8
And so, the day Adrian and Jack finally got a lead on Sienna’s location, the day the three of them rushed off to Blackwater Ridge to be her heroes, Olivia called me.
“Mom, this is it. You can do it now. Turns out Sienna was never kidnapped. She just secretly went on a hiking trip as soon as she landed, deliberately making them worry. So, let’s give her a real show.”
“Alright,” I said.
2/11
12:46
Chapter 2
1246
I drove my car along the scenic coastal highway, pretending to be enjoying the view.
Then, with a deafening CRUNCH, the car slammed into the guardrail at the edge of the cliff. It teetered there, threatening to plunge into the ocean below.
Even though Olivia had told me there were professional divers waiting in the water to rescue me, the feeling of impending death was terrifying. I was so scared, I almost wished they would rush to my side. I remembe red the pain of childbirth, and this was worse.
I remembered Howard then, placing our newborn sons beside me, kissing my forehead. “Darling,” he’d said, ” look at the two sons you’ve given me. You’ve suffered so much for them. I’ll make sure they treat you like a queen. If they don’t, I’ll knock their heads together.”
Now, sitting in a teetering car, I called him.
He declined the call.
I called three times. He didn’t answer.
I called my eldest, Adrian. He picked up, but before I could speak, he cut me off. “Mom, I don’t have time for this right now. Whatever it is, I’ll call you back later.” He hung up.
I pinned my last hope on my younger son, Jack. His voice was even more agitated. “Mom, stop blowing up our phones. Dad, Adrian, and I are in the middle of an emergency. If you’ve changed your mind about the divorce, just go home.”
I couldn’t even get the word “help” out before he hung up, too.
In that moment, a profound coldness washed over me. If this had been a real accident, if I had truly plunged into the sea, they wouldn’t have come. These were the three men I had served for half my life.
As the car tipped over the edge of the cliff, my heart was cold. So cold it burned.
