Chapter 17 - The Final Threat
Six months later, Nathan received an anonymous message.
You destroyed one empire.
You haven't destroyed all of it.
He showed Daniel.
Daniel immediately investigated.
The message came from an offshore account.
A forgotten partner of Richard's.
Nathan increased security.
But he refused to live in fear.
Then one evening, Grace called.
“Lily isn't here.”
Nathan froze.
“What?”
“She was playing in the backyard.”
Nathan ran.
The gate was open.
A small pink shoe lay near the driveway.
Nathan's heart stopped.
Police arrived.
Search teams spread across the neighborhood.
Grace collapsed against Nathan.
“This is my fault.”
“No.”
“I should have watched her.”
“No.”
Nathan held her.
“This isn't your fault.”
Hours passed.
Then a detective found a vehicle.
They traced it to an abandoned warehouse.
Nathan wanted to go himself.
The detective stopped him.
“You stay here.”
Nathan shook his head.
“She's my daughter.”
“And that's exactly why you can't lose control.”
Inside the warehouse, police found Lily.
She was frightened but unharmed.
The kidnapper had been hired by the last surviving member of Richard's criminal network.
When Nathan saw Lily, he dropped to his knees.
She ran into his arms.
“Daddy!”
Nathan held her so tightly she laughed.
“I knew you'd come.”
He closed his eyes.
May you like
“So did I.”
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