The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Media Circus

Cut to: Marcus Blackwood’s private facility, watching the news coverage

Marcus sat in his leather chair, brandy in hand, watching the television with satisfaction. The news was showing footage of Blackwood Tower, police cars and ambulances surrounding it.

"Breaking news: Hostage situation at Monroe Global CEO’s residence. Details still emerging, but reports suggest Damien Blackwood’s brother Marcus has taken Aria Monroe and her son"

He clicked it off, smiling. The real game was just beginning and this time, he was going to win.

Aria POV

Six hours.

Noah had been gone for six hours, thirty-two minutes, and eighteen seconds.

I knew because I’d been staring at the clock on the FBI command center wall, watching each second tick by like a countdown to the end of the world.

"Ms. Monroe, we need you to go through the timeline again." Agent Sarah sat across from me, her expression professionally sympathetic. "I know it’s difficult, but any detail could help us locate your son."

"I’ve told you everything three times already." My voice sounded hollow, even to my own ears. "Marcus disabled the security system. He got past the guards. He took Noah and jumped off the ledge with a harness his team extracted, then they disappeared."

"And you didn’t see which direction"

"No." I closed my eyes, seeing it again. Noah’s terrified face as they descended. His screams for me are getting fainter. "I was forty-three floors up. By the time I got downstairs, they were gone."

My penthouse had been transformed into a federal crime scene. Agents everywhere, dusting for prints, collecting evidence, speaking in low urgent voices. The broken window had been cordoned off with yellow tape.

Damien stood by that window now, his back to the room, phone pressed to his ear. He’d been making calls ever since. Calling in every favor, mobilizing every resource, offering rewards that made the FBI agents’ eyes widen.

Ten million dollars for information leading to Noah’s recovery.

Twenty million for Noah’s safe return.

Fifty million for Marcus’s capture.

Money couldn’t fix everything. But Damien was trying anyway.

"Ms. Monroe?" Agent Sarah voice pulled me back. "I need to inform you that the media has gotten wind of the situation."

My stomach dropped. "How?"

"We’re not sure but someone leaked it." She pulled out her tablet, and I saw the headlines already spreading across news sites.

BILLIONAIRE CEO’S SON KIDNAPPED IN DRAMATIC ABDUCTION

BLACKWOOD FAMILY FEUD TURNS DEADLY: CHILD CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE

BREAKING: Three-Year-Old Heir Missing After Uncle’s Hostage Situation

Each headline had photos. Grainy security footage of Marcus entering my building. An old photo of Noah from some database.

"They’re gathering outside the building," Agent Sarah continued. "We have NYPD crowd control, but it’s getting overwhelming. You should prepare for"

The elevator dinged.

Every head in the room turned. The doors opened, revealing Olivia, her face pale and drawn. She was carrying my phone—the one I’d thrown at Marcus and left behind in Noah’s room.

"It’s been ringing nonstop," she said quietly, crossing to me. "Every news outlet in the country. Your board members. Your parents."

My parents of course they’d call now to pretend that they were concerned about their grandson.

"Delete everything," I said flatly. "I don’t want to hear from any of them."

"Aria"

"Delete. It. All."

Olivia hesitated, then nodded. She sat beside me, taking my hand. Her fingers were warm but mine were ice-cold.

"Have you eaten anything?" she asked softly.

I couldn’t remember. Couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten, or slept, or done anything except stare at that clock and pray for my phone to ring with news.

"Marcus will call," Damien said suddenly, turning from the window. His voice was rough. "He didn’t take Noah to kill him, he took him for leverage."

Agent Sarah stood. "Mr. Blackwood, we’ve discussed this. If Marcus contacts you, you need to let us handle"

"I’ll handle it." Damien’s eyes were cold, dead. "Whatever he wants, I’ll give him. The company, my fortune, my life. Anything."

"With all due respect, negotiating with kidnappers"

"Is exactly what I’m going to do." He looked at the agent, and something in his expression made her take a step back. "My brother took my son because I took everything from him. Fine. He can have it back. All of it. As long as Noah comes home safe."

"Damien" I started, but he shook his head.

"Don’t." His voice cracked. "Don’t tell me it’s not my fault. Don’t tell me we’ll find him. Just... don’t."

He turned back to the window, and I saw his reflection in the glass. Saw the way his hands were shaking. The way his jaw was clenched so tight it had to hurt.

This was killing him. This guilt, this helplessness. Good because he deserved it. Except... looking at him now, seeing his anguish, I felt something I didn’t want to feel. Something dangerously close to sympathy.

No. I couldn’t afford sympathy. Not when Noah was still missing.

My phone buzzed in Olivia’s hand.

Everyone in the room froze.

Agent Sarah moved first, gesturing for Olivia to hand it over. "Is it him?"

Olivia looked at the screen, and her face went white. "It’s... a video message from an unknown number."

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