Chapter 3

A frantic knock on the office door startled both Jaimen and Ivanna. Jaimen's assistant burst in, out of breath.

"Mr. Cline! We found something! A lead!"

A sliver of hope cut through the tension in the room. Ivanna jumped to her feet, her hands clasped together as if in prayer.

"Oh, thank God!" she cried, looking at Jaimen with wide, tearful eyes. "I knew Christeen wouldn't be so heartless. I knew it!"

She clutched his arm again. "Jaimen, I promise, once Timothy is better, I'll do anything you want. I'll be your servant, I'll wash your feet, anything to repay you for saving my son."

Jaimen patted her hand, his gaze fixed on his assistant. "Don't worry, Ivanna. I'll protect you. Once I get my hands on that woman, I'll make her pay for everything she's put you through."

His patience was gone. He glared at his assistant.

"Well? Don't just stand there! Where are they? I want them brought here immediately. If they resist, break their legs. I don't care. Just get them here!"

The assistant swallowed hard, his face pale. He seemed to be struggling for words. "Mr. Cline, it's... it's not that simple."

"What's not simple?" Jaimen snapped, his voice a low growl.

"Sir, I..." the assistant stammered.

Jaimen's temper flared. In two long strides, he crossed the room and grabbed the assistant by the collar, slamming him against the wall.

"Are you deaf?" Jaimen roared, his face inches from the terrified man's. "I gave you an order!"

"Don't you dare stand in my way," Jaimen hissed, his grip tightening. "My son's life is on the line. One more word of hesitation, and I'll throw you off this building myself."

The assistant squeezed his eyes shut, terror making him finally speak. The words tumbled out in a choked rush.

"We found your daughter, sir. Lily Cline."

He paused, taking a ragged breath.

"She's dead."

The world seemed to stop. Jaimen's rage froze on his face, replaced by a look of stunned disbelief. He slowly released his assistant's collar.

"What... what did you just say?" he whispered.

Ivanna gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

"It's impossible," Jaimen said, shaking his head. "You're lying. Christeen took her. She's hiding her to spite me." He lunged for the assistant again. "Tell me the truth or I'll kill you!"

The assistant flinched but held his ground, holding up a file folder with trembling hands. "It's all in here, sir. The official documents."

He opened the folder. "Lily Cline. Died three years ago. The day after the bone marrow extraction."

Jaimen stared at the paper as if it were written in a foreign language.

The assistant' s voice was quiet but clear, cutting through the silence. "The official cause of death is listed as cardiac arrest, brought on by complications from a severe bone marrow extraction procedure."