When He Loved Another, I Made Him PayChapter 1
My child was taken. Abducted without mercy. The demand came fast and brutal—one billion dollars, no negotiations. Every second afterward felt like knives sliding through my veins, but panic didn’t stop me. I gathered the money anyway, piece by piece, breath uneven, fingers shaking as I authorized the transfer.
Then the screen refreshed.
Transfer unsuccessful.
At first, I thought it was a system error. A delay. Anything but the truth. Until I found out my account had been locked—deliberately. Frozen by the woman who slept in my husband’s bed. His secretary. His lover.
I barely remember walking into the executive office. My legs were weak, my chest burning, vision blurred by terror.
“Why?” I choked out. “Why would you do this when my son’s life is on the line—”
Marina didn’t flinch. Not even a blink. Calmly, she opened her desk drawer, pulled out two crumpled dollar bills, and flicked them toward me.
“Here,” she said lightly.
The bills drifted down, landing at my feet like a cruel joke.
“Consider it an advance,” she continued, smiling. “You can try negotiating with the kidnappers. Ask if they’ll accept partial payments. And if they won’t…” She tilted her head, voice sugary. “Well, maybe they can send your son back to you piece by piece too.”
Something in me shattered.
“You sick bitch!” I screamed.
I slapped her before I even realized I’d moved. Once. Twice. The impact burned through my palm, up my arm. Marina stumbled back, shrieking as she clutched her face.
“Dominic!” she screamed. “Dominic, help me!”
The door flew open.
Dominic charged in, his presence crushing the air out of the room. He didn’t ask what happened. He didn’t look at me. His boot slammed into my chest, hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs. Pain exploded through my ribs as I hit the floor.
Before I could even gasp, he gathered Marina into his arms, shielding her like she was made of glass. His glare sliced into me.
“Lay a hand on her again,” he said coldly, “and I’ll ruin you so completely you won’t recognize yourself anymore.”
That threat hurt more than the kick.
My phone buzzed.
I barely noticed at first. Then I saw the notification. A new message. My hands trembled violently as I opened it.
The video started playing.
My baby. My Ethan.