Chapter 30: Into the Unknown
1272 Words
The next morning, the Kingsley mansion was peaceful.
Sunlight streamed through the windows as Amelia sat at the breakfast table with Ethan.
She looked much happier than she had a few days ago.
Finding her mother's family had filled a lonely part of her heart.
Ethan watched her smile and couldn't help smiling too.
"What?" she asked.
"You've been smiling all morning."
She laughed.
"I can't help it."
"I know."
He reached over and gently squeezed her hand.
"I'm glad you're happy."
She smiled warmly.
Before she could reply, her phone rang.
It was Lily.
"Good morning, cousin!" Lily's cheerful voice came through.
Amelia laughed.
"Good morning."
"Shopping today?"
"Shopping?"
"Yes! Aunt Catherine and I are taking you out."
Amelia smiled.
"Okay."
"Great! We'll pick you up in an hour."
After hanging up, she looked at Ethan.
"Lily and Aunt Catherine want to go shopping."
He smiled.
"You should go."
"You don't mind?"
"Of course not."
Then his expression became serious.
"But take the security guards."
She laughed.
"You worry too much."
"And you don't worry enough."
She smiled.
"Okay, Mr. Protective Husband."
He chuckled.
---
An hour later, Amelia left with Catherine and Lily.
The shopping trip was fun.
They visited several stores and bought clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Lily insisted on buying matching bracelets for all three of them.
"We're family now," she declared proudly.
Amelia laughed.
"Okay."
After lunch, they headed toward the parking lot.
Suddenly, one of the security guards answered his phone.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
"Mrs. Kingsley."
"Yes?"
"Mr. Kingsley has been in an accident."
Everything froze.
"What?"
"He has been taken to the hospital."
Amelia's face turned pale.
"Ethan?"
The guard nodded.
"We need to go now."
Fear gripped her heart.
Without thinking, she turned to Catherine.
"I'll call you later!"
She hurried toward the car.
Lily looked confused.
"What happened?"
"Ethan's been hurt!"
Aunt Catherine's face changed.
But before she could stop her, the car drove away.
---
Inside the vehicle, Amelia's hands trembled.
She tried calling Ethan.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Her heart pounded.
Then she looked up.
The driver was unfamiliar.
And so was the man sitting beside her.
Her blood ran cold.
"Excuse me…"
Neither of them answered.
"Where are we going?"
Silence.
Fear slowly crept into her chest.
"This isn't the way to the hospital."
The man beside her smiled.
A frightening smile.
"No."
She froze.
"What?"
"We're not taking you to the hospital."
Her heart stopped.
"Who are you?"
Before she could react, a cloth was suddenly pressed over her mouth.
She struggled.
"No… let me go!"
Everything became blurry.
The last thing she heard was a cold voice.
"Take her to Madam."
Then darkness swallowed her.
---
At Kingsley Group, Ethan was in a meeting.
His phone suddenly rang.
Lily.
He answered.
"How's the shopping trip?"
"Ethan!" she cried.
"Amelia is gone!"
He stood up so suddenly that his chair nearly fell.
"What?"
"Someone said you were in an accident and took her away!"
The color drained from his face.
For several seconds, he couldn't breathe.
Then his expression turned terrifyingly cold.
"Daniel."
His assistant immediately stood up.
"Sir?"
"Find my wife."
The room became silent.
Everyone felt a chill.
They had never seen Ethan look like this before.
"Right away."
Ethan grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
No one dared stop him.
---
Meanwhile, Amelia slowly opened her eyes.
Her head hurt.
She looked around.
She was in an unfamiliar room.
The curtains were closed.
The walls were gray.
A single lamp stood in the corner.
She tried to stand.
The door suddenly opened.
A woman entered.
She looked elegant and beautiful.
But her eyes were cold.
Very cold.
"So… you're awake."
Amelia frowned.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled.
"I've been waiting a long time to meet you."
"Why am I here?"
She ignored the question.
Instead, she walked closer.
"You really do look like Sophia."
Amelia's eyes widened.
"You knew my mother?"
The woman's smile disappeared.
"Oh, I knew her."
Silence.
"Who are you?"
The woman looked directly into her eyes.
"My name is Vivian Moore."
The name meant nothing to Amelia.
"I don't understand."
Vivian laughed softly.
"Of course you don't."
She sat down.
"You've been living such a happy little life."
"What do you want from me?"
The woman's expression hardened.
"I want what should have been mine."
"What?"
"The Laurent inheritance."
Amelia stared at her.
"I don't want any inheritance."
Vivian's eyes narrowed.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"It's true!"
The woman laughed.
"You're just like your mother."
Amelia's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
"She always acted innocent too."
Anger flashed across Amelia's face.
"Don't talk about my mother like that."
Vivian smiled coldly.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The Laurent temper."
Amelia's hands clenched.
"Why did you kidnap me?"
The woman's eyes darkened.
"Because I spent my entire life being ignored."
Silence.
"I grew up in the Laurent family."
She looked away.
"I was promised everything."
"But then your mother came along."
Amelia frowned.
"What?"
"Everyone loved Sophia."
Bitterness filled her voice.
"She was kind, beautiful, and perfect."
The room became quiet.
"And then she left."
Vivian laughed bitterly.
"I thought everything would finally belong to me."
She looked at Amelia.
"But now you appeared."
Understanding slowly dawned on Amelia.
"You hate me because of the inheritance."
Vivian's smile vanished.
"I hate that everything keeps being taken away from me."
Amelia's heart tightened.
The woman looked… lonely.
Broken.
But what she had done was still wrong.
"You kidn*pped me."
Vivian looked away.
"I only wanted to talk."
"By bringing me here against my will?"
The woman remained silent.
Suddenly—
BANG!
A loud noise echoed through the house.
Vivian stood up.
"What was that?"
Another crash.
Then footsteps.
Fast footsteps.
The door burst open.
And there he was.
Ethan.
His eyes immediately found Amelia.
Relief flooded his face.
"Amelia."
"Ethan!"
She ran into his arms.
He held her tightly.
"So you're okay."
"I was so scared."
He gently touched her hair.
"I'm here."
For several moments, neither of them moved.
Then Ethan slowly looked up.
His face became cold.
Very cold.
Vivian took a step back.
"You found this place quickly."
His voice was like ice.
"You took my wife."
"I wasn't going to hurt her."
"You kidn*pped her."
Silence.
For the first time, Vivian looked nervous.
Ethan stepped in front of Amelia protectively.
"I should call the police."
Vivian lowered her eyes.
"Go ahead."
The room became quiet.
Then Amelia gently touched Ethan's arm.
He looked at her.
She shook her head slightly.
Vivian looked surprised.
"You don't want me arrested?"
Amelia sighed.
"I think you're hurt."
The woman froze.
"You spent so many years feeling unloved that you let hatred consume you."
Silence.
"But this isn't the answer."
Vivian's eyes slowly filled with tears.
No one had ever said that to her before.
She looked at Amelia.
"You sound just like your mother."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
For the first time in years…
She cried.
"I never wanted to become this person."
The room remained silent.
Finally, Ethan spoke.
"Then change."
Vivian looked at him.
"It's not too late."
She lowered her head.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then she whispered,
"I'm sorry."
Amelia smiled softly.
"I hope you find peace."
Vivian wiped her tears.
Then she nodded.
Outside, police sirens echoed in the distance.
Ethan looked at Amelia.
"Let's go home."
She smiled.
"Okay."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
And together…
They walked out.
Back toward the people who loved them.
Back home.
- Writer
