Chapter Fifty One: Matters Beyond Control

After leaving Amelia house, Jonah wasn't ready to give the whole thing a rest. He wanted to know the direct connection between eric, Maxwell and sarah.
Whether or not Amelia likes it, he was going to keep digging for as long as it took.

After leaving Amelia's house, he headed for Maxwell's house amd fortunately for him, he saw him going out. He followed him until they arrived at a cafe. He ensured to stay out of sight.
Jonah leaned against the cold brick wall of the alley, his eyes fixed on the café across the street. His fingers drummed a restless rhythm on his thigh as he watched Maxwell through the large front window. Maxwell sat at a corner table, engrossed in conversation with an unknown associate. Jonah’s instincts screamed at him to pay attention, to gather every detail, even though he knew he shouldn’t be there.

Amelia’s voice echoed in his mind, “Jonah, leave Maxwell alone. We have no solid evidence, and you’re wasting time on a hunch.”

But Jonah couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Maxwell than met the eye. The way he carried himself, the subtle nods and glances, all hinted at something deeper, something dangerous. Amelia’s logic was sound, but his gut told him otherwise. After all, he did send a warning nite telling them to back off. He definitely had something to hide for him to end a warning to them.

As the minutes ticked by, Jonah didn't get distracted. He noted every movement, every interaction, everything wqs etched in his mind. Maxwell’s companion handed over a small, unmarked envelope. Jonah leaned forward, squinting to see if he could catch a glimpse of its contents, but Maxwell quickly pocketed it, his expression unreadable.

The baby's disappearance gnawed at Jonah. Every night, he replayed the events in his mind, searching for clues he might have missed. Sarah, the distraught woman who claimed to be the mother, had been inconsolable, her pleas echoing in Jonah's ears. She had pointed a trembling finger at them for being careless and then seeing her with Eric, he could see the fear in Eric’s eyes the day he snuck in.

Jonah couldn’t dismiss the disturbing thought that connected Maxwell, Eric, and Sarah. He had spent hours pouring over old records, digging into their pasts, looking for any link that might explain the baby's disappearance. His obsession consumed him, driving a wedge between him and Amelia, who pleaded with him to let it go.

“Jonah, you’re chasing shadows,” she had said, her frustration barely contained. “You’re not seeing the bigger picture. We have to follow the evidence, not your intuition. Plus, he already warned us to stop, give it a rest at least." She pleaded.

But Jonah’s intuition was all he had left. He believed Maxwell was at the center of this mystery, pulling the strings, and he wasn’t about to let it go. Maxwell had been too calm, too composed when questioned about the baby. Jonah had seen the glint of calculation in his eyes, the same look he had seen in criminals who thought they were untouchable.

As Maxwell stood, shaking hands with his associate before slipping out the door, Jonah blended into the shadows, following at a safe distance. He couldn’t confront Maxwell, not yet, but he could keep watch.

He knew Amelia would be furious if she found out. He could almost hear her exasperated sigh, see her disappointed shake of the head. But he had to be sure. If Maxwell was involved in something terribly shady, it was only a matter of time before he slipped up. Jonah just needed to be there when it happened.

Jonah moved carefully, slipping out of the shadows to trail Maxwell at a safe distance. He was so focused on Maxwell that he didn’t notice the two hefty men until it was too late. They emerged from a nearby alley, their grips very firm as they pinned him against the wall.

“Hey, what the—” Jonah struggled, but their strength overwhelmed him.

Blows rained down on him, each one harder than the last. Pain exploded through his ribs and face, but he forced himself to stay conscious, to think of the missing baby, of Amelia.

Just as his vision began to blur, Maxwell stepped into view, his fcae against the dim streetlight. He looked down at Jonah with a mixture of pity and disdain.

“I warned Amelia to back off,” Maxwell said, his voice calm and measured. “She didn't listen, and now look where we are.”

