Chapter 8
426words
Walter and James had strategically positioned personnel throughout the vicinity.
Plainclothes officers blended seamlessly with pedestrian traffic.
At precisely ten o'clock, they arrived.
Ethan wore an ill-fitting suit, his hair artificially styled.
His parents flanked Emma, gripping her arms with unnecessary force.
The instant Emma spotted me, she fought against their restraint, tears streaming:
"Mommy! Mommy!"
"Emma!" My heart constricted painfully, but I remained strategically immobile.
Ethan approached rapidly, reaching for my hand with manufactured gentleness:
"Liv, you came. I knew you still cared about our family.
I knew you still loved me."
I jerked away from his touch, my gaze moving past him to his parents.
Margaret immediately pulled Emma behind her, barking:
"Enough theatrics, Olivia!
Get inside with my son and sign the marriage certificate! Otherwise—"
Before she could complete her threat, plainclothes officers converged from multiple directions.
They moved with coordinated precision, immediately restraining all three adults.
"What is this?! What are you doing?!
Is this a public kidnapping?!"
Margaret's screams reached hysterical pitch as she struggled against restraint.
"This is outrageous! Officer, we're here for a family reconciliation!
This is a private family matter!" Robert protested, his face ashen with fear.
Ethan, hands secured behind him, pleaded desperately:
"Olivia! Tell them this is a misunderstanding! We're just working things out!"
I approached unhurriedly, regarding them as one might observe trapped vermin.
Every humiliation I had endured crystallized into cold satisfaction.
I presented my phone to the lead detective:
"Detective, these individuals abducted my daughter yesterday.
They attempted to extort two hundred million yuan for her return.
The evidence—including explicit threats and ransom demands—is recorded here."
Margaret's eyes bulged with shocked comprehension.
"You recorded everything?! You manipulative bitch!
You'll suffer for this!" she shrieked.
"You orchestrated your own downfall."
I corrected her calmly, my gaze shifting to Ethan's pallid face,
"The moment you involved my daughter, your fate was sealed."
The officers quickly verified the recordings.
"Margaret and Robert Reynolds, you are under arrest for kidnapping and criminal extortion."
Handcuffs closed around the wrists that had once expelled me from my home.
Their protests and threats faded as officers escorted them to waiting police vehicles.
Lacking sufficient evidence of Ethan's direct involvement, officers released him temporarily.
He stared after the departing police cars, seemingly unable to process what had occurred.
I gathered my trembling daughter into my arms, soothing her gently as I turned away.
I knew Ethan wouldn't accept defeat gracefully.
And I had no intention of showing mercy.
