Chapter 263: Bárbara Novaes Perrone Casanova I

I didn't have to explain a lot. When I realized, everyone spread out, going in different directions, looking for her, while calling her by name. Anon immediately grabbed the gun and I saw him and Heitor rushing out of the apartment, revolver in hand.

I went to the anteroom and not a trace of her. I can't explain exactly what I felt at that moment, other than overwhelming fear.

If I say that I didn't imagine Breno and Anya with my baby, I would be lying. It was the first thing that came to mind. And then Daniel. And just thinking what they could do with my little one, in possession of her for even a few minutes, brought me unbearable feelings.

- Look down here and I'll go up. - I warned, going to the stairs.

- She must not have gone up... There would be no way. - Ben said.

- She didn't even leave the apartment, yet Heitor and Anon went after her outside the building. Nothing is impossible to happen to me or anyone who is related to me. - I went up quickly, two at a time.

I went into her room and it was empty:

- Maria... – I kept calling – It's mom... Where have you gone, my love?

Even under the crib I looked and no sign of her. Ben's room didn't have any crawling babies. Not in the bathroom either. Nicolete's was empty. In Heitor's and mine, it was almost impossible for it to be somewhere hidden, as everything there was well optimized and minimalist in terms of furniture and decoration utensils. The bathroom was completely empty.

As soon as I opened the door and stood in the hall again, I heard them calling her name from downstairs. God, would they have taken my daughter out of the house without us even looking? What kind of family we were... We forgot to babysit the girl at her own party. I would never forgive myself for that. But if they got into the apartment... Where did it go, except through the door?

I turned around and saw the glass door, which gave access to the roof, where the pool ended and the hot tub. In addition to only opening with the fingerprint, it currently had a security lock. There it was impossible for Maria Lua to access. I headed back to the stairs, stopping at the unbreakable glass gate, also making it impossible for children to fall.

On impulse, I turned and walked to the end of the hall. I opened the security gate with the lock and then put my finger on the digital reader. As soon as the door opened, I went to the hot tub.

And then I heard Maria Lua's scream, a few centimeters from the pool, less than a meter away from the edge. I stood motionless, stunned, frightened.

Celine was on the opposite side of the pool, crouched down, smiling, arms outstretched, beckoning to her with her hands.

Maria Lua followed, a little cry and a radiant smile, crawling quickly.

- Not! - It was the only thing I managed to scream before running away.

I jumped into the pool at the same time my daughter fell. The only thing I forgot is that I didn't know how to swim. Even so, in a superhuman effort, I managed to go to the bottom, picking up my little one, who was moving her body uncontrollably in search of air.

Luckily the led's inside the pool were automatically turned on when it was dark, which made it easier to find it. I could no longer hold my breath and swallowed water as I tried to rise to the surface, feeling it also enter my nostrils.

I could never understand how my movements were so accurate and I managed to bring her with me to the stairs. I sat on the first step that was out of the water and lifted her, listening to the desperate cry.

I could be exhausted from the cry of feeling and pain she emitted. But no... She was alive and that was all that mattered at that moment.

I felt an unbearable pain inside my face, nose, throat, forehead...

- Mom is here! – I squeezed her to my chest and stayed there, with my feet in the warm water, until she calmed down and the crying subsided.

I removed the bow that was clinging to a few soggy strands of her hair. I ran my fingers over the water dripping from my eyes, feeling my heart calm down as I came across the two living emeralds, looking inside my iris.

We were wet and psychologically finished. A thousand things were going through my head at the same time. Among them killing Celine Casanova.

With difficulty, my body seeming to weigh twice as much as it really did, as if carrying it was an unparalleled difficulty, even more so with my baby's almost eleven kilos, I got up and climbed the wet and slippery step.

I was a little dizzy and my head hurt, I think from the nervousness of when I missed her, imagining that she might be in danger. And yes, she was with someone who was invited to the party... and who wanted to kill her.

I scrambled open the door, water running down our soaking bodies, my high-heeled shoe echoing on the shiny floor.

I saw Celine walking down the stairs slowly. I could see part of her body even on the first few steps.

- You whore! - I screamed so loudly that I don't even know how I managed it, since my throat was hurting unbearably.

She stopped immediately, her eyes wide, her face serious and frightened.

I went to her, Maria in my arms, starting to shiver with cold or fear.

I stopped at the top of the stairs, all eyes on us. At that moment the door opened and Anon and Heitor entered. My eyes met his and I saw the desperation in his face, changing when he saw our daughter safely in my lap.

- How can you be so cruel? She is just a child. – I said, looking straight into her eyes.

- I... I don't know what you're talking about . - She pretended not to understand, turning her back to me and following her descent.

In a rush of rage, I climbed down after her and pushed her in the back, watching her lose her balance and tumble down the stairs, step by step, under the incredulous eyes of the people on the floor below.

Silence was absolute until the sound of her body echoed on the floor, after descending the last step. She fainted, her eyes closed, her body completely limp.

I couldn't move. If I had a gun at that moment, I would have shot her to kill. And the intention when I played it was no different. It wasn't to scare. I really wanted her to suffer and die, as she tried to do to my daughter.

Some came to Celine's aid.

- Call an ambulance... - I heard, not realizing who it was, not recognizing the voice.

Heitor took Maria Lua out of my arms, shaking me by the shoulder:

- Barbarian! Answer please!

I kept looking at nothing, not quite understanding everything that was happening.

Heitor handed our daughter over to someone and picked me up, taking me to our room and putting me on the bed. She unzipped the dress, removing it quickly, even with the difficulty in sliding down her damp body. The shoes were thrown away and he had my underwear off in seconds.

My body shook and he pulled a blanket over me.

- How is she? Sebastian entered the room.

I heard them clearly, but I couldn't answer.