Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support. Hope you will like this chapter.

Love y'all. Happy reading!

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Lucas and Claire's family are still at lost as to why she was taken by this person known by Beatriz as 'Old Tom' and 'Ben' by Amanda, which, as per their description have opposite personalities. The family doesn't know him or have any history of a feud with someone. For if the person wants something from them or needs money as a ransom, he should've contacted them already, but alas, several weeks already passed since they have known she is missing but nothing came, no notes, no calls or even just a simple warning for the whole family.

One thing that also came into their mind is that it may be business-related, since they have appeared several times in the public posing as a couple, maybe someone who have been his business competitor do the deed in order to ruin him, but, nothing came as well. No one sent any threatening letters, so all of them are still bewildered. The authorities strongly believes that the motive is personal. But everyone who knows Claire claims that she is a good person with a good personality. They professes that she is not capable of hurting anyone who may have hidden a vengeful act against her, so until now, they still do not know where to look - specifically.

The authorities even checked the address that Old Tom wrote as his' when he was still under Claire's employ, as well as the person to contact in case of emergency, but all were dead ends. The address were real but the residents claims that they do not know him or someone with that name. The person(s) he claims to be his family were also fake, since the address he wrote were situated in a barren land.

So, they are still waiting for any clues as to where Old Tom might be and where he took Claire. The police already distributed cartographic sketch of Old Tom to different stations in order to alert them. Their prayers were answered when they got a call claiming that they saw Old Tom at a laundry shop and acts as a customer. Him and the brothers went with the authorities though the latter insisted for them to remain and will just be notified for any significant findings, but everyone fought not to be left out. Though they were allowed to follow, they were given strict and clear instructions not to hinder them with their operations in case the tip is proven to be true and that they should only wait outside once they will check the home address if he gave any to the laundry shop.

Everyone is at their feet for if it is true, then they have high hopes of finding her once and for all, and true enough, the tip is accurate for they caught Old Tom while he is walking out of the shop. He was taken into custody by the authorities without qualms, though, his face clearly shows unrepentance.

He was put behind bars and under questioning, but they got nothing from him. He didn't say anything when asked as to where he took Claire and what he did to her, that made them all upset and fuming. Lucas almost hit him when he pass by them for he is at his wit's end and the culprit refuses to confess nor feel any remorse as to what he did. Their only consolation is that he will still be punished for his crimes against Amanda, who is now on her way to full recovery.

The authorities still did not stop their pursuit in finding her, for which, the whole family is thankful. They searched every nook and cranny of his address written on the laundry shop's file. The shop attendant testified that she saw female garments once, while Old Tom is doing the laundry, that is why they are hopeful that they can finally find her. But it is proven to be difficult for they found nothing at the address, no trace or hints whether Claire was or still at that place, though it is evidently clear that someone has been staying there, for there are several bills and receipts found around the house, mostly of electrical and groceries. Since, that man is still not opening his mouth, they are at another dead end.

They requested for him to be questioned again for they do not want to give up. During the series of questions, he made a slip, a comment of sort that alerted them. He said:

"Your efforts are all futile for she will not be found, or if you will, I made sure that she is almost at the death's door. If you will find her later, I know that she is already dead and rotten below." He laughed evilly after his statement.

Another search was done at his house, everybody focused on finding any trap door or a hidden passage into a basement or a shelter. They almost gave up but someone from the team of police caught something amiss, a creaking floor on one of the rooms at the ground floor. The area is at the corner of the room covered with carpet and a table was put on top of it. The creaking noise was suspicious for the whole floor isn't making the same sound. Once inspected, they found a hidden trap door, the width is only enough for one person to descend and ascend so the police went down in one file. They already alerted the others to call for a medic team in case Claire is sick or needs immediate medical attention. It took them long to open the door for the space is quite small, several attempts of using body force is not enough to open it, so a battering ram was used instead. They encounter the same problem with the cage door for it won't budge the first time with the battering ram, it took several attempts in order for it to open. The police are so concern since Claire isn't moving even with all the noise and commotion they made. When at last, the door finally opened, they check the whole area first before letting the medics in to check her vitals, an IV line was inserted and they hurriedly carried her out into the ambulance.

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When Lucas saw that everyone became busy while someone is giving orders, he knows in himself that his wife is somewhere in the house and that they finally found her. He controlled himself to run inside and see for himself how his wife is doing. When at last he saw the gurney coming out of the house, he run towards it and what he saw broke his heart. His wife looks white as a ghost with hollow cheeks and she lost so much weight that he feels he can break her hand when he place it in between his. Her brothers' face mirrors his emotions as well, a mix of relief and worry, the former for she is already found and the latter for her current condition.

He turned to Drake and gave his car keys for he wants to be with her inside the ambulance which her brothers did not deny nor argue with. He sat beside her gurney while still holding her hand and prayed continuously that they are both safe until they arrived the hospital. They were immediately assisted by the ER team and she was subsequently transferred to ICU for close monitoring after she was checked by her OB. Several tests were done as well to properly assessed whether she and their baby were fine. Once at the ICU, they were not allowed to see her yet for they will do some procedures first, according to the nurse on duty.

They were allowed after sometime but they can only come inside to see her one at a time. He let her family to see her first, and everyone came out crying and in anguish. He knows how they feel for he feels the same way, maybe more. Feelings and emotions that he thought he will never feel in his life. They all became alert when a female doctor came out asking for them. She is in her mid-forties with a kind smile.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Kelly, and I am the OB in-charge of Claire's pregnancy while she is admitted." She started by introducing herself and immediately went into business after.

"We did some procedures to her in order to check the baby's condition in her womb like ultrasound and some blood tests. I believe she is already in her third going to fourth month based on the records that you found on her things prior. Fortunately, based on the exams done, the baby is fine and is doing well at the moment. My only concern is that since Claire suffered greatly and was put under too much stress, that it might have affected the baby in some way that we cannot identify yet at this early stage."

"What do you mean by that doctor?" Lucas cannot help but ask.

"That the stress Claire had, can directly affect the baby. We do not know yet whether she had a bleeding or if she encountered any problem at some point during her captivity. We just have to pray that any of my concerns did not happen." The kind doctor answered truthfully.

"But rest assured that we are doing everything necessary for her and her child. If you have any concerns just let the nurses know and they will keep in touch with me." They can only nod their response. "I'll be on my way then."

"Thank you doctor." Nathan said.

When the doctor left, they all fell silent and left on their own musing. Lucas chest felt heavy with what the doctor said. So many things run through his mind. What if Claire really suffered or experienced something untowards during the weeks she was captive; and if she had, what will be it's effect to the baby? Will she be able to handle it? Can he handle it? Will he be able to accept for a fact that he let it happened? Can he forgive himself for what he did to her and, in process, to their child? How can he face her when she woke up? How can he live his life knowing that he is more than capable of hurting her - his love, his life? With this thoughts, he made a promise to himself - he will do the right thing for her and their child. But until then, he needed himself to be strong for them.

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Hey guys! We're almost there, a few chapters more and it's done. I hope that you will stay until then.

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Thank you for reading!

-blue