Contract Marriage: I’ve Always Loved You

Steve’s P. O. V.

One Week Later

It’s been two weeks, and we still have no clue about Giana. Every day, it feels like a burden. I can’t stop myself from wondering about the worst possibilities.

If someone had kidnapped her for money, he would have called her till now. But nobody called us. We’re clueless about where our daughter is.

I miss everything about Giana: her innocent smile, her gorgeous blue eyes, and her sweet laugh.

God! With each passing second, the pain is intensifying.

Will we ever be able to see her again? Is she fine? How will she be living without us? These thoughts drive me and Grace insane. Sometimes it feels like good days will never come back.

Grace stays strong for me, but I can see that she is living with guilt every day that she failed to protect our daughter. I seriously don’t know what would I have done if Grace wasn’t with me these days. Her words give me hope that we’ll surely get back our daughter to us.

The loud ringing of Grace’s phone brings me back to the earth. Grace is taking the shower, and Evan is sleeping. It’s early morning. Grace and I have been hardly sleeping for two weeks. Restlessness and endless thoughts of Giana don’t let us sleep. Evan also stays upset and quiet because he misses his sister as much as we miss her. He cries without a reason and keeps lying, hugging me or Grace. Sometimes he refuses to drink milk or eat anything.

As Grace’s phone rings continuously, I pick it up from the side table.

My brows narrow in confusion, seeing the unknown number. Why do I feel like it’s a kidnapper’s call for the ransom?

“Hello,” I answer it, my heart thumping.

After a few minutes of silence, I hear a male voice from the other end. “Hello, Mr Steve Grey.”

“Who are you?” I ask, my brows furrowing in confusion.

“I’ve heard your daughter is missing,” he replies in a calm tone, but his words ignite a fire of anger within me.

“That’s none of your business. Just tell me who you are and why you called my wife,” I retort, feeling my frustration mounting.

“Calm down, Mr Grey or your daughter will suffer the consequences,” he threatens, and my heart clenches at the thought of my daughter in danger.

My daughter is with him. I feel a surge of rage, but a small part of me is relieved that finally I get a clue about her.

Without wasting a single second, I text the detective to trace his number.

“What do you want? And who are you?” I inquire, gripping the phone tightly in an attempt to compose myself. “And don’t you dare lay a finger on my daughter?”

“I won’t harm her if you meet my demands,” he replies cryptically.

I’m willing to do anything to ensure my daughter’s safety, even if it means fulfilling this stranger’s demands.

“I’ll give you whatever amount of money you want. Just return my daughter to me,” I offer, desperation evident in my voice.

“Money isn’t the only thing I desire.” He speaks, sending a chill down my spine.

What the fuck does he want?

“What else?” I demand, my stomach churning with dread. “I’ll give you anything. Nothing matters more to me than my daughter’s safety.”

“Not even your wife?” He taunts.

I snap, “What the fuck do you mean?”

“I mean, Mr. Grey, I want your wife for one night in exchange for your daughter. It’s time to settle some unfinished business from years ago.”

I lose my composure and yell at him, “Just shut the fuck up! Whoever you are, I’ll hunt you down and make you pay for even considering laying a finger on my wife. And as for kidnapping my daughter, I’ll make sure you suffer until your last breath.”

How dare he think I would sacrifice my wife for my daughter’s safety? I would do anything for her, but not this. Never!

He scoffs. “You better decide if you don’t want your daughter to suffer. You have a few hours to choose between your daughter’s safety and your wife’s. I’ll call you soon.”Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

“Wait…” he hangs up before I can say another word.

Fuck! I need to find him before it’s too late. I’ll never hand Grace over to this monster.

Wait for a second. Who was he?

“I want to complete the unfinished business of a few years ago.”

His words echo in my mind.

Unfinished business.

Could he be the same person who tried to rape Grace in her childhood? No way.

I clench my fists, glaring ahead, my eyes ablaze with fury, my knuckles turning white.

“Steve, what’s wrong? Why do you look so angry?” Grace’s voice snaps me back to reality.

No, no. Just don’t look at her, or else she’ll understand I’m hiding something from her.

I just can’t tell her anything. If she finds out, she’d sacrifice herself for our daughter without a second thought. No, I can’t let that happen. I must protect both my wife and daughter, no matter what. I’ll do whatever it takes.

“Grace, I need to go urgently.” I just rush out of the room without even glancing at her.

Fuck! This is getting more complicated by the minute.

After sitting in the car, I immediately dial the detective’s number.

I demand, “Have you traced his number?”

Just say fucking yes.

The detective begins, “Yes, but…”

I interrupt, my frustration boiling over. “But, what?”

“He called from a telephone booth. We rushed over, but he had already left by the time we arrived.” He informs me, his tone grave.

I slam my hand on the steering wheel in frustration and growl, “Fucking find him. Search all the nearby places. He has my daughter. If anything happens to her, I won’t let you off the hook, either.”

