The mother and son knew that it would be a bad idea to carry out their evil plot in broad daylight, so they planned to strike at night. But their last plot was also during the night and it also failed so they knew that they had to be more careful. The only other problem they had was figuring out what time to capture Raegan, and if at all she was going to be out around the water park that night. They had sent someone to watch over her for some days and figure out if she had a routine she followed so they would be able to predict her location and ascertain the best place to strike. They noticed that there was a place she actually liked to frequent, a water park for kids that was built by her family for some of the orphanages in the area. Raegan was a philanthropist at heart and loved to give back to society, especially to children. And Cade was more than happy to support her in all she did. They decided to attack on one of the nights they knew she would be there. Alex called one of his

In his brightly lit room that beamed with the falling sun rays, Cade sat, tense as tense could get. He was acutely aware of the unwavering determination in Alex's tone when they called earlier, and so he understood the gravity of the situation. He knew that he could not surrender to Alex's demands without risking Raegan's life, yet defying him might lead to an irreversible tragedy. In a desperate bid to protect Raegan, Cade decided to turn to someone with the skills and resources needed to navigate this perilous situation – Macaulay, the trusted security staff of the president and Raegan's father.Cade determinedly slipped out from his bed, his very footsteps heavy because of worry. "Hi, Mac," Cade said over the phone. "How's it going today, Cade?" Macaulay asked over the phone even though the day was only beginning. "Can we meet this morning? There is something urgent and pressing that I need to discuss with you," Cade said, the worry evident in his voice. "Sure, I'm not very bus

The president's study, usually his place of serenity for work, became a place where he poured out his emotions. He thumped severally on the table and said as many cuss words as his brain could think of. What even was the matter with Cade that so many people hated him and were now taking out their hate on him by hurting Raegan? The president wondered in anger. Macaulay had assured him of the surety of bringing Raegan back safe, but the president, however, was not content with assurances. He wanted to see his daughter immediately, and in the event of delay, the president would take out his wrath for the singular target he had in mind—Cade. He did not care how many enemies Cade had, if risking his daughter's life was what he would get for letting him be with her, then he did not mind becoming an enemy of Cade too. The president, further driven by a father's desperation, went on to call Macaulay on the phone. His cold voice cut through the phone.He began, "Make it clear to Cade: if so

As expected, Alex came back later that night but without his counterpart. His counterpart, Grey as he was known by Alex and Cassandra, had gone back with the grocery bags to the store to get something they had forgotten to buy while Alex came inside empty handed twirling their keys in his hand. His face fell to a distorted representation of surprise upon entering the living room to see his uninvited guests. But it was only fleeting, as Alex would not give Cade the satisfaction of seeing him caught off guard. Alex looked at the faces staring back at him as he got in. He could see his mother, bound and seated by Cade's counterpart, while Cade held Raegan in his arms like a protective father. He glared at Alex as soon as Alex came in.“Don’t try anything stupid or I’ll shoot you in the head.” Macaulay warned."I see you have come for your damsel in distress?" Alex said to Cade, trying to hide his surprise that was still a little evident in his voice. "You didn't think I'd find you, did

The first day of the court hearing was marked by the cross examination of both the defendant's and the prosecutor's client respectively. The courtroom, buzzed with anticipation as Cade's lawyer, the prosecutor, initiated the court proceedings against Alex and Cassandra. Since the public was already made aware of the situation, there was no need to hold a private court session and therefore it was being televised. The charges, ranging from murder to kidnapping and attempted murder, set the stage for a legal drama that would unravel the complexities of familial discord.The members of the media watched intently as Cade's lawyer approached the witness stand. Alex and Cassandra, the defendants, sat side by side, their expressions veiled in a mix of defiance and uncertainty. The judge watched both parties and so did the jury. The trial was trending on every social media platform. Everyone was interested in the drama revolving around the country's most influential family.Cade's lawyer, the