chapter ten

Anthony sat behind his mahogany desk, fingers steepled as he listened intently to Michael. The late evening sun cast long shadows across the spacious office, painting the room in warm hues of gold and amber. Yet, the glow did little to ease the storm brewing in his chest as Michael relayed his findings.

"She was kidnapped when she was four," Michael said, his voice even, though his sharp gaze betrayed the weight of the revelation. "Emily doesn't remember much about it—only fragments, she had a fever which made her loose her memories. But it wasn't a simple abduction. Someone wanted her gone."

Anthony clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain composed.

Michael continued, "The incident was hushed up by someone. No police reports, no public search. I went through every record I could access, but there's barely a trace of it. It's as if someone deliberately erased any evidence."

Anthony leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "And no clue as to who took her?"

Michael shook his head. "Not yet. But I know one thing for certain—whoever it was had power. The level of cover-up I'm seeing isn't something an ordinary kidnapper could pull off."

Anthony drummed his fingers against the polished wood, his mind already moving through the possibilities. If Emily had been kidnapped as a child, and it was covered up by the Zu family, that meant one thing—secrets. Dangerous ones. But again why will her family want her gone. He kept on thinking, what if it's someone else, probably a business client? He thought to himself.

"Keep digging," Anthony ordered, his voice low but firm. "I want to know who took her and why. No matter how deep you have to go, I need answers."

Michael nodded. "Understood." He turned to leave, but after a few steps, he hesitated. Something flickered across his expression, as if he had just remembered something important.

Turning back, he said, "There's something else."

Anthony arched a brow. "What is it?"

Michael exhaled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "The welcome party. I wasn't sure if you'd want to hear about it, but… you should know what happened."

Anthony frowned. "Go on."

Michael's expression darkened slightly. "It was a setup. Sonia tried to humiliate Emily in front of everyone."

Anthony's grip on the edge of his desk tightened. "who the hell is Sonia" Anthony asked with anger written all over him.

"She is the zu's adopted daughter, two years after Emily's disappearance she was adopted" Michael responded.

Michael recounted everything in sharp detail—the way Sonia had mocked Emily's lack of talent, how she had orchestrated a moment meant to make Emily look incompetent.

He described the hush that had fallen over the room, the sneers, the judging eyes.

Anthony's chest tightened at the thought of Emily standing in the middle of it all, facing ridicule.

"But," Michael added, "their mother stepped in."

Anthony's brows drew together. "mrs zu?"

Michael nodded. "She defended Emily. Even knowing Emily couldn't perform, she still stood by her. She told everyone that Emily had her own strengths, that she didn't need to prove herself through meaningless displays."

Anthony leaned back, considering this new information. Mrs Zu was a woman of pride. She valued reputation above all else. And yet, she had publicly defended Emily, despite knowing the truth.

"Interesting," Anthony murmured.

"Very," Michael agreed. "It means either she truly cares about Emily, or… she knows something we don't."

Anthony exhaled slowly, his mind racing. Mrs zu's defense of Emily was unexpected, but it raised more questions than it answered. Had she done it out of maternal instinct? Or was there something more beneath the surface—something tied to the past?

"Michael," Anthony said, his tone decisive. "Find out everything you can. About Emily's kidnapping. About Mrs zu. About Sonia. I don't want any stone left unturned."

Michael gave a firm nod. "I'll get on it right away."

"I want to throw a party" Anthony said

"For?" Michael asked shocked

"I don't know, just think of something, I want the whole world to know Emily is not someone they can joke with" he said

"Are you in love with Emily? You just met her once" Michael asked in surprise

"I don't really know, I just have this urge to protect her, please go and get everything set"he said.

As Michael left, Anthony leaned forward, clasping his hands together. The pieces were slowly falling into place, but the full picture remained elusive.

One thing was certain—whoever had taken Emily all those years ago wasn't finished. And I would be damned if I let them get away with it.