Chapter 2Lies in the Midst of Crisis

I gripped the phone tightly, my palm drenched in sweat.

It seemed that the reality at this time was different from the last, and the kidnappers' location might have changed as well.

I had been so confident before, but now panic was starting to creep in.

With a tremor in my voice, I pleaded.

"Can you give us more time? Please, I..."

Before I could finish, the line went dead.

I quickly gathered my composure. I knew it was useless to these desperate criminals.

The priority was to prepare the ransom and locate the kidnappers.

I quickly scribbled down everything I knew from my previous life.

There were two kidnappers, both young men, and the kidnapping took place at one of their homes.

The ransom was ten million dollars, and they asked us to place it in the third trash can at the south entrance of the train station.

Before they could collect the money, Allen had tracked down their hideout and rescued our parents, saving both our parents and the ransom.

With that in mind, I grabbed my phone and dialed 911.

I also called my father's good friend, Dominik Happer, one of the company's shareholders, and asked him to get cash directly from the finance department.

Dominik was just as frantic as I was on the phone.

"Call the police, Vickie. I'll handle the money."

His words made my heart settle a little.

Two minutes later, police officers arrived.

Allen's colleague and close friend, Cason Rayne, walked in with a scowl.

"Vickie, Allen just called me. Luckily, I was nearby...

"Filing a false report is a crime!"

All my courage and hope crumbled in that instant.

Allen had already decided that I was the mastermind behind the kidnapping, so he'd sent his friend to stop my "nonsense."

I didn't expect he would do something like that.

I didn't think I could solve it without the help from the police and detective expertise.

My emotions got the best of me, and I squeezed the paper with the clues into a ball.

The thought of my parents being tortured by the kidnappers pushed me over the edge, and I broke down crying.

"Cason, I'm not lying! I'm an adult. I'm taking responsibility for my words.

"Please, I need the police's help. Please help save my parents!"

I sobbed, gasping for air, glancing constantly at the clock.

Almost ten minutes had passed, and there wasn't much time left.

Cason leaned casually against the couch, scrolling through his phone.

My tears failed to elicit any sympathy from him.

"They say kids who grow up in orphanages are sly. Do you think crying will guilt-trip people into helping you?

"Allen's right. If you're not raised here, you're just an outsider.

"Elaine is so much more mature than you..."

Elaine's fate differed from mine. She was adopted at eight and nurtured as if she were the apple of my parents' eye.

Allen pampered her. He treated her with almost obsessive care.

Even when they were both adults, they often slept together.

The ticking of the clock pulled me back to reality.

I forced myself to steady my breathing, trying to calm the storm inside me.

"Cason."

I called his name with a serious tone.

"Since you're here on duty, you have an obligation to solve my case..."

Before I could finish, he interrupted with a mocking laugh.

"You little brat, acting all high and mighty.

"Do you think just because you're back with the Baldwin family, you can control everything? You're still an outsider here."

His words hit me like a block of ice.

"Allen told me. Your parents don't love you as much as you think. They often confuse your name with Elaine's.

"He said you've been scheming for attention. You made Elaine move out because of it."

Cason snickered, munching on a fruit platter as he belittled me.

I knew he had totally believed those things. After all, those stories were coming from Allen. He kept maligning me like that in front of Cason.

To them, I was nothing but a scheming woman, always trying to steal the spotlight.

I stood before him again, my resolve firm.

"What will it take for you to believe me? My parents are in grave danger right now.

"Are you ready to bear the responsibility if we miss this crucial window to save them?"

Cason faltered, his hand frozen mid-air. He stood up from the couch.

"Well then, go ahead and report me. You're just a spoiled girl who needs a lesson..."

Before he could finish, two officers in uniform appeared at the door.

"Is Vickie here? We've received a report and are here to handle the case."

My legs nearly gave way, and I almost collapsed onto the floor.

My parents were finally going to be saved!