Chapter 159

Angela POV

The sleek black vehicle pulled away from the luxury apartment complex and merged into Manhattan traffic.

"Tell me Christopher Blake's address," Sean demanded, his jaw clenched tight at the mere mention of Christopher's name.

"Christopher?" I repeated, surprised by the question.

My mind raced as pieces began falling into place. Christopher's recent behavior, his unexpected absence after I'd rejected him, the strange timing... Could it be? I fell silent, processing the implications.

After about ten seconds of contemplation, I recited Christopher's midtown address.

Sean smirked. "You seem quite familiar with his address," he said sarcastically.

The car interior grew silent except for the soft classical music. I didn't bother arguing with Sean, too preoccupied with trying to understand why Christopher would take my children without telling me. Nothing about this made sense.

Had I been so quick to blame Sean because it was easier than considering alternatives? Christopher had been nothing but kind to me and the children for years. Yet I couldn't ignore how hurt he'd been when I rejected him last week. Still, abducting my children seemed completely out of character for him. I needed to see them with my own eyes to be certain they were safe.

Sean's phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I kept my gaze fixed on the passing streetscape, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Did you find anything?" Sean answered sharply.

"Mr. Shaw, we retrieved the school security footage as quickly as possible," Thomas's voice came through the speaker. "I've sent it to your phone."

"Good work. Who took them?"

"You should see for yourself, sir."

Sean glanced at me briefly. "Do you want to look at my phone now, or should we wait until the next stoplight?"

I hesitated before responding, "I'll look now."

"The password is your birthday," he said matter-of-factly.

"I know."

I unlocked his phone and opened the video Thomas had sent. The security footage showed the school entrance, time-stamped from earlier that afternoon.

My heart sank as I watched Christopher approaching the front desk, speaking with the receptionist, then leaving with Aria and Ethan holding his hands.

I stared at the screen in silent confirmation. It was indeed Christopher who had taken my children without telling me. But why? Where had he taken them? And why hadn't he answered any of my calls?

The car stopped at a red light, and Sean turned toward me.

"In your eyes, am I responsible for everything bad that happens?" he asked, his voice unnervingly calm. "When the children disappeared, your first thought was that I took them."

"What else was I supposed to think?" I shot back. "You show up at their school every day, showering them with attention. Isn't your ultimate plan to take them away from me? Can you honestly deny that thought has never crossed your mind?"

"I've been trying to make amends, not to-"

"I don't want to discuss this," I interrupted, noticing the traffic signal changing. "The light's green. Drive."

We continued in tense silence. My mind replayed last week's conversation with Christopher when I'd rejected him. I had been deliberately harsh, hoping to make him give up on me.

I'd even told him he was "annoying" - words that now filled me with guilt. After all he'd done for us over the years, I'd called him "annoying" to his face.

Yet even then, he hadn't reproached me for my cruelty.

This whole situation was my fault...

Twenty minutes later, we arrived outside Christopher's midtown apartment building. I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door handle before Sean had fully parked.

"You should go back," I said firmly.

Sean frowned. "What did you say?"

"I'll handle this myself. You don't need to come with me."

A cold smile crossed his lips. "Really? He took not only your children but my children as well. I'm not comfortable letting you go up there alone."

"They are my children," I snapped, anger flaring instantly. "They have nothing to do with you."

"That's not for you to decide," Sean replied, his tone flat and final.

Before I could protest further, Sean had exited the car and circled around to my side. He slipped his arm firmly around my waist and guided me toward the building entrance, cutting through the busy sidewalk traffic.

"Come on. Let's go get our son and daughter," he said, his grip unyielding.

"Let go of me, Sean! Have you lost your mind? Let go!" I struggled against his hold, earning curious glances from passersby.

"Stop making a scene," he said in a low voice. "Do you want Ethan and Aria to see us fighting?"

His words stopped me cold. The children's wellbeing had to come first.

Sean's expression softened slightly. "You're worried I'll get into a fight with Christopher in front of the kids?" Sean's voice softened slightly. "Don't worry. Although I'd love to punch him in the face right now, I won't do anything physical."

I stared at him, surprised. "How did you know that's what I was thinking?"

"Because I know you, Angela," he replied simply. "No matter how much you try to deny it."