Chapter 184 One Hundred And Eighty Four

Chapter 184 One Hundred And Eighty Four
Helen didn't waste a second.
The moment Antonia finished explaining what the nanny had told her, Helen snatched the phone from her trembling hands and immediately dialed Kennedy.
The call rang once.
Twice.
Then connected.
"Kennedy."
"Helen, why are you calling me with my wife's phone?"
His voice sounded distracted.
Busy.
Until he heard the panic in Helen's tone.
"Where are you?"
The change was instant.
"What happened?"
Helen looked at Antonia, who was now crying uncontrollably on the couch.
"Your son is missing."
Silence.
Complete silence.
For a moment, Helen thought the call had dropped.
Then she heard a sharp intake of breath.
"What?"
The single word sounded strangled.
As if all the air had been knocked from his lungs.
"The nanny called us a few minutes ago to inform us."
Kennedy's chair scraped loudly against the floor on the other end.
His voice cracked with panic.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
Helen quickly explained everything again.
By the time she finished, Kennedy sounded like a completely different man.
The businessman.
The CEO.
Gone.
Only a terrified father remained.
"Oh God."
Helen had never heard fear in Kennedy's voice before.
Not like this.
Not ever.
"Helen."
"Yes?"
"Take care of Antonia."
His voice became urgent.
"Don't let her be alone."
"We won't."
"I'm coming right now."
"Kennedy—"
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
The line disconnected.
Helen slowly lowered the phone.
Antonia immediately stood.
"What did he say?"
"He's coming."
Antonia nodded rapidly.
Almost desperately.
As if those words alone could somehow fix everything.
"He'll find him."
Her voice shook violently.
"He'll find our baby."
Helen wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"He will."
But despite her confidence, fear continued growing inside her.
Because this situation felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Minutes passed.
Slow.
Painful minutes.
Antonia couldn't sit still.
She paced.
Cried.
Prayed.
Then paced again.
Helen remained beside her the entire time.
Trying to keep her calm.
Trying to keep her from spiraling.
Trying to keep her blood pressure from rising.
Especially in her condition.
The stress alone could be dangerous.
Then suddenly...
Buzz.
Both women froze.
Antonia's phone vibrated on the coffee table.
Their eyes immediately locked onto it.
Helen reached it first.
Unknown Number.
A message.
Her stomach tightened.
Slowly, she opened it.
The words made her blood run cold.
"I ran out of patience."
Antonia's face drained of color.
"What does it say?"
Helen swallowed.
Then handed her the phone.
Antonia read the message.
Once.
Twice.
Then her hands began shaking.
"Oh my God."
Helen's jaw tightened.
"This has to be connected."
Antonia stared at the screen.
"I ran out of patience."
The words sounded sinister.
Threatening.
Terrifying.
Suddenly Helen thought of something.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Daniel."
Antonia looked up.
"What?"
"I think it's Daniel."
The room went silent.
Antonia immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Hear me out."
"No."
Helen crossed her arms.
"He already gave you forty-eight hours."
Antonia's heart skipped.
The text.
The ultimatum.
Choose between me and him.
Forty-eight hours.
And now this.
A cold chill crawled up her spine.
Still, Kidnapping?
Daniel?
Could he really go that far?
"I don't know."
Helen sat beside her.
"I hope I'm wrong."
Antonia rubbed her face.
"This doesn't make sense."
"It makes too much sense."
"What if it isn't him?"
"What if it is?"
Neither woman had an answer.
The silence stretched.
Then... buzz.
Again.
The phone vibrated.
This time both women jumped.
Helen grabbed it immediately.
Another message.
From the same unknown number.
She opened it.
And instantly froze.
Antonia noticed.
"What?"
Helen didn't answer.
"What does it say?"
Still silence.
Fear surged through Antonia.
"Helen."
Slowly, Helen turned the screen toward her.
The message read:
"You can still salvage the situation."
A pause.
Then another line.
"Divorce Kennedy."
The room became deathly silent.
Antonia felt the blood drain from her face.
"No."
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"No."
Helen stared at the screen.
Trying to process what she was seeing.
The messages weren't asking for money.
There was no ransom demand.
No account number.
No instructions.
Nothing.
Only one demand.
Divorce Kennedy.
The realization made Helen's stomach twist.
Because this wasn't about kidnapping.
This was personal.
Very personal.
Antonia suddenly burst into tears.
"Oh God, you're right , Helen."
Antonia said with guilt laced in her voice.
"it's definitely Daniel."
Helen immediately moved closer.
"This isn't your fault."
"What if he hurt him?"
"He wouldn't."
"What if he's scared?"
"What if—"
"Calm down, Antonia..."
Helen grabbed both her hands firmly.
"Listen to me."
Antonia looked at her through tears.
"We are getting him back."
Her voice was steady.
Strong.
Determined.
Even though panic was raging inside her.
Antonia stared at the message again.
Then another horrible realization struck her.
"Kennedy."
Helen frowned.
"What about him?"
"Should I show him these messages?"
The room went silent again.
Because deep down, both women were thinking the exact same thing.
Kennedy is going to be furious if he sees the message.
This could have a huge impact in their marriage.
It might not survive this blow.
Antonia felt genuinely afraid.
Not just for the child.
But for her marriage.
Because Daniel's mission was to make sure it crashed.
He was trying to destroy them, because she hadn't chosen him.
But the question Antonia couldn't seem to still know the answer to, was what she was going to tell Kennedy when her got here.