Chapter 89

Alexander kissed her forehead. "Everything will work out."

Lily nodded.

"Boss, she’s calling," Max rushed into the dressing room to inform them.

Alexander and Lily followed him to the monitor room.

Lily’s cell phone was handed to her, and she answered, placing it to her ear. Everyone stood close by in silence, able to hear the conversation as the phone was connected to a device that amplified it.

"Hello, Kate."

Kate smiled. "I appreciate your patience in waiting for my call."

"Just tell me the location. I don’t have time for small talk."

Kate laughed. "You should lose the attitude. It won’t end well for you if you don’t," she warned.

Lily sighed. "I’m sorry, just tell me, please."

"That’s better." Kate turned to glance at the man behind her, holding a glass of whiskey.

"Come to the forest on the eastern side of the city with Alexander only. When you arrive, I’ll call you back," Kate said, then hung up.

"Forest?" Lily barely finished her thought before the call ended.

Lily looked at everyone.

"We heard," Ethan said. "She’s clever. She expects you to come with just Alexander, but she didn’t give an exact location to ensure you’re alone before directing you further."

"From what I can see, there’s no house in the forest," Jacob said, checking his system.

"You won’t find one. It’s underground, like this base," Alexander explained.

The others agreed.

"Makes sense," Michael added.

"Let’s go, Lily. We’ll take my sports car," Alexander said, holding her hand as they started out. He was suddenly so calm that it surprised everyone.

"Wait, you can’t just go without a plan," Alexander said.

"And who says we don’t have one?" Lily asked, meeting their gazes.

"We’re getting our child back today, no matter what," she added.

No one in the room knew the plan they had made.

Only Lily knew who Alexander had contacted to get Kate's location. Unbeknownst to them, beyond the hackers in the room trying to track the conversation with Kate, others had already pinpointed the location. But unlike their team, who hadn’t succeeded, those people would be ready to strike once Alexander and Lily entered to face Kate and whoever else was after Alexander.

Alexander and Lily left the base, got into the sports car, and sped off, heading east.

The sports car was so fast they arrived in just an hour.

After an hour, they reached the forest on the eastern side. They parked on the road and entered the forest, wearing boots to navigate faster.

When they ventured deeper into the woods, Lily's phone rang.

She answered immediately; there must be a camera somewhere watching them.

"Kate," Lily said.

"I like how you follow instructions," Kate said.

They had already checked the perimeter and confirmed Lily was with no one else except Alexander.

"Just tell me the exact spot."

"Calm down, you’re too impatient."

"You can’t expect me to be calm when my child is with you, can you?"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha," Kate laughed loudly. "I love that you understand what I’m capable of."

"I do, so just tell me the exact place."

"You’re eager to die, aren’t you?"

"If it means saving my child, then yes," Lily responded.

Kate turned to look at Viola, who was listening to the conversation between Lily and her mother. "Guess who’s listening, Viola. She wants to cry, hearing how much her mommy loves her."

"Viola," Lily called as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Mummy," Viola said.

"Dad and I are coming, okay? Don’t be scared," Alexander assured her.

"Okay, Daddy," Viola replied.

They both felt relieved knowing nothing had happened to their daughter.

"We both love you," Lily said.

"Someone is coming to guide you to the location, so wait there," Kate said, then hung up.

They waited for about 30 minutes before spotting a woman walking towards them. Lily recognized her immediately.

"She’s the teacher who took Viola," Lily told Alexander.

"I know her," Alexander said.

Lily clenched her fists, wanting to hit her for daring to hand over her child to Kate.

"You’ll have all the time in the world to deal with her later," Alexander assured Lily.

Harlord smiled when she reached them. "The power couple," she smirked.

"How could you kidnap a child? You’re a teacher."

"The teaching job was just a way to get close to Viola so I could kidnap her when the time was right. You both were so protective of her that I had no choice but to teach at her school," Harlord said without a hint of remorse.

Alexander’s face remained emotionless. If only they knew what he had planned for them by the end of the day.

Tears rolled down Lily’s cheeks at her words.

"Just take us there," Alexander said calmly.

Harlord looked at him and smiled. "The mighty Alexander has suddenly become so calm. Who would have thought?" She smirked, as if she’d won a lottery by kidnapping the child of the most feared man in the city. "It’s true what they say—even the mighty fall," she added.

Alexander remained calm.

Lily wanted to say something, but Alexander stopped her.

"Let her be."

Harlord smiled, then turned around. "Follow me."

They followed her deeper into the forest until they reached a cave.

Harlord entered, and they followed her inside, using their lights in the darkness.

Harlord stopped suddenly, causing them to stop as well.

Lily wondered what was beneath this cave.

They watched as Harlord placed her hand on the wall to their right, which shifted, revealing an iron door with a smart lock.

She typed in the password, which they couldn’t see, and the door opened.

Lily concluded that whoever was helping and funding Kate must be very powerful.

Harlord stepped inside, and they followed. The door shut behind them, plunging the area into darkness.

"Lights on," Harlord said, and the lights flicked on, revealing a long passageway with many doors.

Alexander wondered what was behind all these doors, knowing his daughter was likely behind one of them.

Harlord began walking, and they followed her, passing many doors until they reached the last one in the middle of the passageway. It was large and tall.

Harlord knocked, and the door was unlocked and pushed open by someone inside.

They stepped into a large room. The floor was bare ground, covered in sand and stones.

They entered and saw men dressed in black standing at each corner, holding guns.

"Stand in the middle of the room," Harlord instructed, and they complied.

Alexander held Lily’s hand, and they stood at the center of the room, which resembled a large underground warehouse.

Alexander scanned the entire area.

A small door at the end opened, and their eyes snapped towards it.

Kate walked out, smiling at them. "My guests have arrived," she said, taking a seat in a chair facing them, holding a shotgun in her hand.

Alexander and Lily hadn’t brought their guns, knowing they’d be confiscated.

It had been over three years since Lily last saw Kate. She couldn’t deny how much Kate had changed. Her grandfather had shaved off Bella and Kate’s hair, and with the scars on their heads, it was impossible for their hair to grow fully. So, Kate's shoulder-length blonde hair was a wig.

"Hand over my child," Alexander said coldly.

Kate’s eyes flicked towards him, her heart softening at his handsomeness. He was as striking as ever. "I’ll decide when you see her," she replied.

"If you give her to us and let us leave, I promise to let you live."

Kate laughed. "Let me live?" She frowned. "You’re on my turf, so you should be begging me to let you live."

Alexander smiled.

Kate was startled by his smile. Alexander didn’t smile often, so seeing it now meant he had a plan to get them out of there. But as she considered how secure the place was, she dismissed it as an empty threat.

"Who else is involved? You mentioned a surprise for me?" Lily asked.

Kate smiled and nodded. "I did. He’ll be here soon," she smirked, eager to see Lily’s reaction when she met the person who wanted her husband’s downfall.

They heard the large door behind them open.

"Oh, he’s here already," Kate said excitedly.

Lily and Alexander turned simultaneously to see who it was.

Lily’s eyes widened in shock when she saw who it was.

"Albert?"

Her ex-boyfriend Albert? She couldn’t believe it.