Chapter 283

Serena's POV

I watched the screen of my phone light up with a name I hadn't expected to see today. Swallowing hard, I glanced at Lucas beside me before answering.

"Atticus." I kept my voice neutral, conscious of Lucas's eyes on me.

"You sound happy. Life treating you well?" Atticus's tone was casual, almost playful.

"It's fine." I deliberately kept my response short, not wanting to give Lucas any reason for concern.

"Well, I'm about to ruin that for you." His voice shifted, becoming serious in a way that made my stomach clench. I felt my brow furrow involuntarily, and Lucas immediately sat up straighter, his eyes sharpening as he observed my reaction.

"I have some bad news. Rachel is missing." Atticus's words were measured, deliberate.

"Missing?" My heart skipped a beat as dread washed over me.

"After Lucas's court case became public today, the Thorne family-including me and my grandfather-were all brought in for questioning by the prosecutors. The evidence against Garrett is substantial. He's being detained temporarily. When we finished our interviews and came out, we learned that Rachel disappeared the moment law enforcement went to find her. She's not in Portland."

"Could she have gone to Massachusetts?" I asked, thinking of Kennedy Rowan.

"No, she's here in Manhattan. We just confirmed she arrived in the city yesterday. I suspect she might have attended Lucas's court hearing."

"She wasn't there." I answered with absolute certainty, mentally scanning the faces I'd seen in the courtroom. The woman who had caused Lucas so much pain hadn't shown her face.

"I'm just giving you a heads-up. On another note, Clarence Thorne is in serious trouble. Our family reputation and business connections will take a significant hit. Our legal team is actively working on damage control, but the Thorne family will need to keep a low profile for the foreseeable future. I have to admit, Lucas played this masterfully. His strategic vision in this battle has been nothing short of impressive."

I could hear the genuine admiration in Atticus's voice, and a small flutter of pride rose in my chest.

"Ask him if he'd consider a partnership now that Harrington International is facing restructuring. I'd make it worth his while-I take care of those who've saved my life." Atticus promised.

"Wasn't I the one who saved your life?" I raised an eyebrow, internally mocking his pragmatism.

"Either way, don't worry," I continued before he could respond. "Lucas is busy." I made the decision for Lucas without hesitation.

After ending the call, I turned to Lucas. "That was Atticus. He says Rachel is here in Manhattan."

Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly. "So she wasn't arrested?"

"No."

"Did you see her today?" His voice was measured, controlled.

"No," I shook my head.

Suddenly, Lucas's expression transformed. The controlled mask slipped, revealing a flash of raw panic in his eyes. "Where are Milo and Stella?"

My blood ran cold as I immediately understood his concern. My hands began to tremble as fear gripped my heart. "At school," I managed to say, my voice shaking.

"We need to go to the school right now. Call them immediately and tell them no one is to take Milo or Stella out." His commanding tone betrayed the urgency of the situation.

My fingers trembled as I dialed the school office number, silently praying for Milo and Stella's safety. When no one answered, terror washed over me like an icy wave.

"Don't be afraid. Nothing will happen to them. I'm just being cautious," Lucas tried to reassure me, but my intuition was screaming that Rachel had already taken advantage of the distraction caused by Lucas's court case to take Milo and Stella.

"Give me your phone," Lucas said, maintaining his composure despite the situation.

I quickly handed it to him. He dialed a number. "Miles, contact the principal immediately. Tell him I'll be coming to pick up Milo shortly and instruct them that until I arrive, absolutely no one else is authorized to take Milo or Stella."

As we sat in the car rushing toward the children's school, the silence between us was suffocating. I stared out the window, my heart hammering wildly in my chest, images of Milo's bright smile and Stella's serious gray eyes flashing through my mind. The twins had become so important to me-their safety meaning everything.

The phone rang again.

I felt the atmosphere in the car instantly grow more tense, even our breathing becoming cautious. Lucas answered the call.

"Miles," he said.

I stared at Lucas's expression, trying to capture any information I could.

"Sir, the young master was picked up around ten o'clock this morning. The principal said it was his mother who came for him, claiming to be Rachel Thorne."