Neither of you is a real man!"

"Koman is three years younger than you, yet he's twice the man you'll ever be!"

"How many times do we have to tell you? Koman is like a little brother to us! Are you deaf?"

"I'm warning you, stop playing these mind games with Howard. Georgina and I are running out of patience. If you keep acting up, we will actually divorce you!"

"Also, tell Howard to answer his phone and bring our daughter back!"

"He called me this morning claiming you were in a coma and the girls went missing so he needed my help to find them."

"I know he did it on purpose! Don't use my daughter's life to threaten me. I'm not falling for it!"

She slammed the phone down after her rant.

Her words sounded more like a threat to Howard and me than anything else.

But I didn't have time to process her insults.

She said the girls were missing.

I had to find out the truth right now!

I quickly called Howard, and he picked up immediately. I blurted out, "Where are Anna and Maria?!"

The next second, he spoke the words that plunged me into absolute terror.

"When I rushed you to the hospital, they were left alone and ran out. I checked the security cameras. They disappeared at the street corner."

I suddenly wished he hadn't saved me.

If he hadn't, my daughter Anna and his daughter Maria wouldn't have gone missing!

I would rather have died on that floor than let anything happen to them!

My blood ran cold. I pounded my chest in pure agony, my body shaking violently.

Ignoring my weak physical state, I ripped the IV needle out of my arm and ran out of the hospital in my gown.

I had to find them!

The longer they were gone, the more danger they were in!

I remembered Georgina had a local community Snapchat group. Most of the residents in our neighborhood were in it to order medicine easily.

I could ask her to send a mass message to see if anyone had seen the girls.

But no matter how many times I called her, she kept declining.

I had no choice but to text her:

[Anna is really missing! Can you please ask the neighborhood group chat if anyone saw her yesterday?]

She didn't reply.

I was so frantic I wanted to crawl to her and beg on my knees. I wanted to beg her to stop being so heartless and just help me find Anna!

[I am not lying to you!]

But this time, my message bounced back with a red exclamation mark.

She had blocked me. I was completely cut off from her.

A bitter taste filled my mouth as I stumbled down the street to search on my own.

I could accept that she didn't love me anymore. I could accept that she had checked out of our marriage.

But I never imagined that even the daughter she carried for nine months meant absolutely nothing to her compared to an outsider!