My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 327

Chapter 327: The kidnapping Chapter 327: The kidnapping “No, you can’t do that,” Erica cried out frantically, clasping her hands as if she was afraid her mother would vanish if she released her hands.

“That’s exactly what Dylan wants.

He is pushing you into a corner, trying to force you to surrender.

We can’t let him win.

We have to outsmart him.

We’ll find another way-we’ll defeat him.” However, Lydia was exhausted.

The years of struggles and lies had worn her down to the bone.

She shook her head, the fight slowly draining from her eyes.

“He is too powerful.

We can’t win against him.

What I’m proposing€¦ it’s the only way.

If I turn myself in, the police will leave Mr.

Blair alone.

They’ll leave you alone.” Lydia cupped her daughter’s face, brushing her thumb along her cheek, wiping away the tears.

“Listen to me.

Leave the country with Mr.

Blair.

Go far away.

Start fresh.

Find happiness.

Forget everything that happened here-the pain, the mistakes.

Live the life I couldn’t give you.” “No,” Erica sobbed, shaking her head in silent protest, but Lydia only smiled faintly, the resignation in her eyes unmistakable.

“I want you to live for yourself, away from this mess.” “I’m not going anywhere without you, Mom.

I’ll fight till the end if I have to.

There is no way I’m giving up.

I’ll make Dylan release Mr.

Blair.” “Erica€¦” “No, Mom,” Ercia snapped, eyes flashing with defiance.

“Even if I run away, I’ll never find peace.

Dylan won’t let me go.

He’ll hunt me down, no matter where I hide.

The only way out is to finish what we started.

Only then can we truly be free.” Her words hit Lydia like a wave, forcing her to pause and reconsider.

“Mom, listen to me,” Erica urged.

“Dylan’s greatest weakness is Ava.

He’d do anything for her.

If we have Ava, we have power.

He’ll bend to our demands without question.” “What are you saying?

Kidnap Ava?” Lydia shoved her hands away, disbelief coloring her tone.

“That’s insane!

It’s too risky.

If we touch her, Dylan will lose his mind.” “I know it’s dangerous,” Erica admitted.

“But it’s the only way.

If we take the risk, we can turn the tables.

To save Ava, Dylan will do whatever we ask.

We’ll get Mr.

Blair back.

We’ll get our lives back.” Lydia hesitated, torn between fear and hope.

The plan was reckless, but the spark in Erica’s eyes spoke of a desperate belief that this could work.

If they succeeded, they would escape.

“I know someone who can help us.

An old friend.

He likes me.

If I ask, he’ll do it.

We still have enough money to pay him for the job.

Trust me.” Lydia let out a deep sigh and relented, “Fine.

But you’ll stay out of the kidnapping itself.

I won’t risk you getting caught.” “What?

No!” Erica’s voice rose in protest.

Lydia stood firm, her gaze steely and unwavering.

“You have to listen to me.

If you don’t, we’re not doing this.

End of discussion.” She hated the thought of standing on the sidelines, but Lydia’s tone left no room for argument.

Shoulders sagging in defeat, she gave a reluctant nod.

“I’ll stay out of it.” Only then did Lydia’s rigid posture soften.

“If anything goes wrong, you will leave this country immediately,” she commanded.

“But€¦”  “No buts,” Lydia cut her off sharply.

“You’ll change your identity.

Start fresh somewhere far away.

And you’ll never set foot here again.

Do you hear me?” Erica sobbed.

She wasn’t willing to do that.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

The thought of abandoning her mother, of fleeing while Lydia faced the consequences alone, shattered her heart.

“Promise me, Erica,” Lydia pressed.

A sob escaped her throat as she whispered, “I promise.

I’ll do what you say.” Lydia drew her into her embrace.

“I want you to stay safe and live happily.” “But I want you with me,” Erica choked out, voice cracking with anguish.

Lydia blinked away her own tears, forcing a reassuring smile.

“My blessing will always be with you, no matter where you go.

Just pray everything goes according to plan.” She stroked Erica’s hair soothingly.

Deep down, she knew she wouldn’t win against Dylan.

This plan was like stepping into a pit of fire with no guarantee of escape.

But she was willing to do it, risking everything.

If there was even the slightest chance of success, Lydia was willing to risk it all.

Two days later€¦ Ava sat at her desk, fingers flying across the keyboard as she worked through the latest batch of reports.

She was so absorbed in her task that the sudden chime of her phone barely registered.

Without looking away from the screen, she reached for the device, glancing at the notifications.

It was her father’s number.

She tapped the screen to open the messages.

The moment the images loaded, the world around her seemed to tilt.

Several photographs of her father tied to a chair, gagged, and blindfolded popped up on the screen.

The phone nearly slipped from her trembling hand.

Her breath hitched, throat tightening with panic.

“Papa,” she whispered, icy dread prickling down her spine.

Before she could make sense of what she was seeing, the phone vibrated violently in her grip.

Heart pounding in her chest, she swiped the screen with shaky fingers and pressed the phone to her ear.

“Hello?” The voice that answered was cold, emotionless.

Ruthless.

“Your father is with us.

Bring ten million to the address I’ve sent you.

Don’t tell anyone if you want him alive.” Ava’s blood ran cold.

“No, don’t hurt him,” she cried out.

“You have an hour.

Bring the money.

Or we’ll parcel you his body €“ piece by piece.” Ava gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.  The line went dead before she could respond.

“Hello€¦Hello?” Silence.

Ava pulled the phone out of her ear and peered down at the blank screen.

With her trembling fingers, she called back.

But the call didn’t connect.

Her phone slipped from her grasp, clattering onto the desk as she slumped deeper into her chair, dread curling around her like a suffocating blanket.

“Papa€¦” she sobbed, covering her mouth, unable to believe that her father was kidnapped.