Chapter 2

Two days later, the hospital let me go. George drove me back to his large estate.

The car ride was completely quiet. George did not speak to me. He did not hold my hand. He only stared at the road with an angry look on his face. I kept my head down and looked at my empty hands.

When George unlocked the front door, we walked into the grand living room. Someone was waiting for us.

"Oh, Stephanie!" Danica cried out. Her voice was loud and sweet. She ran across the room and hugged me tightly. "I am so sorry for your terrible loss. George told me everything. I am moving in for a while. I am here to comfort you through this dark time."

George smiled at her. It was a soft, loving smile. He never smiled at me like that.

"Thank you, Danica," George said gently. "You are a very good friend. Stephanie needs someone to watch over her."

George looked at his watch. "I have to go to the office and fix the mess she caused. Stay with her, Danica."

He turned and walked out the front door. He did not even say goodbye to me.

The heavy door clicked shut.

Instantly, Danica stopped hugging me. She pushed me away hard. I stumbled back and almost fell. Her sweet smile disappeared completely. Her eyes turned dark and mean.

She stepped very close to my face.

"You stupid, useless woman," Danica whispered. Her voice was full of hate. "You ruined everything. You were supposed to give me that baby. George promised him to me. Now he is dead in the dirt because you are clumsy and weak."

I looked down at the floor. I forced my shoulders to shake. I acted like I was crying.

"I am sorry," I whispered.

"Sorry will not give me a child," Danica hissed. She grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her. "George never loved you. You were just a vessel. An incubator for my baby. Now you are nothing. You are just trash taking up space in my house."

She let go of my face and wiped her hand on her dress, like touching me made her dirty.

She rolled her eyes and walked away, heading straight for the master bedroom.

I stood alone in the hallway. My hands formed tight fists. I wanted to scream. I wanted to hit her. But I knew that would be no point.

I walked slowly to the small guest room at the end of the hall. George did not even let me sleep in the main bedroom anymore.

I went inside and locked the door. The room was dark and cold. I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled my small hospital bag toward me. I reached inside the bag. Under my dirty hospital gown, my fingers touched something hard and cold.

I frowned. I pulled it out.

It was a small, black phone. It looked very expensive and new. I did not own a black phone. George took my real phone away when I was kidnapped.

I stared at it. My hands shook slightly. I pressed the power button on the side. The screen lit up brightly in the dark room.

There was one unread message.

I opened it.

My breath stopped completely. My heart pounded so hard it hurt my chest.

It was a picture. In the picture, a tiny baby boy was sleeping in a beautiful, high-tech crib. He wore soft, warm blue clothes. He looked healthy. He looked safe.

It was my son.

He was alive.

Hot tears of pure joy fell down my face. I covered my mouth with both hands so I would not scream out loud.

Suddenly, the phone buzzed in my hand. A new text message popped up on the screen.

Text: "He is safe. My name is Matt. I slipped this phone into your bag at the hospital while you were unconscious."

I stared at the name. Matt. The tall man in the sharp suit.

Another message appeared.

Text: "George Harrington is my rival. I want to destroy his company and take everything he has."

I wiped my eyes and read the next text.

Text: "Help me destroy him from the inside. Be my spy in that house. Tell me his secrets. If you do this, I will protect your son forever. They will never find him."

I did not even have to think. I typed back as fast as my shaking fingers could move.

Stephanie: "Yes. I will do anything. I will be your spy. Please, just keep my baby safe."

The reply came seconds later.

Matt: "I promise. No one will ever hurt him. And I will not let them hurt you either."