Chapter 185 One Hundred And Eighty Five

Chapter 185 One Hundred And Eighty Five
Helen’s face had gone completely pale.
The second message still glowed on Antonia’s phone screen like a threat carved in stone.
You can still salvage the situation. Divorce Kennedy.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
The room felt suffocating.
A tear slipped down Antonia's cheek.
"My baby..."
Helen immediately moved beside her.
"We're getting him back."
Antonia looked up desperately.
"What if he's scared?"
Helen wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Don't do that to yourself."
"What if he's crying for me?"
"Antonia..."
"What if they hurt him?"
Her voice broke completely.
Helen pulled her into a hug.
"No."
She rubbed her sister's back gently.
"No one is hurting that little boy."
But even as she said it, fear twisted violently inside her own chest.
Because she wasn't nearly as confident as she sounded.
Suddenly, another message pops up on Antonia's phone.
"You already know who this is, you better not say anything to the police, or even that brute husband of yours."
Antonia and Helen exchange shocked gazes after reading the message.
Helen was correct.
It was definitely Daniel.
The front door burst open.
Both women looked up.
Kennedy stormed into the house.
His face looked pale.
Terrified.
Panicked.
For the first time in years, Helen had never seen him look this shaken.
The moment Antonia saw him, she stood up.
"Kennedy—"
He crossed the room in seconds.
"Where's our son?"
Antonia looked up at him.
She didn't know what to say.
The messages...
She had been warned not to tell Kennedy.
"The nanny called and said he is missing?"
"We need to go to the police, they need to start a search."
He said immediately, the fear evident in his voice.
Police?
Daniel has also warned about that too.
But how would she stop Kennedy without telling him about the messages.
Helen and Antonia exchange gaze.
Antonia could tell what was on her sister's mind.
"We can't go to the police..." Antonia finally said.
Kennedy looked at her with a frown.
"What nonsense are you saying?"
Antonia looked at her sister again, and Helen nodded.
Antonia handed Kennedy her phone.
"I got some messages."
Kennedy read the messages.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
His expression became terrifyingly calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that came before a storm.
"When did these arrive?"
"A few minutes ago," Helen answered.
Kennedy nodded.
"This is Daniel?"
"I think so. All evidence points to him."
"Any other messages?"
"No."
His jaw flexed.
Antonia stepped closer.
"Kennedy..."
The fear in her voice shattered him.
He immediately pulled her into his arms.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Their recent arguments.
Their distance.
Their hurt.
None of it mattered now.
Because their son was gone.
And suddenly every other problem felt meaningless.
Antonia buried her face against his chest.
"Our baby..."
Kennedy closed his eyes briefly.
"We'll get him back."
His voice sounded firm.
Certain.
Protective.
Even though panic was tearing through him.
Antonia looked up at him.
"He threatened to hurt our son if we go to the police."
"And all he wants is for you to divorce me." Kennedy added
His hands framed her face.
"That's not going to happen because I am not letting you go."
A fresh tear rolled down her cheek.
Kennedy wiped it away gently.
"I promise you, we'll get our son back."
His voice lowered.
"We know the culprit, we just have to act smart."
The determination in his eyes made Antonia believe him.
Kennedy looked at the messages again.
His mind was already working.
Already connecting pieces.
Already searching for answers.
The first message.
I ran out of patience.
The second.
Divorce Kennedy.
Not money.
Not ransom.
"I don't think Daniel is smart enough to plan something like this alone."
The second those words left his mouth, another name entered everyone's mind.
Sofia.
Helen spoke it first.
"Sofia."
Kennedy didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Because he was thinking the exact same thing.
The timing.
The manipulation.
The emotional games.
Everything screamed Sofia.
Antonia sank onto the couch.
"Oh God."
Kennedy looked at her immediately.
"I turned her down."
"They could be working together."
The room went silent.
Because that possibility hadn't fully landed until now.
Daniel.
Sofia.
Together.
The realization felt horrifying.
Helen cursed under her breath.
"They've both lost their minds."
Antonia's phone suddenly rang.
Everyone jumped.
Unknown number.
The room became deathly quiet.
Antonia answered immediately.
"Hello."
Nothing.
Just breathing.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then—
A distorted voice.
"Your son is safe."
Antonia's hand flew to her mouth.
Kennedy's entire body tensed.
"What do you want?"
A small laugh answered her.
"I already told you, and if you go against my instructions you will never see your son again"
Then the line went dead.
The call ended.
Antonia nearly collapsed.
"What did they say?"
Kennedy asked immediately, his face darkening by the second.
"What did they say?" Helen demanded.
Antonia slowly looked up.
"They said he's safe."
Tears flow freely from her eyes as she spoke.
For one brief moment.
Then she continued.
"And warned again not to involve the police or you."
She said to Kennedy.
Helen cursed again.
"He is enjoying this."
Kennedy nodded.
"Yes."
His hands clenched into fists.
Dangerous fists.
The same fists that had nearly broken Daniel's face days earlier.
Helen noticed.
"Kennedy."
He looked at her.
"Don't do anything stupid."
His jaw tightened.
Too late.
Because a terrifying certainty had already begun forming in his mind.
Daniel had given Antonia forty-eight hours.
Hours later their son disappeared.
Antonia saw the look in her husband's eyes.
The same look she'd seen only a handful of times before.
A look that meant he was done being patient.
Done being reasonable.
Done waiting.
She grabbed his arm.
"Kennedy..."
His gaze softened slightly when it landed on her.
"Bring him back."
Her voice broke completely.
"Please."
Kennedy took both her hands.
Then pressed a kiss against her forehead.
A long one.
A desperate one.
"I will."
His voice was quiet.
Deadly.
Certain.
"I swear to you, Antonia."
His eyes lifted.
Filled with resolve.