The Kingston mansion had never felt so tense.
Security guards patrolled the grounds day and night. Cameras monitored every corner of the property. Even the staff moved quietly, as if afraid that danger might be hiding in the shadows.
Amara sat in the mansion's garden that afternoon, trying to calm her restless thoughts.
The air was warm, and the scent of blooming flowers drifted gently through the space. Normally, the garden felt peaceful.
Today, it didn't.
She kept remembering the voice on the phone.
Return Amara to us.
Her fingers tightened around the cup of tea she was holding.
Across the lawn, two security guards stood watch near the pathway.
Alexander had insisted she never walk alone again.
Footsteps approached from behind.
"Mrs. Kingston."
Amara turned.
It was one of the house maids.
"Yes?"
"There is a delivery at the gate for you."
"For me?" Amara asked in surprise.
"Yes, ma'am. A flower delivery."
Amara frowned slightly.
"I didn't order flowers."
The maid shrugged.
"The man said it was a gift."
Amara hesitated.
It could be nothing.
But after everything that had happened, she had learned to be cautious.
"I'll go check it," she said.
The guards immediately followed her as she walked toward the front gate.
A white delivery van stood outside.
A man wearing a cap and uniform stood beside it, holding a large bouquet of red roses.
"Delivery for Mrs. Kingston," he said politely.
Amara stopped a few feet away.
"Who sent them?"
The man glanced at a small card.
"It says… 'From an old friend.'"
Amara's stomach tightened.
She didn't like the sound of that.
"Open the card," she said.
The delivery man hesitated.
"Ma'am, it's sealed."
"Open it."
One of the guards stepped forward and took the card from the bouquet.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a short message.
His face immediately changed.
"What is it?" Amara asked.
The guard slowly turned the card so she could read it.
Three words were written in bold black ink.
WE FOUND YOU.
Amara's heart nearly stopped.
Suddenly—
The delivery man moved.
Fast.
Before the guards could react, he grabbed Amara's arm and pulled her toward the van.
"Get in the car!" he barked.
Amara screamed.
The guards lunged forward instantly.
One tackled the man to the ground while the other pulled Amara away from the van.
The attacker struggled violently.
"Let me go!" he shouted.
Within seconds, more guards rushed from the mansion.
The man was forced onto the ground and restrained.
Amara stumbled backward, breathing hard.
Her hands were shaking.
The head of security ran toward her.
"Mrs. Kingston, are you hurt?"
"No," she whispered.
But she felt terrified.
The attacker was dragged to his feet.
His eyes met Amara's.
And then he smiled.
A cold, confident smile.
"This was just a test," he said.
Before anyone could react, the man suddenly bit down hard on something hidden in his mouth.
Within seconds, his body went limp.
One of the guards cursed.
"Poison capsule."
The man collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Amara stared in horror.
"He killed himself?"
The head of security nodded grimly.
"They didn't want him talking."
At that exact moment, a black car screeched into the driveway.
Alexander stepped out quickly.
His eyes scanned the scene.
"Amara!"
She turned toward him.
"I'm okay," she said quickly.
But the moment he saw her pale face, his expression darkened.
"What happened?"
The head of security explained everything.
Alexander's jaw tightened as he looked at the body lying near the gate.
"They sent him to take you," he said quietly.
Amara nodded slowly.
Alexander turned toward the guards.
"Take the body away."
"Yes, sir."
Then he looked back at Amara.
For a moment, the cold billionaire disappeared.
In his place stood a man who was deeply shaken.
"They're escalating," he said.
Amara's voice trembled slightly.
"What are we going to do?"
Alexander's eyes turned icy.
"We?"
"Yes."
He stepped closer to her.
"You're not facing them alone."
Then he said something that sent a strange warmth through her fear.
"As long as you're in this house, no one touches you."
But somewhere far away, the enemy was already planning something worse.
Something far more dangerous than a simple kidnapping.
And the next move…
Would shake Alexander's world.