Chapter 86: A Father’s Despair, A Family’s Breaking Point

The moment my phone rang, I knew something was wrong. Emma never called during work hours unless it was urgent. But as soon as I answered and heard her broken sobs, my entire world tilted. My breath caught in my throat as my grip on the phone tightened. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

"Noah… he's gone… they took him!" Emma's voice was raw, filled with unimaginable agony.

For a moment, my mind refused to process her words. Gone? Taken? No. No, that wasn't possible. Noah was home. Safe. Protected. He was—

The realization hit me like a physical blow. My knees nearly buckled. My assistant, standing nearby, froze as she saw the color drain from my face.

Without thinking, I shot up from my chair, my voice coming out sharp and desperate. "Cancel all my meetings. Handle everything—I'm going home. Now."

I didn't wait for a response. I didn't care. My son needed me. That was all that mattered. I stormed out of the office, barely noticing the wide-eyed glances of my employees.

Noah… my baby boy…

My hands trembled as I gripped the steering wheel, pushing the car far past the speed limit. My mind was a storm of emotions—fear, rage, guilt. How had this happened? How did someone manage to take him from our home? The safest place in the world for him?

The moment I arrived at the mansion, the sight before me nearly shattered me completely. Emma was crumpled in Sophia's arms, her sobs shaking her entire body. My daughters were gathered around her, their faces streaked with tears. Even Isabella, my strong, unshakable soldier, looked as if she was barely holding it together.

The second Emma saw me, she broke free from Sophia and ran toward me. Her body collided with mine, her hands gripping my shirt as if she'd fall apart if she let go.

"They took him," she sobbed, her voice hoarse and broken. "Our baby… they took Noah…!"

A sharp, unbearable pain exploded in my chest. My arms wrapped around her, holding her as tightly as I could, but before I could say a word, before I could tell her I would bring our son back—Emma went limp in my arms.

"Emma!" I cried out, shaking her gently, my panic spiraling.

"Call the doctor!" Isabella barked, her usual commanding voice cracking with fear.

I lifted Emma into my arms, carrying her upstairs, my legs moving on pure instinct. I laid her down carefully on our bed, my hands trembling as I brushed the hair from her pale face.

My daughters followed, standing beside the bed, their expressions torn between grief and fury.

The doctor arrived moments later, checking Emma thoroughly before letting out a sigh. "She fainted due to severe emotional shock. She'll wake up soon, but she needs rest. Just let her sleep."

Relief washed over me, but it was quickly overshadowed by the agony twisting inside my chest. As I sat beside Emma, gripping her hand, I heard her whisper something so soft, so broken, that it nearly shattered me completely.

"Noah… my baby… where are you…?"

The room fell into complete silence. The air was heavy with grief, suffocating. I turned and saw my daughters break down completely. Sophia covered her mouth, sobs wracking her frame. Olivia sank to her knees, shaking her head as if she could deny reality. Charlotte, usually so bright and cheerful, collapsed against Mia, both of them clinging to each other. Even Emily, the genius who always had a plan, looked completely lost.

I had to be strong. For them. For Emma. For Noah.

I stood, turning to my daughters, my voice firm despite the raw emotion burning inside me. "It's okay, my daughters. Father is here. Your mother will be okay. And I will find Noah. No matter what it takes."

They looked at me, their grief momentarily overshadowed by the sheer determination in my voice. One by one, they nodded, wiping their tears. Their sorrow didn't disappear, but it hardened into something else—rage.

We would find him. We had to find him.

I turned back to Emma, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. My hands clenched into fists. Whoever took my son made the gravest mistake of their lives.

They would pay. And they would regret ever thinking they could take Noah from us.