Jonah spat blood, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “You’re not getting away with this,” he rasped. “I’ll find out what happened to that baby, and I’ll bring you down.”

Maxwell crouched down, his face close to Jonah’s. “You’re tenacious, I’ll give you that. But you’re also foolish. There are things in this world you don’t understand, Jonah. Things that are bigger than you, bigger than Amelia. If you continue down this path, you’ll end up worse than you are now.”

Jonah’s vision wavered, but he held on to the last strength he had in him. He could see the cold look in Maxwell’s eyes, the confidence of a man who thought he was untouchable. Jonah knew he couldn’t stop, not now.

“Take him away,” Maxwell ordered his men. “Make sure he remembers this.”

As the two men dragged Jonah deeper into the alley, Maxwell raised a hand, signaling them to stop. He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of Jonah, who lay bruised and bloodied on the ground. The flash of the camera cut through the darkness, capturing the extent of Jonah's beating.

Maxwell typed quickly on his phone, attaching the photo to a message. His fingers moved with a calm precision as he added a note: "Your man didn't listen. You owe me."

He hit send, and the message went straight to Amelia.

Maxwell knelt beside Jonah once more, the faint glow of his phone illuminating his face. "You see, Jonah, this isn't just about you. Amelia needs to understand the consequences of meddling in matters beyond her control. She owes me now, and there's a debt to be paid."

Jonah struggled to stay conscious, the pain clouding his thoughts. He could barely comprehend what Maxwell was saying, but the fear in his gut told him that Amelia was now in danger too.

Maxwell stood up, pocketing his phone. "Take him away," he repeated to his men. "And make sure he doesn't forget this."

As they dragged Jonah off, Maxwell's words echoed in his mind. He knew he had to survive, not just for his own sake, but for Amelia's too. She needed to know the true danger they were facing, and Jonah was determined to make sure she did.

As the two men dragged Jonah deeper into the alley, Maxwell raised a hand, signaling them to stop. He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of Jonah, who lay bruised and bloodied on the ground. The flash of the camera cut through the darkness, capturing the extent of Jonah's beating.

Maxwell typed quickly on his phone, attaching the photo to a message. His fingers moved with a calm precision as he added a note: "Your man didn't listen. You owe me."

He hit send, and the message went straight to Amelia.

Maxwell knelt beside Jonah once more, the faint glow of his phone reflecting on his face. "You see, Jonah, this isn't just about you. Amelia needs to understand the consequences of meddling in matters beyond her control. She owes me now, and there's a debt to be paid."

Jonah struggled to stay conscious, the pain clouding his thoughts. He could barely understand what Maxwell was saying, but the fear in his gut told him that Amelia was now in danger too.

Maxwell stood up, pocketing his phone. "Take him away," he repeated to his men. "And make sure he doesn't forget this."

As they dragged Jonah off, Maxwell's words echoed in his mind. He knew he had to survive, not just for his own sake, but for Amelia's too.

Amelia paced her living room, unable to shake the worry gnawing at her. Jonah had left their last conversation upset, and she couldn’t stop replaying his words in her mind. She sipped a cup of tea, hoping it would calm her nerves, but the unease lingered. It clung onto her like a baby to its mother.

Her phone buzzed, its screen lighting up with a notification. She glanced at it and felt her heart skipped when she saw the sender—Maxwell. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she unlocked her phone.

The message opened to a photo of Jonah, battered and bleeding, sprawled on the ground. Amelia’s breath caught in her throat. The accompanying note sent a chill down her spine—"Your man didn't listen. You owe me."

Tears stung her eyes as she stared at the image. The tea cup slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor. She quickly called Jonah's phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Panic gripped her as she realized the gravity of the situation. Maxwell wasn’t just playing games—he was making a statement, and Jonah had paid the price.

Amelia's mind raced. She needed to find Jonah, but more importantly, she needed to outsmart Maxwell. She couldn’t afford any more mistakes. She grabbed her coat and keys, hoping she would be able to find Jonah