Chapter 108 Chapter 108
Maxwell
I heard Amelia’s voice from outside, raised,before I could think twice, I opened the door to her and stepped inside. Right now, I don't trust anyone, especially her parents.
All three of them turned toward me at once, the tension in the room was thick. Amelia stood stiff, her hands slightly clenched at her sides. Her parents looked just as uneasy, exchanging quick glances with each other.
Something wasn’t right. “Amelia,” I said, my voice calm but firm, “why do you look so tense?”
“I am fine,” she replied quickly. I knew she wasn’t fine, I studied her face, the slight redness in her eyes, the tightness in her jaw. She was holding something back.
Her parents stepped in before I could say anything else. “You should go home,” her mother said, forcing a small smile. “We will talk some other time.”
Her father nodded in agreement. “Yes, this isn’t the right time.”
My eyes moved between them again. The way they avoided my gaze. The way Amelia’s shoulders stayed rigid.
“I’m not leaving,” Amelia said, her voice firm despite the tremor in it. “Not until you tell me what happened to my baby’s things.”
I stepped forward, cutting in before it could spiral further. “Amelia,” I said, keeping my tone controlled, “I already told you, you don’t need to pick up the girls’ things. I will get them whatever they need.”
Her parents nodded immediately, almost too quickly. “Exactly,” her mother said. “That’s what we have been telling you. There’s no need for all this.”
“Honey, we will explain to you some other time, ” her father added, his tone dismissive. “Listen to your man and go home.”
My eyes narrowed slightly. The way they kept pushing her out wasn’t normal. Amelia turned to me then, her composure cracking. “That’s not the point,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’m only trying to understand why only Aria’s things are missing.”
She swallowed hard, her eyes glistening now. “Some of her clothes, her toys, they are gone,” she continued. “And they won’t tell me what happened to them.”
I looked at her parents, then back at Amelia. Shock settled in my chest, Out of all the children, only hers? My gaze shifted slowly back to her parents, studying them more carefully this time their stiff posture, the way they avoided eye contact, the unease they couldn’t hide.
Then I looked at Amelia again, she was barely holding it together. Tears clung to her lashes, her breathing uneven, like she was one word away from breaking completely.
I turned to Amelia, my voice softer now but urgent. “Please Mel, go to the car and wait for me.”
She shook her head immediately. “No, Maxwell. Not until—”
“Please,” I cut in again, stepping closer. I reached for her, gently brushing her arm, my touch meant to calm her. “Just go wait for me. I will handle this.”
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine, torn between staying and breaking down completely. After a moment, she exhaled shakily and turned to the maid. “Bring the things I packed,” she said, her voice tight.
Then she looked at her parents—anger, hurt, and disappointment all mixed in her gaze before turning and walking out without another word.
I waited until the door closed behind her. The moment she was gone, the air in the room shifted. I stepped forward slowly, my eyes locking onto her parents.
“I’m going to ask this once,” I said, my voice low, controlled, but carrying a dangerous edge. “What happened to my daughter’s things?”
They hesitated, it was brief, but I saw the look they exchanged, the way their bodies stiffened. Then her father cleared his throat. “We gave some of the children’s things away,” he said. “To a needy couple.”
My expression didn’t change. “It wasn’t just Aria’s things,” he added quickly. “We gave out items from the others too.”
Her mother nodded, stepping forward. “Yes, the couple came begging. I asked the maid to pack some of the children’s things for them. I didn’t check whose things they were, I just let her pick randomly.”
Right on cue, the maid walked in, holding the bag Amelia had asked for. Her mother turned to her immediately. “Tell him,” she said quickly. “Tell him I’m not lying.”
The maid nodded nervously. “Yes, sir. Ma’am asked me to pack some of the children’s things. I picked them randomly.”
I stared at all of them, my gaze hard, unmoving. Then I spoke. “Why don’t I believe you? Why were you both fidgeting when Amelia asked about it?” I continued, my voice low, cutting through the room.
They exchanged another glance. “We can call the couple,” her father said quickly. “They can come and confirm it themselves. We have nothing to hide.”
Her mother’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. “I never thought…” her voice broke, “I never thought a day would come when my own daughter would see me as an accomplice to her children’s kidnapping.” She began to cry softly.
Her husband stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. I watched them both in silence. But the unease in my chest didn’t fade, if anything, it only grew stronger.
I looked between the both of them, my expression cold and unreadable. “I will investigate,” I said slowly. “And if any of this points back to you…” I paused, letting the weight of my words settle. “You will both rot in jail.”
Neither of them responded, I turned and walked out without another word. I made my way toward the car, Amelia was already inside, waiting.
I reached for the door, but just as I was about to open it, my phone buzzed in my hand. It was a message from Lorenzo. I frowned slightly and opened it. Then I froze mid-step.