The storm had passed outside, but inside Ethan's heart, a war was still raging.
He stood by the window in the living room, fists clenched, eyes glued to the raindrops still trailing down the glass. Behind him, silence. Elena sat on the sofa, quietly sipping warm tea, her face lost in confusion.
She didn't recognize the house.
She didn't recognize Alex.
She didn't recognize him.
And Alex—his son—was still missing.
"We found a location," Matthew said, stepping into the room with urgency. Ethan turned sharply.
"Where?" His voice was low, controlled—but on the verge of breaking.
Matthew handed over a tablet. "Abandoned warehouse near the harbor. Our team traced a suspicious van from the school's CCTV. Alex was inside."
Ethan grabbed his coat. "Get the team. We leave in ten minutes."
As he moved toward the door, a soft voice stopped him.
"Wait," Elena said. Her eyes were wide, uncertain. "You're going to get… him?"
Ethan turned back, slowly. "Yes. Our son."
She stood up, hesitating. "Can I come?"
He blinked in surprise. "You… you don't remember anything."
"But I want to try," she whispered. "Maybe if I see him, I'll remember. I just feel like I need to be there."
For a brief moment, Ethan saw a flicker of the old Elena in her eyes—the fire, the stubbornness, the love.
He gave a small nod. "Okay. Stay close to me. Don't leave my side."
---
At the Warehouse
The warehouse was surrounded. Armed guards, security agents, Ethan's personal task force—everyone was in place.
Inside, Alex sat with the other kidnapped kids, still holding onto hope. The little girl beside him whispered, "You said your daddy's coming?"
Alex gave a small smile. "He always finds me."
Just then—BANG!
The doors burst open.
Chaos erupted as agents flooded the building. Children screamed, the kidnappers panicked.
Ethan stormed in like a storm himself—rage, fear, and love fuelling every step.
"Alex!" he shouted.
From the corner, a tiny voice called out, "Daddy!"
Ethan's eyes locked onto his son.
And then—a loud crash.
One of the kidnappers grabbed Alex as a shield.
Ethan froze. "Let him go!"
But Elena—without thinking—ran forward.
"Stop!" she shouted. "He's just a child!"
Everyone looked.
The man holding Alex snarled. "Stay back!"
But Alex looked at Elena… and whispered, "Mummy?"
Elena's eyes widened.
A jolt—like electricity—hit her heart.
Mummy…
Suddenly, images flooded her mind. Laughter. Warm hugs. The way Alex clung to her skirt. The way she kissed his forehead at night.
"I… remember," she whispered.
With a surge of instinct, she lunged forward.
CRACK.
Matthew had fired a clean shot. The man fell.
Ethan grabbed Alex and pulled him into his arms, holding him tight. Elena dropped to her knees, hugging them both.
"I remember…" she kept whispering. "I remember everything."
---
Later That Night
Elena sat beside Alex, who was finally asleep in bed.
Ethan knelt beside her, gently touching her hand.
"Welcome back," he said softly.
Elena turned to him with teary eyes and nodded.
"I'm sorry for forgetting…"
He shook his head. "You didn't forget. You just needed to remember why you loved us."
They leaned closer, and for the first time in weeks—
—they kissed.