PART TWO
Chapter Twenty: David's Rage
David's fury was a storm that no calm could touch. From the moment he discovered Margret and Lucia were gone, every plan, every calculation, every moment of control he thought he had vanished. He paced the polished floors of his office, fists clenched, jaw tight. Rage coursed through him, mixing with panic, with obsession, with the need to regain what he believed was his.
"Find them!" he barked into the phone, his voice sharp, commanding, impossible to ignore. "I don't care how. I don't care who. Just find them. Now!"
On the other end, his contacts were trained, discreet, and ruthless. They knew the stakes. David's orders were clear: no mistakes, no delays, and no mercy. Margret had crossed a line, leaving him humiliated, exposed, and out of control. He would ensure she paid for it.
David's rage was more than just anger—it was calculated vengeance. Every detail of Margret's disappearance fueled it: the audacity to escape, the challenge to his authority, the defiance that she had survived while he was left behind, fuming.
He slammed the phone down and took a moment to pace again. Each thought was violent, dark, strategic. He considered every possible ally, every resource at his disposal, every person who might have helped them. Money, influence, fear—it was all within his reach. And he would use it all.
The first step was surveillance. David hired people to track the movements of anyone who might be connected to Margret and Lucia: neighbors, acquaintances, service providers. Every transaction, every call, every travel record would be investigated. He spared no expense, no effort. Failure was unacceptable.
Even as his network of hired trackers began their work, David's mind was consumed with scenarios—what they might be doing, where they could hide, how he could reclaim control. The thought of Margret teaching Lucia secrecy, of living under new names, only fueled his obsession. She had tried to hide, but he would uncover every secret, unravel every plan, and take back what he believed was his by right.
David's rage was not limited to thoughts of recovery; it extended to punishment. Margret's betrayal, her perceived audacity, her escape—all were intolerable. He wanted her found, exposed, and broken. And he wanted Lucia back in his control, under his influence, away from the mother who had defied him.
Hours passed, and the network he had activated began to report. Leads were scarce, shadows of potential sightings, hints of locations—but nothing concrete. Each delay, each dead end, only sharpened David's fury. His obsession grew, consuming every moment, leaving no space for reason or patience.
Back in their new home, Margret felt the tension of the unknown. Every unfamiliar sound, every knock or call made her heart race. Though they were far from David's immediate reach, she knew he had the resources, the obsession, and the cunning to eventually track them. The knowledge of his relentless pursuit cast a shadow over their fragile new life.
Margret's nights became restless. She lay awake, listening for sounds of danger, imagining every possible scenario in which David's people might discover them. Fear was no longer an abstract notion; it was a tangible presence in the room, a companion that walked beside her even as she tried to keep Lucia safe and hopeful.
Despite the fear, Margret's resolve strengthened. She knew that David's rage and his relentless pursuit made mistakes inevitable. She would continue to hide, to protect, to survive, and to stay one step ahead. Every decision, every move had to be precise. One misstep could mean disaster, but careful planning, vigilance, and caution offered them a chance at life—real life, free from his control.
David, meanwhile, continued his relentless campaign, obsessed with locating the mother and daughter he believed were rightfully his. His rage burned through every action, every instruction to his trackers, every plan laid out in his office. Nothing else mattered. Nothing could stop him—except, of course, the unexpected cunning and resilience of Margret.
The first wave of hired investigators scoured neighborhoods, restaurants, schools, and transportation hubs. Each lead was tracked, each movement logged. Yet, despite their efforts, Margret and Lucia remained hidden, ghosts in the new city. And with every failure to locate them, David's fury intensified, becoming a storm that threatened to destroy anyone who stood in his way.
But Margret had learned well. She had anticipated danger, prepared for uncertainty, and remained vigilant. The world outside was full of threats, but within the walls of their new home, she carved a fragile sanctuary for herself and her daughter—a place where love, protection, and courage could thrive even in the shadow of David's rage.
And in the quiet moments, when the city slept and the streets were empty, Margret would whisper to Lucia:
"No matter how hard he tries, we will survive. We will remain free. And nothing—not him, not his rage, not his lies—will take you from me."
It was a promise forged from fear, hardened by betrayal, and tempered by the unbreakable bond of mother and daughter. David could hire all the people, all the resources, all the spies in the world—but he could never touch that bond.
For now, they were safe. For now, they had life. And Margret knew that survival, cunning, and love would guide them through the storm David was determined to unleash.