After a few seconds of silence, he enquires, “But did the kidnapper demand anything or reveal his identity?”

I tell Max, the detective, everything because if they have all the information, it’ll help him to locate that bastard.

Max utters, “I have a plan.”

“What?” I demand eagerly.

“You just need to agree to meet his demand…”

“What the fuck? No. I can’t.” I interject in a firm tone. The thought of Grace in danger sends a shiver down my spine. I still vividly remember Grace’s state when she found out that the scoundrel had escaped from jail a few months ago. I can’t do this.

“Mr. Grey, your wife doesn’t have to sleep with him. We just need to trap him,” Max explains in a calm tone.

I declare, “It’s too dangerous. I won’t let my wife go to meet that monster.”

“He has your daughter, Mr. Grey. We have no choice. Mrs. Grey may be our only chance,” He tries to convince me.

I understand he has my daughter, and I’m willing to sacrifice myself to protect her. However, I can’t bear to see Grace confront her childhood trauma.

“Just shut up and find that fucker. I want my daughter safe today.” I growl into the phone before cutting off the call.

“Fuck! Fuck!” I slam my hands on the steering wheel before clutching it and screaming my heart out.

“Please wake me up from this nightmare. Please,” I pray, resting my head on the steering wheel, tears streaming down my face.

As someone continuously slams the window, I jolt back to reality.

I raise my head, and my eyes red with tears widen as I look at the person standing outside the car. It’s Grace.

I have to face her. I just can’t run away.

After wiping away my tears, I unlock the car and step outside.

“What are you hiding, Steve? With whom you were talking when I was in the bathroom?” Grace demands, her voice laced with anxiety as she grabs hold of my collar. “Tell me, Steve. You’re scaring me.”

“Where is Evan?” I ask because we never leave Evan alone, especially not since Giana was kidnapped.

She answers, “Evan is with Dad. You just answer my questions.”

I look around, not understanding how much to tell her. I can’t give her to that fucking bastard.

“Steve, did you get any information about Giana? Is-is she alright?” Grace’s voice trembles with anxiety.

I take a deep breath before finally breaking my silence. “Grace, I got a call from the kidnapper.”

She freezes for a few seconds before asking, “What did he say? Is Giana fine?”

I reply, “he wants something in return for our daughter…”

“Whatever he wants, we’ll give it to him, Steve. I just want my daughter back.” Tears stream down her cheeks, wrenching my heart.

Fuck! How do I tell her he wants her in return? That I have to choose between her and our daughter. Why is this happening, God? Please, make it stop hurting.

“What did he demand, Steve?” Grace’s voice is serious, her eyes fixed on me.

I respond, “He wants you. For one night.” She leaves my collars in shock, and I run my hands through my hair, closing my eyes, distraught and baffled.

“Is he…” Her face becomes pale with fright. “Is the person who tried to…”

Before she can complete her sentence, I reassure her, “Yes. But Grace, you don’t have to go to him. We’ll find another way…”

“Steve, I’ll go. That monster has our little princess for two weeks.” Her voice chokes with emotions, and her eyes become wet instantly. “We have to bring her back to us, no matter whatever it takes.”

I shake my head. “No, No. Love, I can’t let you go. I just can’t.” I take her hands in a tight grip, crying, and the clouds thunder.

“Baby, we need to do this for our little daughter. We are her parents, and our top priority is to protect her.” She explains, placing her hand on my face.

“And you’re my wife, Grace. Keeping you safe is also my duty. I won’t let you go.” I pull her into a tight embrace, sobbing, and suddenly, the rain starts pouring on us as if the entire universe is crying with us.

“I know it’s a hard decision for you. But deep inside, you know, we must do this.” As she tries to convince me, I hold her tighter and pull her closer to me, as if I want to bury her inside me forever. “We’ll get back our daughter. Everything will be fine after that. It’s just about one night.”

I pull away from her after listening to her sentence. “I won’t even let that bastard touch you again, love.”

As I explain the detective’s plan to her, a glimmer of hope lights up her eyes.

“It’s a mind-blowing plan, Steve. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? We are going to trap that beast and get our daughter back.” She declares with determination. Our clothes got completely soaked because of the rain.

“I’m frightened, Grace. It’s a dangerous plan.” I grab her arms and pull her closer to me. “I can’t afford to lose you, Love.”

“We must take the risk for our daughter. She needs us, Steve. You know I’m strong enough to fight that bastard now.” She cups my face and looks straight into my eyes. “I promise you, Steve, I won’t let him lay a finger on me.”

I lean in and capture her lips in a soft kiss, to forget about all the pain and stress for a few minutes. I’m so fucking tired of everything, I just yearn for relief. She responds to me, clutching my wet hair, deepening the kiss, and taking away my all sorrows. Clutching her waist, I suck her lips hard.

The rain continues to pour down on us as we devour each other’s lips, pulling each other closer, and seeking solace and strength.