WHEN HEART COLLIDE

Chapter 20

When Hearts Collide

Chapter 20 – The Kidnapping Attempt

The next morning, Ethan increased security at both Cole Developments and the Riverside Heights construction site.

Additional security guards were stationed at every entrance, employee access cards were reissued, and visitors had to pass through stricter screening.

Ryan watched the new procedures with approval.

"You really think the threats are serious?"

Ethan looked toward the lobby.

"I don't intend to find out the hard way."

Sophia noticed the changes as soon as she arrived.

"This is all because of those anonymous messages, isn't it?"

Ethan hesitated before answering.

"Yes."

She sighed.

"You should have told me."

"I wanted to protect you."

She looked at him seriously.

"You can't protect me if you keep me in the dark."

He nodded.

"You're right."

For the first time since the threats began, Ethan showed her the messages on his phone.

Sophia read them silently.

Her expression became tense.

"So whoever is behind this wants us apart."

"Exactly."

She handed the phone back.

"Then we don't let them decide our lives."

A faint smile appeared on Ethan's face.

"That's exactly what I hoped you'd say."

Later that afternoon, Sophia stayed behind at the construction site to review the landscaping plans.

Most of the workers had already left, leaving the site unusually quiet.

She rolled up the blueprints and headed toward the parking area.

Just as she reached her car, a white delivery van pulled up beside her.

The side door slid open.

Two men wearing dark jackets stepped out.

"Ms. Daniels?"

Sophia frowned.

"Yes?"

"We're here to pick you up."

"I didn't request transportation."

"Mr. Cole sent us."

Something about their voices felt wrong.

Sophia took a step back.

"I'll call him first."

One of the men quickly moved toward her.

"There's no time."

Instinct told her to run.

She turned and sprinted across the parking lot.

The men chased after her.

"Stop!"

Sophia reached for her phone with trembling hands and dialed Ethan.

The call connected.

"Ethan!"

"I'm at the construction site. Someone's trying to—"

Before she could finish, one of the men grabbed her arm.

She screamed.

The phone fell to the ground.

Inside a meeting at headquarters, Ethan heard the scream through the phone.

"Sophia!"

The call ended.

His face turned pale.

Ryan stood immediately.

"What happened?"

"They've got Sophia."

Without another word, Ethan rushed from the room.

Ten minutes later, Ethan's SUV screeched into the construction site.

Police sirens echoed in the distance.

He jumped out and found Sophia struggling against one of the men near the open van.

"Let her go!" Ethan shouted.

The attackers turned.

Seeing Ethan and the approaching security guards, they shoved Sophia aside and ran back into the van.

The vehicle sped away before the police could block the exit.

Ethan ran straight to Sophia.

She was sitting on the ground, shaken but conscious.

He knelt beside her.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, tears filling her eyes.

"I... I don't think so."

Without thinking, Ethan pulled her into his arms.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

He simply held her, relieved she was safe.

"I thought I'd lost you," he whispered.

Sophia clung to him.

"I'm okay."

Ryan arrived moments later with the police.

The officers immediately began searching the area, but the van had disappeared.

One detective examined the security footage.

"They planned this carefully."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"Find them."

"We'll do everything we can."

That evening, Ethan refused to let Sophia return to her apartment alone.

"It's not safe."

"I don't want to inconvenience you."

"You're not."

Ryan spoke up.

"She's safer somewhere with security."

After a brief pause, Sophia agreed.

Ethan drove her to his penthouse.

As she stepped inside, she looked around at the elegant but quiet home.

"It feels... lonely."

Ethan gave a small, honest smile.

"It has been."

Sophia looked at him gently.

"Maybe not anymore."

For the first time since the attack, Ethan felt a sense of peace.

But across the city, Vanessa Blake slammed her hand onto a table after hearing the news.

"They escaped?"

One of her accomplices lowered his head.

"Mr. Cole arrived before we could take her."

Vanessa's eyes burned with anger.

"Then we'll have to change our plan."

She walked to the window, staring out at London's glittering skyline.

"This isn't over."

And for the first time, the danger surrounding Ethan and Sophia had become terrifyingly real.

End of Chapter 20