Chapter 68

Rudolf's POV
Mikayla smiled, looking excited to tell me what she had done. “I did some activities with the kids. We drew, read books, and I taught them to bake a simple cake. They really enjoyed their time in the kitchen,” she said enthusiastically, her face showing strength and happiness.
“Wow, that must have been fun! How was the cake?” I asked, curious about their work.
“Our cake wasn’t perfect, but it tasted pretty good! Emma mixed the ingredients, and Daniel was a great help—although it was a bit messy,” Mikayla replied with a laugh, recalling the funny moments that happened in the kitchen.
Her story made me smile. When they were home, they filled their days with activities that created fond memories. “They must have had a great time. I’m sure they can’t wait to show you your creations,” I said, feeling a surge of pride well up inside me.
“Yes! They even said they wanted to let you taste their cakes. We’ll try again next week,” she added, her eyes sparkling with affection.
“I’m so grateful to have you and the kids in my life,” I said, wrapping my arms around them and feeling a sense of priceless warmth.
“Has Hannah been arrested?” Mikayla asked, her face full of concern. I could feel her worry, and it made me want to comfort her even more.
“Not yet. The police are still having a hard time finding her because she’s out of the country,” I replied with a sigh. And I guess it won’t be easy to find her. But at least Chef Amarta has been arrested and sent to jail, which gives me some relief. “Amarta is in jail, and we can hope he’ll give us more information and help us track Hannah down,” I continued, trying to calm the situation.
“I hope so. I also want justice for everything that happened to me,” Mikayla said, her voice full of hope but still with a shadow of worry.
“Don’t worry, Mikayla. We won’t stop fighting. We’ll keep following all the developments, and I’m sure the police will do their best to catch Hannah. We’re all on the right side,” I replied, trying to reassure her.
“I just want to see everything go back to normal,” Mikayla sighed, trying to smile even though the burden on her shoulders was clearly visible.
My empathy and love for her strengthened my resolve. “We’ll create a new normal. We’ve been through a lot, and we’ll come out of it stronger than ever. Think about our shared happiness and the small steps we can take forward.”
Mikayla nodded, seemingly trying to steel herself. “You’re right. We need to focus on the positive right now. Besides, I don’t want to give Hannah any more power by worrying about her. Let’s live our lives to the fullest.”
“That’s right! And we’ll continue to support each other. Every day will get better, and we’ll get back to a life full of love and laughter,” I said, holding her hand.
Suddenly, Mikayla’s stomach hurt, and she complained in pain, “Ouch…”
“What’s wrong with you, Mikayla?” I asked, immediately feeling uneasy. My worry immediately overflowed, and what if this was the effect of what she experienced during the kidnapping?
She shook her head, looking confused and not knowing what to say. “I… I don’t know, Rudolf. Maybe it’s just a matter of eating or…” she answered in a weak voice.
Seeing her so uncomfortable made me feel anxious. “You should just rest. You’ve been moving around and doing activities all day. Maybe your body needs time to fully recover,” I said, trying to calm her down and care for her.
However, until tomorrow, the pain didn’t seem to subside. Seeing Mikayla who still looked uncomfortable, I knew that I needed to take further action. “Mikayla, I can’t wait any longer. We need to go to the hospital to make sure it’s nothing serious,” I said, not wanting to take any chances.
Mikayla nodded slowly, and although it was clear that she felt reluctant, I could feel the tension in her voice, “Okay, if that’s what’s best.”
We immediately left for the hospital. On the way, I gave her my full support, holding her hand gently. “You’re not alone. We’ll get through this together,” I said, trying to reassure her.
After arriving at the hospital, I could feel my anxiety starting to rise. Luckily, after a checkup, the doctor determined that her stomach ache was probably caused by prolonged stress and not something more serious. Mikayla recommended rest and some dietary changes.
When we were discharged from the hospital, I felt relieved but still had a lot of concerns. “See? It’s nothing serious. We just need to make sure you take good care of yourself,” I said, able to offer some encouragement.
Mikayla smiled at me, though there was still a hint of worry. “Thank you, Rudolf. I don’t know what would have happened without you.”
“Always, Mikayla. I’ll always be here for you. We’ll focus on your recovery and keep things positive,” I replied, feeling even more committed to protecting my family.
Mikayla took me to a noodle shop. I agreed; it looked delicious and we definitely needed some time to relax after our hospital visit.
“Wow, this is delicious,” Mikayla said, looking at her bowl of noodle soup with anticipation.
“I agree, this looks appetizing. All the noise around us makes us hungrier!” I replied, smiling as I took a bite of the chicken noodles we had just ordered.
We enjoyed the chicken noodles together, and this moment gave us a chance to relax and let go of all the tension we had been through. The warm atmosphere and the tempting aroma of the chicken noodles made us feel better.
“Mikayla, this is really delicious! Do you come to this place often?” I asked, trying to start a conversation.
Mikayla nodded as she took a bite of her noodles. “Yes, I really like it! And this place is located near my house on the beach. I often go there to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Sometimes I take the kids to play there. We can play in the sand and enjoy the waves.”