Chapter 232 Heaven Sent Her Back
Sophia raised the stick and with all her might, she brought it down hard on the back of the kidnapper's head.
The kidnapper let out a "thud," and turned to glance at Sophia, but before he could react, she struck him again. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.
"Mommy." Emma, seeing her mother, cried even harder.
Sophia rushed over, quickly untying Emma, while Sam helped free Ethan.
The three kids threw themselves into the familiar embrace, their fear and panic pouring out in cries of "Mommy, Mommy!"
Ethan said, "Mommy, I thought I'd never see you again."
Emma uttered, "Mommy, it hurts, I'm so scared."
“Mommy,” whispered Sam.
At that moment, as Sam's composure faded, all that remained was fear, and he clung tightly to Aunt Kelly, echoing his siblings' calls for their mother in a tearful, quavering voice.
Sophia held the three kids tight, her entire body trembled, yet she enveloped them with strength and comfort.
"I'm so sorry, Mommy didn't protect you well enough, but it's okay now, Mommy's here."
In that instant, Sam truly felt the protection and love of a mother.
Not far off, Jake had dealt with the three kidnappers. They lay on the ground, motionless.
Jake came over and asked, "Are the kids all right?"
"Yes," Sophia replied.
The immediate danger had passed, Sophia took out her cell phone to call Caroline, telling her to bring the police to apprehend the kidnappers.
"Gabriel had brought a bunch of cops, they're already on their way up the mountain," Caroline informed her.
"Gabriel came too?" Sophia was astonished.
"Yes, and they've got drones searching."
As soon as Caroline finished speaking, Sophia looked up to see a drone gliding through the darkness towards them, like the specter of the night.
Sophia looked up at Jake, "Please, take Ethan and Emma away before Gabriel notices them."
Without a question, Jake replied, "Sure."
Turning to the kids, Sophia soothed them, "Go with your Uncle Jake, and your godmother will meet you at the bottom of the hill. Mommy will be right behind you."
Emma shook her head. She wanted to stay with her mom. She was terrified, having never experienced such fear before.
Ethan, holding Emma's hand, assured her, "Mom, we'll be good."
Jake, cradling Emma in one arm and holding Ethan’s hand in the other—the hand still bleeding—hurried them away.
Minutes after they left, one of the kidnappers stirred. Sophia, clutching Sam, braced for an attack, but the man, seeing his unconscious accomplices, fled in terror.
As Sophia let out a sigh of relief yet remained on edge, she worried that the man would encounter Ethan and Emma.
"Mommy?"
Hearing her child's tender voice, Sophia embraced Sam tightly. "Sam, my baby, are you finally talking to me?"
Her eyes brimmed with tears, "I'm sorry, my love, for all the years you thought you were motherless. I promise that I'll never leave you again."
Sam stiffened. ‘What was Aunt Kelly saying?’`
At that moment, Gabriel and the police, guided by a drone, approached silently, pausing in shock at the scene before quickly rounding up the fallen kidnappers. Gabriel, face tense with worry, approached Sophia and Sam.
"Sam."
Hearing his father's voice, Sam looked up from Sophia's embrace.
"Dad!"
Gabriel's spirit lifted as he stretched out his arms to take Sam, but Sophia wouldn't let go. Nevertheless, Sam reached for Gabriel.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I'm late," Gabriel said, checking Sam for injuries but finding none.
Sam shook his head, indicating he was all right and that his father shouldn't blame himself.
This wasn't the time for tenderness. Gabriel prepared to take Sam down the hill. He noticed Sophia, disheveled and scratched, standing among the unconscious kidnappers, one of whom was seriously wounded.
Did Sophia take them all down by herself?
"Let's head down the hill," Gabriel murmured to Sophia, his voice even-tempered despite the situation.
Sophia put away her feelings of disappointment. Though their reunion was under such circumstances, she was thrilled to finally recognize her son.
"One of the kidnappers got away. My friend chased after him in that direction," Sophia indicated where the perpetrator had fled.
Gabriel conveyed the urgency to the police with a stern look, prompting them to dispatch a search team.
The descent used the same trail they had ascended on. The path, trampled by many, was now more defined and easier to navigate than during the climb, though the damp earth was slick. Sophia nearly lost her footing.
Gabriel instinctively reached out, steadying her with one hand.
"Hold onto me as we walk."
Sophia shrugged off his hand and continued forward. Gabriel sighed inwardly.
When Sophia slipped again, Gabriel didn't catch her, and she nearly tumbled down the slope. Sam opened his mouth in alarm.
As Sophia got back to her feet, Gabriel extended his arm.
"Take my arm! I have no interest in carrying a child and an injured woman later."
Sophia, fearing another fall, set aside her pride and accepted his help.
Gabriel was undeniably sturdy and strong, managing to support both Sophia and carry Sam without faltering.
Finally, at the base of the hill, they were met by a multitude of police officers and Gabriel's bodyguards.
Sophia didn't see Caroline but got into Gabriel's car, where he handed Sam to her.
Sam clung to his father's shirt as he left Gabriel's embrace.
Gabriel shot a puzzled look at his son.
Sam gestured from Sophia to himself and then mimicked sign language, silently asking Gabriel, "Is she my real mom?"
Gabriel's heart clenched at the question; Sam's silent inquiry meant he must have realized the truth and was seeking confirmation.
"Yes."
Sam's eyes widened, "But didn't Grandma tell me mom went to heaven?"
He was very well-aware of what 'heaven' implied.
Gabriel answered dryly, "Heaven sent her back."
Sophia was speechless at the response.
Sam's eyes grew even wider, realizing his mother hadn't died.
Why then had she been absent for five years? Why didn't she want him?
"Sam," Sophia said, a note of panic in her voice.
She watched the joy on Sam's face slowly fade, replaced once more by the same vacant, soulless expression he'd worn before.
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