Chapter 486

The officer taking notes glanced up at Vivian, disapproval etched across his face.

"You let your son stay missing this long without reporting it?" His tone was sharp. "What kind of parent does that? Thank heavens the boy had the sense to call us himself! We haven't located him yet, but we've detained the kidnapper. At least it's not a total disaster."

Vivian dipped her head in agreement. "You're absolutely right, Officer. We failed him as parents."

Internally, she sighed. I wonder which poor souls crossed paths with Adrian this time. They should be grateful if he didn't sell THEM into trafficking instead.

Adrian had a habit of vanishing—and every time, some fool tried to take advantage. Without fail, those kidnappers ended up begging the police for protection from the real menace: Adrian Lockhart.

"The suspect confessed," the officer continued, "but refuses to disclose the child's location. Claims she targeted him because of a personal vendetta against you. She's demanding a private conversation."

"Vendetta?" Vivian's fingers tightened.

She'd made enemies—the dangerous kind. If one of them had Adrian... Her stomach twisted.

"Where is she?" Vivian's voice turned icy. "Bring her in."

The officer nodded, speaking into his intercom. Moments later, the door swung open.

Cassandra Delacroix shuffled in, cuffs gleaming. Her dead-eyed stare snapped to life at the sight of Vivian. A vicious smile curled her lips.

"Couldn't wait to hear the news, could you, Vivian? Should've stayed home. Soon enough, you'd have received... a special delivery."

Vivian's nails bit into her palms. "If you wanted revenge, you should've come for ME. Not a child. Do you believe in karma, Cassandra?"

"Spare me the lecture!" Cassandra lunged against her restraints, voice shrill. "You murdered my baby! Took motherhood from me forever! Now I'll return the favor—that precious boy of yours? He's suffering horrors you can't imagine!"

The officers wrestled her back as she shrieked, "God gave you such a perfect son... Pity he shares your cursed blood! I made sure he'll beg for death before I'm done!"

Vivian's blood ran cold.

"Any moment now," Cassandra hissed, "you'll learn his fate. And you'll drown in guilt knowing YOU caused it!"

"Enough!" An officer slammed Cassandra onto the table. "One more word and you're in solitary!"

Cassandra laughed, cheek mashed against steel. "Do your worst! That boy is already broken! Vivian Lockhart, you'll—"

Vivian stood abruptly. "Officer, I need the room."

Her voice was calm. Deadly calm.

The Carmine Emporium wasn't just any black-market den—it was a point of no return. Its owner, Quentin Blackthorn, was Nathaniel Blackwood's most ruthless enemy. And Adrian, as Nathaniel's son...

Cassandra had struck where it hurt most.

Because nothing destroyed a mother faster than her child's suffering.

Vivian's hands trembled—but her voice didn't. "Leave us."