"Ahh!"
Kim's scream tore through the walls like a blade. Pain gripped her spine and twisted through her abdomen. Sweat pooled at her temples. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the telephone with every ounce of strength she had left.
I barely managed to dial the number
William's hospital. My husband's hospital. Riverson General Hospital the finest in all of Latin America, and today, it would be my battlefield between life and death.
Within moments, the piercing sound of an ambulance siren sliced through the air. They rushed me through the emergency entrance. Faces blurred. Voices overlapped. I was in labor but the pain wasn't ordinary. It was terrifying, paralyzing. Something was wrong. I was losing blood… losing breath… losing hope.
They wheeled me straight into the I.C.U.
My vision dimmed. Everything around me sounded distant muted as if I was trapped underwater. My body was trembling, my heart begging for mercy. "Please God, not my baby… Not my angel… Not my sweet little girl."
Then light.
When I opened my eyes, tears blurred my vision, but the first thing I saw was William. His eyes, once stern and composed, were now soft and watery as he held a tiny pink bundle in his arms.
"Honey," he whispered, smiling through tears. "See… we have a beautiful baby girl. Look how pretty this little angel is." Joy, pure and overwhelming, washed over me. I watched the father of my child hold her like the most delicate treasure in the world.
"You are so cute," he whispered into her tiny ear, his voice cracking under the weight of emotion. That simple whisper melted me. I'd never seen William so vulnerable. His smile was different real. The sight of him bonding with our daughter etched itself into my soul.
"Her name is Hazel," I said, breathlessly.
"Wow," the nurse gasped. "That's a beautiful name." Hazel Riverson," William said with pride, "the sole heir to my empire."
I let out a weak laugh. My body was exhausted, but my heart was full. The joy of bringing life into this world… especially with the love of my life? What more could I possibly ask for?
"Ma'am," a soft voice interrupted. A nurse stood at the door with a tray of medication. "I'm here to administer your drugs." Okay," I nodded, smiling sleepily. "You may enter."
I didn't know that would be my last peaceful moment.Hours later, I stirred awake, still groggy. My eyes fluttered open lazily. I turned to Hazel's crib—
Empty.
My breath caught. No panic… not yet.
"Relax, Kim," I whispered to myself. "She's probably with William."I smiled at the thought him holding her, humming a lullaby, probably dancing around like the proud dad he was. I let out a long, shaky sigh.
Then William walked into the ward. He looked calm. Unbothered. "Hey, honey," he said, gently. "You should get some rest. Please, lie down."
I raised an eyebrow. "Yh I will… but tell me something. Why are you such a baby thief? Where did you take my princess to, huh? Not fair I'm getting jealous over here." His smile faded.
"Kim… what are you talking about?" His brows furrowed. "Hazel's not with me. She's been with you this whole time. I just stepped out for an emergency case." My blood ran cold.
"What are you saying?" My voice cracked. "Where is my baby?" My heart slammed against my chest. The walls spun. "No. No. No… This can't be happening."
Darkness. I collapsed.
When I woke up again, the world was chaos.
William was shouting into the phone. "I want the full police force on this. No excuses. Use the entire NYPD if you have to. If that's not enough, I'll call in the damn military. Just bring back my daughter!"
Tears streamed down his face. His voice trembled with rage and agony. The hospital's security team scrambled to check every corner of the building. Every hallway. Every elevator. Every exit.
But the CCTV footage showed nothing. Nothing. Whoever took her… knew exactly what they were doing. William was pacing, gripping his head, eyes red. "It's my fault," he muttered. "I should have never left. I should have protected them. My family… my girls…"
Just hours ago, he had everything a wife, a child, a perfect little world.Now?Shattered.
Broken.
"Sir," the lead officer said solemnly, "we will find your daughter. I give you my word."
But no amount of promises could fill the hollow in our hearts. Hazel Riverson, our baby girl gone without a trace. And just like that, the beginning of my joy became the beginning of my sorrow.