Chapter 5

"Your daughter, you ask?"

The man drew out his words, as if savoring Dad's fear,

"Hard to say. We wanted to discuss a price, but couldn't reach you. My buddies got annoyed, nowhere to vent their frustration, so we had to... tsk tsk."

Dad suddenly remembered that because he was angry at me these past few days, he had even hung up on my calls.

Later, he was busy taking Leo to a father-son event and completely forgot about it.

Dad's vision went black, and he almost collapsed into the chair, swallowed by a massive wave of fear.

"Let me talk to my daughter! I want to see her! Video call now!"

Dad practically screamed, his words incoherent,

"I'll give you any amount of money! Don't hurt my daughter! Please!"

"Video call, huh? Might not be too convenient right now."

The man's voice was like a cat toying with its prey.

"Mr. Stone, just get the money ready first. We'll be in touch..."

Just then, the keypad on the front door beeped, then clicked open.

Dad abruptly looked up, and there, in the hallway, I stood, disheveled.

I was filthy, my clothes torn in several places.

My hair was a mess, and my face was smudged with dirt and tiny scratches.

The kidnapper on the phone was still saying something, but Dad couldn't hear a word.

He hung up immediately and practically lunged to embrace me.

"Skylar! You scared your father to death! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did those bastards do anything to you?"

He urgently wanted to check me over.

The thought of the kidnapper calling Dad in front of me, only to be repeatedly hung up on, flashed through my mind.

I sharply took a step back, evading his touch, my gaze cold.

Dad's hands froze in mid-air. After the initial surge of emotion, questions flooded his mind:

"How did you get back?"

I said calmly: "Mom saved me."

As those five words left my mouth, the excitement on Dad's face instantly drained away.

It turned cold, his eyes filled with revulsion.

"Skylar Stone! How long are you going to keep this charade up?"

"You staged a kidnapping! Had your accomplices make those calls to me!"

"Do you think this is fun? To get back at me this way? To get my attention?"

Dad looked down at me, like he was looking at trash.

"I never imagined you could be so manipulative! How dare you even use your mother as an excuse for your lies!"

"Aren't you afraid she'd be heartbroken watching you from above?"

"You've truly disappointed me."

Dad's accusations crashed down on me, but I didn't feel the sting or anger I once did.

Even as he roared, I slightly tilted my head, distinguishing a faint sound in the distance.

"Dad, I saw Mom. I even hugged her."

My voice was soft, my heart filled with surging joy, leaving no room for other emotions.

Dad froze for a moment, then grew even angrier.

"Get back to your room! I don't want to see you anymore! You're truly insane! You scare me!"

Whether Dad believed me or not, it no longer mattered at all.

My lips curled into a faint smile.

I found Mom.