chapter 77 Kidnapped
Dorian's POV
Clara stood in the doorway and her eyes burning with a fury I'd never seen before.
"How dare you do this to that girl?"
I slowly rose from my chair, seeing her obvious distress reigniting my own anger. "Mother, this doesn't concern you."
"Doesn't concern me?" Clara strode into the office. "I spent the morning trying to find Lyra, only to discover that my own son has destroyed her life so thoroughly that she's been reduced to begging for shelter!"
"She made her choices—"
"She's innocent!" Clara shouted. "And you're too blinded by pride and jealousy to see the truth!"
I let out a cold laugh. "Innocent? She betrayed me, tried to make me raise another man's bastard. That's what you call innocent?"
"What about the child?" Clara's voice broke. "That helpless little baby, are you going to let her die?"
"That's not my child."
"But she's Lyra's child!" Clara stepped closer. "Regardless of bloodline, she's an innocent life. You can't punish a baby because of your anger toward Lyra!"
I turned away, not wanting to see the accusation in her eyes. "I have no obligation to care for someone else's child."
"I'm begging you," Clara's voice became desperate. "If not for Lyra, then for that child. She's done nothing wrong. Please continue paying for her medical treatment."
"No."
"Dorian—"
"I said no!"
Clara stared at me for a long moment, then her expression became ice-cold, more terrifying than any expression I'd ever seen.
"If that child dies," she said, "I swear I'll make you pay. I won't stop searching for her, won't stop helping Lyra. This is what I owe her parents."
I frowned. "What do you owe her parents?"
"Years ago, if not for Shadow and Nightfall's mediation, my family and your father's family would have erupted in war. They risked their lives to prevent bloodshed, saving countless lives. Then on their way back to the research institute, they had that car accident. Lyra lost her parents, and I lost two of my best friends."
The information was familiar to me, but I forced myself to remain unmoved. "That's ancient history."
"No, it will never be ancient history. I owe them a debt, I owe Lyra a debt. I won't let her daughter die on my watch."
Clara turned to leave, but stopped at the door to look back at me. "Remember my words, Dorian. If anything happens to that child, you'll regret it."
After she left, I sank back into my chair, Clara's words echoing in my mind. I didn't tell her the truth. I had arranged for the child's secret treatment.
But from the determination in her eyes, I knew she wouldn't give up.
--
Lyra's POV
Two months had passed like a living nightmare.
I sat in Eric's living room, counting the last few bills in my hand. This was what remained after I'd sold everything I owned: the clothes and jewelry that Caleb had brought me. He had secretly come to see me a few times and brought these things after I moved out of Dorian's house. I didn't want to accept anything related to Dorian, but I really needed the money.
I had even pawned some precious mementos my parents had left me.
Each item's sale felt like a knife to my heart, but for my daughter, I was willing to sacrifice everything.
Today, I would try to go to the hospital again.
The parking lot of Moon Shadow Bay Central Hospital looked the same as it had two months ago, but for me, everything was different. I was no longer Dorian Blackthorne's wife, no longer protected by power and status. I was just a desperate mother, trying to see her dying child.
At the neonatal ICU nurses' station, I recognized one of the nurses I'd seen before. When she saw me, her expression became cautious.
"I want to know about my daughter's condition," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "She should still be in intensive care."
The nurse checked her computer, then frowned. "I'm very sorry, but that baby is no longer here."
My heart stopped beating. "What do you mean? Is she... is she dead?"
"No, not that. She was transferred to another hospital. A private transfer arrangement."
"Which hospital?" I asked urgently.
"I can't disclose that information. The transfer was arranged anonymously, and all records have been sealed."
I felt the world swaying beneath my feet. "But she's my daughter! I have the right to know where she is!"
The nurse's expression was sympathetic but firm. "I'm very sorry. The orders are absolute—no one can obtain information about that child's location."
I stood there, feeling the last thread of hope completely severed.
When I returned to Eric's residence, I felt like the walking dead. This empty house was my only refuge, but it felt more like a prison. Eric had already returned to the Northern Territory to handle his own pack affairs, leaving me to face this broken reality alone.
I mechanically checked my email, hoping for a reply to one of my job applications. But my inbox contained only more rejection letters, or complete silence.
Then I saw Eric's email.
"Lyra, I've arranged a position for you in the Northern Territory. Medical research consultant at our main medical center. Good salary, housing included. You can start fresh, away from all the pain. Please consider this offer. You deserve a better life. — Eric"
I stared at the screen, tears blurring my vision. In the Northern Territory, I could restart my medical career, maybe eventually find some kind of peace.
But it also meant leaving my daughter forever.
I was considering a reply when I heard knocking at the door.
I slowly walked to the door, thinking it might be the mailman or someone who had the wrong address. But when I opened the door, a woman stood there, and before I could react, her palm struck my face hard, the tremendous force making me stagger backward.
I tried to struggle, but she gestured to two large werewolf males behind her, and they immediately stepped forward to grab my arms.
"Take her to the car," she commanded.
They dragged me out of Eric's house toward a black SUV waiting on the street.
"You can't do this!" I shouted. "Let me go!"
But my protests were ignored. They shoved me into the back seat, and as the car started, carrying me away from Eric's residence, I realized my nightmare was far from over.