Ties to Dust, Hearts to Strangers

When I got back to the Norton residence, Leah sent me a message. "I'm busy. I can't be with you these two days. Sorry."

I scoffed and blocked her number without a second thought.

How disgusting.

Yeah, right. Busy.

She and Dexter Caldwell were probably busy shaking my bed to pieces by now.

Well, they could have these two days. I'd use the time to pack for my trip abroad.

The next day, the maid hurried in with a report. "Mr. Norton, Ms. Caldwell is here. She's at the gate, insisting on seeing you."

I frowned, feeling like something was off.

My heartless mother never showed up unless she wanted something.

"Did she say what she wanted?" I asked.

The maid shook her head. "No. She just looks anxious. No matter what we say, she refuses to leave until she sees you."

I thought for a moment. Not planning to let my mother, Everly Caldwell, in, I walked out to the estate gate. "What do you want?"

Mom was facing away, arguing fiercely with the security guard.

As soon as she heard my voice, she gripped the iron gates and yelled, "Melvin! You finally came out! Come with me! Something serious has happened!"

I frowned. Instead of opening the gate, I took a step back. "If you need help, you should call the police, not come to me. I can't help you."

Mom shook the gate harder, her voice frantic. "No! Melvin, only you can help me! Please, open the door!"

"What happened?"

She avoided the question, only urging me to come with her.

I was done watching her performance. Just as I was about to turn away, I heard hurried footsteps approaching.

"Melvin!"

It was Leah.

Her voice was rushed, and her panic was real. "Your mom wasn't lying. This is serious, and it's complicated. Come with us, and I'll explain on the way."

I hesitated.

But when my eyes landed on Leah's uniform, I decided to trust her professionalism.

I gestured to the security guard. "Open the gate."

Leah practically wrenched me outside, terrified I might lag behind for even a second.

I stumbled into the car and asked again, "What's going on? Can you tell me now?"

Leah tensed for a moment, then brushed me off. "You'll know once we're there."

My frown deepened.

I quietly sent a few quick texts.

Finally, the car slammed to a halt in front of a run-down, unfinished building.

As I got out, the sight before me took my breath away.

A man wearing a hood was holding Dexter hostage nearby, shouting at us, "Everly Caldwell! You still owe me money! Do you have it now? I'm telling you, don't pull any tricks or I'll kill your son right now! Don't talk to me about trading stuff. I've waited long enough. Give me the money!"

I immediately realized what they planned to do.

I turned to run, but Leah grabbed me, stopping me.

Mom shouted at the kidnapper, "You know about my failed investment. I really can't scrape that much together right now! But I brought Melvin! Look, you can hold him hostage. He's worth more than Dexter. He's my son with Adam Norton. The filthy rich Norton family. His dad is loaded. You can ask for as much as you want! I'll trade him for Dexter. Let Dexter go!"

The kidnapper's eyes lit up at the mention of "the Norton family". He agreed immediately. "Fine! Bring him here. I'll trade!"

I glared at Mom in disbelief. How did she have the nerve to say that?

"Everly Caldwell, you're a fucking monster! Dexter's your son, but I'm not?"

Mom, knowing she was in the wrong, couldn't even look at me.

I turned sharply and looked at Leah, who was holding me back. With a last shred of hope, I asked, "Leah, do you think the same way? You know, if I wanted to leave, you couldn't stop me. I just need your answer."

I looked at her quietly, feeling something inside me snap for good.

Leah turned her face away. Her voice was laced with guilt and conflict as she replied, "I'm sorry, Melvin. This is the best plan I could come up with. Dexter is too scared. The knife had already cut him. He can't take much more. But you're different. You're stronger and calmer."

She paused, as if trying to convince both me and herself. "Trust me. I'm a police captain. I won't let anything happen to you. But we have to keep the kidnapper calm and swap Dexter out first. He really can't handle much more."

As she talked, she pulled me toward the kidnapper.

Something inside me snapped. I tried to pull away, but Leah leveled a dagger at me. "Behave, Melvin. Keep struggling, and this blade might slip."

We stopped a few steps away from the kidnapper. Leah spoke up. "I'll count to three, and we'll switch."

The kidnapper nodded.

Leah pulled me in front of her, pressing her hand to my back. She called out, "Three! Two! One!"