Chapter 183 One Hundred And Eighty Three

Chapter 183 One Hundred And Eighty Three
The moment Helen opened the door and saw her sister’s face, concern immediately filled her eyes.
Antonia looked exhausted.
Her eyes were swollen slightly from crying.
Her shoulders drooped with emotional fatigue.
And despite the oversized cardigan she wore, Helen could still see the protective way Antonia held one hand over her pregnant belly.
“Toni…”
Helen stepped aside immediately.
“Come in.”
Antonia walked inside quietly, clutching her handbag tightly against her side.
The house felt warm.
Peaceful.
A sharp contrast to the emotional storm currently consuming her life.
“Where’s Ernest?” Antonia asked softly as Helen shut the door behind her.
“At work.”
Helen studied her carefully.
“And I’m guessing things are still bad?”
Antonia let out a weak humorless laugh.
“That obvious?”
Helen gently guided her toward the couch.
“You look like you haven’t slept.”
“I barely did.”
Helen sighed softly.
“I figured.”
Antonia sat down slowly and leaned back against the couch cushions.
For a moment she just sat there silently.
Trying to steady herself.
Trying not to cry again.
Helen sat beside her carefully.
“What happened after we spoke last night?”
That question alone made Antonia’s chest tighten again.
She looked down at her trembling fingers.
“A lot.”
Helen frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Antonia swallowed hard.
“After our call ended…”
Her voice weakened.
“…Daniel texted me again.”
Immediately Helen’s expression hardened.
“What did he say?”
Antonia hesitated briefly before finally pulling out her phone.
She unlocked it and handed it over silently.
Helen read the message.
And instantly her eyes widened.
“You need to choose between me and him. You have just 48 hours.”
Helen looked up sharply.
“What the hell is wrong with this man?”
Antonia shook her head weakly.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s not normal behavior.”
“I know.”
Helen handed the phone back slowly.
“What happened after that?”
Antonia inhaled shakily.
“Kennedy saw the messages.”
Helen froze.
“Oh no.”
Antonia nodded slowly, tears already threatening again.
“He came upstairs after I spoke to you.”
“And then my phone lit up.”
Helen closed her eyes briefly.
“Damn it.”
“He saw everything.”
Helen leaned back heavily against the couch.
“And?”
Antonia wiped at her face quickly.
“We argued again.”
Helen stayed silent, letting her continue.
“I admitted everything.”
“The kiss.”
“The emotional confusion.”
“The guilt.”
Antonia’s voice cracked now.
“And Kennedy looked so hurt.”
Helen’s heart ached for both of them.
Antonia continued quietly,
“He told me he never cheated on me.”
“And then he explained everything about Sofia.”
Helen frowned slightly.
“What did he say?”
“That Sofia was only helping him with the company problems.”
“And that he already warned her to stop acting familiar with him.”
Antonia shut her eyes tightly.
“I felt so ashamed.”
Fresh tears escaped down her cheeks now.
“I was accusing him while I was the one crossing boundaries emotionally.”
Helen gently rubbed her arm comfortingly.
“Hey…”
“But he wouldn’t listen when I apologized.”
Antonia looked up at her sister helplessly.
“He just walked away again.”
Helen sighed softly.
“And today?”
“He left the house early.”
“Did he say anything?”
“No.”
“Not even goodbye.”
The pain in her voice was heartbreaking.
Antonia lowered her gaze again.
“I feel like I’m losing him.”
Helen immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“But what if I already have?”
“You haven’t.”
Antonia looked unconvinced.
Helen took her hands gently.
“Listen to me carefully.”
Antonia sniffed quietly.
“Kennedy is hurt.”
“And honestly? He has a right to be.”
Antonia lowered her eyes guiltily.
“But that doesn’t mean your marriage is over.”
“It feels like it.”
“That’s because emotions are still high right now.”
Helen squeezed her hands gently.
“You both need time to calm down.”
Antonia exhaled shakily.
“I hate giving him space.”
“I know.”
“But maybe this is how he processes pain.”
That made Antonia pause slightly.
Helen continued softly,
“Not everyone reacts emotionally the same way.”
“You cry.”
“You panic.”
“But Kennedy?”
“He withdraws.”
Antonia slowly leaned back again, processing her words.
Helen sighed.
“You said yourself he looked hurt.”
“He probably needs time to sort through his emotions before he can properly talk.”
Antonia rubbed her stomach absentmindedly.
“I just wish things could go back to normal.”
Helen’s expression softened sadly.
“They will.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No,” Helen admitted honestly.
“But I know love like yours doesn’t disappear overnight.”
That statement alone nearly made Antonia cry again.
Helen quickly pointed at her.
“No more tears.”
Antonia laughed weakly through the sadness.
“You sound like Mom.”
“Good.”
The small moment of lightness eased the tension slightly.
For the first time all day, Antonia’s breathing steadied a little.
Then suddenly...
Bzzz.
Antonia’s phone vibrated loudly in her hand.
She glanced down at the screen.
Her son’s nanny.
Immediately, she answered.
“Hello?”
The moment the nanny’s frantic voice came through the line...
Antonia’s expression changed instantly.
All color drained from her face.
“What?”
Helen sat upright immediately.
Antonia slowly stood to her feet now.
Her breathing turning uneven.
“No—”
On the other end, the nanny was crying hysterically.
“I’m so sorry, ma’am!”
Antonia’s voice trembled violently.
“What do you mean you can’t find him?!”
Helen’s stomach dropped instantly.
Antonia pressed a shaking hand against the table for support.
“When did this happen?!”
The nanny’s panicked voice continued through the phone.
“We were leaving the playground near the school and— and I only turned for one second—”
Antonia’s heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
“No…”
Tears instantly flooded her eyes again.
“No no no…”
Helen rushed toward her immediately.
“What happened?!”
Antonia could barely breathe now.
Her entire body shaking violently.
Then finally, she whispered the words that completely shattered the room.
“My son…”
Her voice broke completely.
“…he’s missing.”
Silence.
Dead.
Horrifying silence.
Helen froze in absolute shock.
“What?!”
Antonia’s knees nearly buckled beneath her.
Helen quickly grabbed her before she could collapse completely.
“Oh my God.”
Antonia was crying uncontrollably now.
“Call Kennedy,” Helen said immediately.
“Now.”
But Antonia’s hands were shaking so badly...
She could barely even hold the phone anymore.
Helen collected it from her, and dialed Kennedy immediately.