Chapter 4

 Domenico stared at Madeline's retreating figure once again. He recognized that she was the woman he had once turned away from—the woman he had unknowingly abandoned—now the mother of his child. His son. 

The revelation struck him like a blow, but he refused to let her escape so easily.

"Madeline, stop!" Domenico's voice was rough, urgent.

She didn't slow down. If anything, she moved faster, her heels clicking angrily against the pavement as she reached her car.

"Don't you dare touch me!" she spat when he caught her wrist. Fury burned in her eyes, and for the first time, Domenico felt troubled.

"My son will be rescued without you. I don't need your help. I don't need you."

His grip loosened. "Son?" His voice faltered. "You kept him?"

Madeline scoffed. "I don't owe you any explanations, and I sure as hell don't need to explain why I didn't kill my own child just because you ordered me to."

Domenico staggered back as though she had physically struck him. He had believed—no, he had assumed—that she had gone through with it.

 The idea of a child, his child, existing in the world had never once crossed his mind. Until now.

She yanked open her car door, sliding inside without another glance at him. Domenico stood frozen.

He had a son?

And he was in danger?

Catherine's patience wore thin as they pulled into the driveway. She had remained silent during the drive but was done holding back.

"That was unnecessary," she snapped the moment they stepped inside.

Madeline threw her bag onto the couch. "Not now, Catherine."

"Yes, now!" Catherine shot back. "You want your son back, don't you? Then why in the goddess's name are you refusing the one person who has the power to help?"

Madeline ran a hand through her hair, frustration evident in her taut shoulders. "Because I don't trust him."

Catherine folded her arms. "And what if it's not about trust? What if it's about survival?"

Madeline turned away, but Catherine grabbed her wrist. "You may not need him, but Ivan does."

Madeline's lips parted, but before she could respond, her phone rang again. Her pulse spiked when she saw the number.

"Who is it?" Catherine asked.

Madeline swallowed. "The kidnappers."

Catherine's face hardened. "Put it on speaker."

Madeline hesitated, then pressed the button.

A distorted voice crackled through the line. "Took you long enough, bitch. Thought you didn't care about the kid anymore."

Madeline tightened her grip on the phone. "Please. I don't have that kind of money. I need more time."

"You have four weeks," the voice growled. "Find the money, or you'll watch your precious son bleed out in a live video."

The line went dead.

Madeline stood still, breathing heavily. The walls of the room felt like they were closing in.

"Now do you see?" Catherine whispered. "You don't have time for pride, Madeline. You need help."

Madeline shook her head. "Not from him."

A knock at the door startled them both.

Madeline tensed. "I wasn't expecting anyone."

Catherine gave her a wary glance. "Be careful."

She walked cautiously to the door and opened it.

A tall man stood at the door, dressed in a black coat. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his blue eyes gleamed with intrigue. A presence radiated from him—powerful, commanding.

"Madeline, right?" His voice was smooth but edged with something real. "I'm Hugo. I have information about your son."

Madeline's heart skipped a beat.

She studied him warily. "Who are you?"

Hugo smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Someone who wants to help."

Madeline wasn't convinced. "How do you know about Ivan?"

Hugo leaned in slightly. "May I come in?"

A part of her screamed to slam the door in his face, but the desperation clawing at her chest made her step aside.

Catherine remained in the background, watching him carefully as he entered.

"Talk," Madeline demanded.

Hugo studied her, his gaze dipping slightly to her trembling hands before he spoke.

"The people who took your son… they're not just looking for ransom. There's more to this than money."

Madeline's stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"

Hugo's eyes darkened. "Your son is being targeted for who he is."

Catherine shot Madeline a look.

Madeline's fingers curled into fists. "Explain."

Hugo exhaled. "Your son isn't just any child. He's Domenico's son."

Madeline's breath caught.

Hugo nodded. "And that makes him valuable."

Her mind raced. Valuable? What the hell did that mean?

Hugo took another step forward, his voice lowering. "I know this because I've been tracking the people who took him. And I'm willing to help you get him back."

"But why?" She asked

Hugo smirked slightly. "Let's just say… I have my reasons."

Madeline didn't trust him. But then again, she trusted no one.

Catherine's gaze flickered between them. "This feels like a trap."

Hugo chuckled. "If I wanted to hurt her, I wouldn't have knocked on the door like a gentleman."

Madeline crossed her arms. "And what exactly do you want in return for this… help?"

Hugo's smirk faded. "We'll get to that."

Before she could push further, a presence filled the room. Domenico.

His eyes locked onto Hugo, then flicked to Madeline.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Domenico's voice was a low growl.

Hugo turned to face him with an easy smirk. "Ah, the father finally shows up."

Domenico's hands clenched into fists. "Who are you?"

Hugo tilted his head. "A concerned party."

Madeline stepped between them. "Enough." She glared at Domenico. "You have no right to demand anything here."

His jaw tightened. "He's my son, Madeline. That gives me every right."

"You gave up that right years ago!"

The tension was suffocating.

Hugo, still smirking, folded his arms. "Well, this is interesting."

Domenico's glare snapped back to him. "You stay the hell out of this." He said.

Hugo shrugged. "If I do that, you might never see your son again."

Madeline's stomach twisted.

Domenico's eyes darkened. "What do you know?"

Hugo met his gaze head-on. "More than you do."

Madeline looked between them, her heart seriously pounding.

She had just been thrust into the middle of a war between two powerful men.

One was the father of her child.

The other… she wasn't sure about yet.

But something told her Hugo wasn't just a man offering help.

And the worst part?

She didn't know which of them to trust.