Chapter 160: Chapter 160 Yara’s Ultimatum
Caleb’s POV
I returned to Ivy’s side and pulled her trembling form against my chest. The private elevator opened with a soft mechanical whisper, and I guided her toward the waiting figures in the secured hallway. She broke from my protective embrace and rushed into her parents’ arms while Zoe embraced her own family with desperate relief. Thomas stepped forward, his weathered face marked by exhaustion and the kind of worry that only comes from sleepless nights spent fearing for your child’s safety.
"Son, I cannot begin to express how grateful we are that you brought us here," Thomas said, his voice carrying the weight of paternal anguish.
"No gratitude is necessary, Thomas," I replied, accepting his firm embrace and feeling the raw strength of a father’s desperate love.
Diane approached with tears streaming down her cheeks. I pulled her close, drawing unexpected comfort from her maternal presence that reminded me painfully of everything I had lost when my own parents were murdered. After acknowledging Zoe’s parents with necessary politeness, I provided them with a carefully edited version of our current crisis. Dr. Taylor had already taken Ivy to her private medical suite for a comprehensive examination.
I requested a private meeting with Ivy’s parents. The time had arrived to reveal the dangerous truths we had been forced to conceal. We gathered in Ivy’s recovery room where Dr. Taylor delivered reassuring news about her physical condition before departing discreetly.
"You actually arranged for my parents to fly here?" Ivy asked, fresh tears flowing down her pale cheeks.
"Yes, I contacted Miller immediately after the kidnapping and explained our situation completely. I had the family jet bring them here within hours," I explained carefully. "Ivy, all I can think about is how desperately I wish my own parents could be here right now. I thought having your family close would provide comfort for both of us during this nightmare."
"Thank you, Caleb," Ivy whispered with profound gratitude.
"But we must reveal everything now. This was not how I intended to handle these revelations, but we cannot allow this moment to pass without complete honesty," I said, ensuring she understood the gravity of our situation.
"What other developments should we be aware of?" Thomas asked with the serious demeanor of a concerned father preparing for harsh truths.
"Thomas, we have discovered that I am Max’s biological father," I stated directly, refusing to soften the shocking revelation. "Ivy and I first met at that underground masquerade auction and spent the night together."
"But when I asked you directly during our visit, you denied being Max’s father," Thomas said with confusion clouding his features.
"We had absolutely no knowledge of our previous connection. During our encounter that night, we both wore elaborate masks that completely concealed our identities. We never exchanged names or any personal information. Later, when she began working within my organization, neither of us realized we had met before." I provided a detailed explanation of my parents’ assassination, my desperate search for the mysterious woman from that night, and my overwhelming joy upon discovering my role as Max’s father.
"This story would make quite the dramatic film," Diane observed with a slight smile that helped ease the mounting tension.
"Well, you two certainly chose an unconventional path to find each other," Thomas remarked, causing us all to share a moment of much-needed levity despite our circumstances. "But as long as my daughter and grandson are happy, nothing else matters. I am relieved to know my grandson’s father is an honorable man who loves him completely."
"There is one additional matter we need to discuss, Dad," Ivy said softly, her gaze dropping to her folded hands.
"What concerns you? That you moved into his compound? I completely understand that decision. I would never want my child living separately from her family either," Thomas demonstrated his practical understanding of our dangerous world.
"That is certainly part of it, Thomas. As soon as we recover Max safely, we will finalize wedding arrangements immediately. But Ivy and I are expecting another child," I announced, attempting to deliver the news with calm composure despite everything.
"Is this true, Ivy?" Her father studied her with intense seriousness, causing her to shrink slightly under his scrutiny. "I am going to become a grandfather again? This is wonderful news despite these terrible circumstances! Our family continues to grow beautifully."
Ivy smiled radiantly and embraced her parents warmly. With our major revelations complete, we returned to the main conference area where Carmen and Walter had arrived to offer their complete support during this crisis. Mr. Miller was already mobilizing his extensive network of contacts throughout the city, though no significant leads had emerged yet.
After a tense lunch, I retreated to my private office with Thomas and Miller. Federal agents waited inside alongside Scott, Felix Hayes, Dominic, Xavier, Finn, and Jude. Ivy remained with her mother and the other women for emotional support during this difficult time. My secure phone buzzed with an untraceable number, prompting me to immediately activate the speaker function.
"Thorne speaking."
"Oh darling, what a deliciously commanding voice you possess," Yara Rossi’s sickeningly sweet tone filled the room like poison. "Are you missing me terribly?"
"Where are you hiding, Yara?" I demanded, fighting to maintain control over my rising murderous fury.
"Just enjoying precious quality time with an adorable blue-eyed little boy," she replied with chilling casualness that made my blood freeze.
"You are completely insane! Where is my son?" I shot to my feet, my hands clenched into fists that ached to wrap around her throat.
"Oh please, calm yourself, handsome. The little brat does not belong to you anyway. He may share your striking looks, but he belongs to that pathetic servant girl who stole you from me." Yara spoke as if discussing weekend social plans rather than kidnapping and terrorizing a child.
"Yara, put Max on this phone immediately," I commanded with barely restrained violence.
"Not quite yet, lover. First, we need to discuss my terms for returning the little monster unharmed. First condition: that maid disappears permanently back to whatever backward town spawned her. Second: you will publicly declare your love for me and announce our engagement to all the families. Third: you will be my husband in every possible way, and I trust you understand my complete meaning. Fourth: we will live in your parents’ estate as master and mistress. Fifth: you will transfer controlling interest of your organization to my father. After you fulfill every single demand perfectly, I will consider returning the brat to his mother. Refuse me, and I will eliminate the little pest permanently. Do we have a clear understanding, darling?"
"You are beyond insane, Yara, completely deranged!" I roared into the phone.
"Oh, to demonstrate my absolute seriousness about this arrangement, listen carefully to this." Max’s terrified crying filled the room as he called desperately for his mother and me. A male voice ordered "disconnect now" in the background. I recognized that voice but could not place its owner immediately. "I am granting you very little time to consider my generous proposal. Sweet dreams, handsome." The line went dead abruptly.
This deranged woman had crossed every conceivable line into complete madness! I needed to rescue my son before she caused him irreparable psychological damage. I noticed Finn had begun briefing Thomas about our crisis, and I felt grateful for his thoughtfulness during this chaos.
"Caleb, we could not successfully trace that call," Felix Hayes reported grimly, "but I will continue attempting to track her location through alternative methods."
"What options do I realistically have now?" I asked, feeling completely devastated by the impossible situation.
"I seriously doubt this psychotic woman is operating independently. She lacks the intelligence and resources for this level of sophisticated planning," Xavier observed with professional detachment.
"I have already briefed the team thoroughly. The detective team is proceeding to the Rossi estate now and will escort both parents to headquarters for intensive questioning. We have also issued an enhanced search alert with the kidnapper’s confirmed identity," one of the agents reported efficiently. "We have also secured court orders to examine her complete financial records immediately."
"She has avoided using any traceable cards or accounts, so that approach will prove completely useless," Felix Hayes demonstrated his exceptional technical expertise.
I asked Xavier to update the women on our limited progress while I took time to process this nightmare scenario. I stood and left the suffocating conference room, knowing I needed to manage my terror while maintaining strategic clarity. I walked to the empty rooftop terrace where peaceful silence surrounded me completely. I sat in solitude until my racing heart finally began to slow to a manageable rhythm.
