Chapter 2

I grabbed the phone in a panic, dialing the number again like a madwoman.

As soon as the call connected, I begged desperately into the phone, "Please, don't hurt Timmy. I'll transfer the money right now, with no delay at all.

"He's only seven. He doesn't know anything. Please, let him go. I'll do whatever you want. Give me a few more minutes. I swear I won't call the cops. No tricks, I promise."

The kidnapper paused for a few seconds, his voice cold as death, each word cutting like a knife. "Ten minutes left. Try anything funny, and your kid's as good as dead."

As soon as he finished, Nina snatched the phone away, sneering with blatant contempt, her eyes practically dripping with malice. "Give it a rest. It's April Fool's Day. I saw through your pathetic sob story ages ago."

The kidnapper's voice was sharp and venomous, burning with rage. "Are you fucking with me?"

Nina deliberately stoked the flames, her tone icy as she spoke into the phone, "Stop playing along with her. She won't pay you a dime, not now, not ever."

Then Nina turned to Leon Todd, my husband, putting on a dramatic show, tears streaming down her face, painting me as the villain.

She cried, "She's never been able to stand having a widow like me in her house. Deep down, she thinks Timmy and I are nothing but dead weight, always plotting to kick us out.

"This whole kidnapping thing is her excuse to sneak all the family money away, not leaving a single cent for my boy and me."

She shot me a look of fake disappointment, shook her head, and acted like I was bullying her, playing the poor victim. "I didn't want to expose you, but if you want me gone, say it.

"Using your own son as bait in a made-up kidnapping to transfer all the family money? That's seriously messed up."

The kidnapper was pushed over the edge. His heavy, ragged breathing came through the phone, practically dripping with rage and bloodlust.

I glared at her, my blood running cold. I was shaking hard from rage and fear. "That's my son. He's a real, living child. This isn't some sick joke. Why the hell are you doing this?"

Nina's expression turned sinister as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "If he dies, all your family's money goes to my son. You want to save him? In your dreams. Today, I'm making sure you walk away with nothing."

Clearly, she was hell-bent on grabbing my family's inheritance for her own son. Even knowing my child was in danger, she still went out of her way to provoke the kidnapper. She wanted Timmy dead.

The kidnapper snarled, "You don't care? Then forget about ever getting your kid back. I'm killing him right now."

I shot to my feet, ready to beg again, but Leon rushed over and grabbed me, as I was about to go crazy. He covered my mouth so hard I couldn't move, his face full of impatience and blame.

The clock on the wall ticked mercilessly, each second like a hammer pounding on my heart.

There were only six minutes left. The deadline for the kidnapper to kill Timmy was almost up.

I struggled desperately, crying so hard, my voice already gone from all the screaming and sobbing. "Let's get divorced. I'll leave with nothing but the clothes on my back. I don't want a single cent. I don't want anything. All I want is for Timmy to be safe.

"Give me the phone. Let me explain. Just one sentence. Please."

Leon pinned me down, his voice sharp with anger and blame. "Stop it. Are you out of your mind?

"You're blowing this way out of proportion over a stupid April Fool's prank. If Nina hadn't caught on to your little scheme, I would've totally bought it."

"It's too late. That's our kid. A real, cute little boy." I completely lost it, tears and snot streaming down my face. I didn't care about anything anymore. "Let me say one thing. If I'm lying, I swear I'll kill myself here."