Chapter 2 - The Rescue
The sound of shattering glass echoed like a gunshot through the quiet suburban neighborhood.
Screams erupted from inside the room as the photographer dropped his camera in pure panic.
I didn't wait for them to recover.
I reached through the broken window, unlocked the latch, and hoisted myself into the house.
Evelyn turned around, her face draining of all color when she realized it was me.
"David, what are you doing here?" she shrieked, trying to hide the money behind her back.
I ignored her completely and ran straight toward the stage.
I grabbed Lily, pulling her off the platform and wrapping my arms tightly around her trembling body.
"Daddy is here, I've got you," I whispered into her hair.
The photographer stepped forward, raising his fists and yelling at me to get out of his studio.
I didn't say a single word.
I lunged forward and hit him squarely in the jaw, sending him crashing into his expensive lighting equipment.
He fell to the floor, groaning in pain, completely neutralized.
I turned my absolute fury toward Evelyn.
"If you ever come near my daughter again, I will kill you," I promised, my voice dangerously low.
"You don't understand how deep this goes, David," Evelyn sneered, her initial shock morphing into a cold, evil smile.
"If you leave with her, Sarah will lose everything, too."
Her words hit me like a physical blow to the stomach.
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My wife, Sarah, was somehow involved in this nightmare.
I picked Lily up, kicked the front door open, and ran to my car, knowing my entire life had just been destroyed.
