When He Loved Another, I Made Him Pay

My child was taken. Abducted without mercy. The demand came fast and brutal—one billion dollars, no negotiations. Every second afterward felt like knives sliding through my veins, but panic didn’t stop me. I gathered the money anyway, piece by piece, breath uneven, fingers shaking as I authorized the transfer.

Then the screen refreshed.

Transfer unsuccessful.

At first, I thought it was a system error. A delay. Anything but the truth. Until I found out my account had been locked—deliberately. Frozen by the woman who slept in my husband’s bed. His secretary. His lover.

I barely remember walking into the executive office. My legs were weak, my chest burning, vision blurred by terror.

“Why?” I choked out. “Why would you do this when my son’s life is on the line—”

Marina didn’t flinch. Not even a blink. Calmly, she opened her desk drawer, pulled out two crumpled dollar bills, and flicked them toward me.

“Here,” she said lightly.

The bills drifted down, landing at my feet like a cruel joke.

“Consider it an advance,” she continued, smiling. “You can try negotiating with the kidnappers. Ask if they’ll accept partial payments. And if they won’t…” She tilted her head, voice sugary. “Well, maybe they can send your son back to you piece by piece too.”

Something in me shattered.

“You sick bitch!” I screamed.

I slapped her before I even realized I’d moved. Once. Twice. The impact burned through my palm, up my arm. Marina stumbled back, shrieking as she clutched her face.

“Dominic!” she screamed. “Dominic, help me!”

The door flew open.

Dominic charged in, his presence crushing the air out of the room. He didn’t ask what happened. He didn’t look at me. His boot slammed into my chest, hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs. Pain exploded through my ribs as I hit the floor.

Before I could even gasp, he gathered Marina into his arms, shielding her like she was made of glass. His glare sliced into me.

“Lay a hand on her again,” he said coldly, “and I’ll ruin you so completely you won’t recognize yourself anymore.”

That threat hurt more than the kick.

My phone buzzed.

I barely noticed at first. Then I saw the notification. A new message. My hands trembled violently as I opened it.

The video started playing.

My baby. My Ethan.

Tiny fingers being crushed one after another. His cries broke into sobs, his hands slick with blood. The sound of him screaming for me ripped straight through my chest.

“Mommy! Please—Mommy, help me!”

I screamed.

“Dominic—please!” I begged, dragging myself across the floor, every breath agony. “He’s your son. He’s our son. Ethan is just a child. Call them back. You have the money. You can save him—please!”

My voice cracked, shredded, but I kept talking because every second of silence meant he was closer to dying.

Dominic looked down at me with eyes full of something dark and ugly.

“Our son?” he scoffed. “How many times do you want to hear it, Vivienne? He’s not mine. I had the tests done. Asher is my only son. Maisie’s child.”

“That test was rigged!” I sobbed. “Marina interfered—she—”

“Enough!” he barked, cutting me off.

He pulled Marina closer, cradling her while glaring at me like I was filth.

“You really expect me to believe this circus?” he continued. “The tears. The hysterics. You think I don’t see through it? You hired someone to take that bastard, didn’t you? Just to get my attention again.”

My heart stopped.

“No—Dominic, I swear—”

He laughed, low and cruel. “You’re so desperate you’d exploit your own child’s fear. Even if those so-called kidnappers kill him, it means nothing to me. He isn’t my blood.”

The door opened.

“Daddy!”

Asher’s voice rang out—bright, cheerful, wrong. He ran inside clutching a toy car, tugging on Dominic’s sleeve.

“Can we go now?” he asked happily. “You promised the amusement park!”

The contrast was sickening.

I lay crumpled on the floor, my son’s screams still echoing in my ears, while this child smiled without a care in the world.

Something inside me broke completely.

I crawled forward and collapsed against Dominic’s legs, gripping him like a drowning woman.

“Please,” I whispered, tears soaking his trousers. “Please, Dominic. Let her unfreeze the account. I’ll do anything. I’ll sign the divorce papers. I’ll vanish. Just save Ethan. He’s only a boy. He’s—he’s ours.”

“I never froze anything,” Marina said softly. “Maybe she drained it herself. Maybe this whole thing is just another act.”

“Stop pretending you’re innocent!” I screamed.

Asher frowned at me suddenly. “Who’s she?” he complained. “She’s annoying me, Dad.”

Dominic’s expression softened instantly—but only for him.

“Don’t worry,” he said gently. “She won’t be a problem anymore.”

Then his hand lifted.

“Take her.”

Strong hands hauled me up before I could react. I fought, screamed, begged, but they dragged me away, my cries drowned out by Asher’s laughter fading behind me.

A metal door slammed shut.

No windows. No light.

I pounded on it until my fists throbbed and my ribs screamed.

“Please! Dominic—Marina—please!”

No answer.

Only the ticking countdown in my head.

My phone was still in my pocket. With shaking fingers, I pulled it out. There was only one name left to call.

I pressed dial.

It rang.

Once. Twice.

Then—

“Dimitri speaking.”