Jasmine's POV
Days had slipped by without incident, each one bringing a false sense of security I desperately wanted to believe. Jayden hadn't contacted me since that morning encounter in my office, and despite every instinct warning me otherwise, I allowed myself to hope. Perhaps he had seen enough. Perhaps he had decided the children weren't worth pursuing after all.
The thought should have brought relief, and it did. At least, I told myself it did.
Saturday morning arrived with soft sunlight filtering through my bedroom curtains. I reached for my phone, scrolling through messages while my mind wandered to Lina. She had been gone for weeks now, back at her own place, and her absence left a hollow space in our daily routine. The children missed her infectious laughter, and frankly, so did I.
