Chapter 254

Robert's POV

Night had completely enveloped the old pier in northern Long Island. The distant lighthouse beam swept across the desolate area every few seconds,briefly illuminating the decaying wooden planks and rusted metal structures. The sea breeze howled through abandoned warehouses,carrying the salty dampness and subtle scent of decay.

The temperature had dropped considerably since sunset, and I pulled my jacket tighter around my shoulders, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the weather.

My hands trembled slightly against the steering wheel, Howard Thompson's urgent call still echoing in my mind: "Robert, I need you to go to the old pier in northern Long Island. Sarah is expecting me there,but I'm going to the abandoned factory in Brooklyn to find Annie."

The guilt that had been gnawing at me since I'd revealed the fake account to Sarah intensified. I should have told Howard immediately about her reaction-that dangerous flash in her eyes, the unnerving calmness in her voice when she realized she'd been monitored. If I had, perhaps none of this would be happening now.

As I parked at the pier entrance, I drew a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. The dashboard clock read 7:30 PM. My eyes scanned this nearly forgotten place, once buzzing with fishermen and cargo ships,now abandoned except for the occasional smuggler or teenagers looking for a secluded spot. At the pier's end stood a small lighthouse keeper's cabin, its light flickering occasionally-clearly the only structure still in use.

"This must be where Sarah chose to meet," I whispered to myself, images

of golden-haired Lucy flashing through my mind. The thought of innocent children involved in adult vendettas made my stomach turn.

I grabbed the flashlight from my glove compartment and stepped out. The wind immediately whipped through my hair, carrying the distant sound of foghorns from ships navigating the treacherous waters. I carefully made my way along the wooden walkway toward the pier's end.

With each step forward, the creaking boards seemed to warn of the danger ahead,some planks shifting unnervingly beneath my weight. In the distance. Atlantic waves crashed against the pier, their rhythm mixing with my rapid breathing.

My thoughts drifted to Sarah-how had she gone from the charismatic,ambitious woman I'd married to this? Our relationship had always been tumultuous,marked by passionate reconciliations and equally passionate fights. But kidnapping? This was beyond anything I could have imagined,even from her.

By 7:45 PM, I stood before the lighathouse keeper's cabin, its weathered exterior speaking of decades battling coastal storms. I hesitated briefly before gently pushing open the unlocked door. The hinges protested with a long,eerie creak. Inside, dim lighting revealed a hallway leading to several rooms. the walls covered with peeling maritime-themed wallpaper and old fishing nets.

"Is anyone here?" I called tentatively, my voice echoing through the empty corridor. The floorboards groaned beneath my weight as I took a few cautious steps forward.

No response came, but I was certain I'd heard faint sounds from the innermost room-a muffled whimper, perhaps, or the shuffle of small feet.Taking another deep breath, I slowly moved toward the source, my

heartbeat thundering in my ears.

The smell of mildew and something else-something sweeter, like the perfume Sarah always wore-grew stronger as I approached the final door.I steeled myself for what I might find, hoping desperately that Howard's fears were unfounded, that Sarah wasn't capable of involving children in her vendetta.

When I pushed open the final door, the sight before me made me gasp.Lucy and Brian were tied to chairs, blindfolded with strips of cloth, their mouths sealed with duct tape. Small, frightened whimpers escaped from behind Lucy's gag. My son Max stood nearby, holding a flashlight clearly too large for himn. watching the doorway warily. The room was sparsely furnished-just the chairs, an old table, and some fishing equipment against the walls.

"Dad!"Max exclaimed with surprise when he saw me, immediately starting toward me. His chubby face lit up with momentary relief, clearly not understanding the gravity of the situation.

In that moment. I felt something hard press against my back-unmistakably the barrel of a gun-and froze mid-step.

"Don't move," Sarah's voice came from behind me, cold and dangerous,entirely different from the warm tones she used with our son. "Max, step back."

Max halted, his expression changing from joy to confusion. His eyes darted between Sarah and me, trying to comprehend what was happening."Mom,what's going on?"

"Nothing, sweetheart," Sarah's voice suddenly softened, transitioning seamlessly from threatening to motherly. "This is just a game adults play.

Go sit down over there like a good boy."

I turned slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements,to find Sarah holding a small pistol, its barrel pointed directly at me. When she saw my face,her expression shifted from threatening to disappointed, her perfectly applied makeup unable to hide the momentary confusion in her eyes.

"Robert?" she asked incredulously, lowering the gun slightly before raising it again. "Where's Howard?"

"Sarah,have you lost your mind?" I whispered, keeping my voice lowN So the children wouldn't hear, though my tone couldn't disguise my shock."You kidnapped three children? Our son?"

Sarah's laugh carried a hint of hysteria, echoing unnervingly in the small room. "I just wanted to teach Annie a lesson. She ruined everything for me!My career. my reputation, even you're on her side now!" Her finger trembled slightly on the trigger. "After everything I built, she destroyed it all!"

My gaze swept across the three children in the room. Golden-haired Lucy and brown-haired Brian trembled with fear, small shoulders shaking beneath their school uniforms, while Max watched everything with growing unease, his earlier confusion giving way to fear.

"Sarah, the children are here," I tried to keep my voice calm despite the anxiety evident on my somewhat haggard face. "We shouldn't discuss this in front of them. Let's step outside, alright? We can talk this through, find a solution."

Sarah glanced at Max, whose eyes were now filling with tears.Her expression momentarily softened, maternal instinct briefly overriding her rage.

"Fine," she nodded after a moment's hesitation. "But don't try anything stupid."

She motioned for me to walk ahead, keeping the gun trained on my back as we moved into the living room of the small cabin.

In the cramped space, a dim yellow bulb provided weak illumination,casting long shadows across the worn furniture. Sarah closed the door to the children's room but kept her gun pointed at me, her perfectly manicured nails contrasting starkly with the deadly weapon in her hand.

"Where is Howard?" she demanded again, her tone threatening.

"I don't know," I admitted honestly, struggling to control my naturally irritable temperament. "He asked me to come here. He didn't tell me where he was going." The lie came easily, but I avoided direct eye contact,focusing instead on the gun.

Sarah narrowed her eyes, considering this for a few seconds. Suddenly,her expression changed with realization, eyes widening as pieces fell into place."He went to find Annie, didn't he? He went to Brooklyn!"

I didn't answer, but my silence confirmed her guess.

"He broke the rules!" Sarah shouted angrily, running her fingers through her carefully styled hair. "I was very clear-Howard comes to the pier,Annie goes to the factory! They're not supposed to contact anyone!" Her voice rose with each word,the careful facade of control crumbling.

"Sarah, put the gun down," I attempted to calm her, my hands raised in a placating gesture. "Think about Max, think about the baby in your belly.Do you really want to continue down this path? Is revenge worth destroying everyone's lives-including your own?"

For a brief moment, uncertainty flickered across her face. Then Sarah's eyes glinted dangerously as her mouth curved into a calculating smile I knew all too well from our marriage-the expression she wore when cornered but still holding an ace. "It's too late, Robert. Everything's too late now."

She pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number, keeping the gun trained on me with her other hand.

"Philip?" Her voice was tense and hurried. "Howard isn't coming. He went to find Annie. Proceed with the plan immediately!"