Ethan Sullivan's slender fingers tapped lightly on the desk. "Leave for the neighboring city immediately. We'll split up. I've arranged for Nicole's calls to be monitored. The moment the kidnappers contact her, you'll be notified."

Kyle Grant paused briefly. "Understood. I'll head out now."

"Stay in touch."

"Will do."

After hanging up, Sophia Laurent gently tugged at Ethan's sleeve.

He turned, his gaze softening. "What is it?"

"Isn't it too dangerous for Kyle to go alone?"

The corner of Ethan's lips lifted. "So concerned about him?"

Sophia quickly clarified, "Don't misunderstand. He's like an older brother to me, just like Alexander."

Amused by her flustered expression, Ethan chuckled and pinched her cheek. "Just teasing. Kyle was special forces. Handling a few kidnappers is nothing for him."

Sophia's frown remained.

Ethan leaned down, smoothing the crease between her brows with his thumb. "Relax. My men will meet him in the neighboring city. Stop frowning—you'll get wrinkles."

Only then did Sophia smile.

After all they'd been through, the lingering tensions between them had dissolved into openness.

Touched by his generosity, Sophia's eyes curved. "If it were you going, I'd be even more worried."

Ethan laughed softly. "Sweet talker."

Sophia buried her face against his chest, her cheek pressed to his. "Because you treat me the best."

He ran his fingers through her hair. "You're my wife. Who else would I treat well?"

The word "wife" warmed Sophia's heart—simple yet profoundly moving.

Soon, his assistant called. "Mr. Sullivan, the surveillance is in place. We're waiting for the kidnappers to contact Nicole. A call lasting over two minutes will give us an exact location."

Ethan acknowledged tersely.

After packing lightly, he left for the office to delegate tasks.

In the hallway, he ran into Adrian Sullivan.

"Going somewhere?" Adrian's gaze was probing.

Ethan remained indifferent. "Yes."

Adrian smirked. "You've been elusive lately. What are you up to?"

"If I neglect work, isn't that what you want?"

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Father favors you the most. Must be nice having a good mother, unlike me—"

"Integrity matters more." Ethan cut him off and strode away.

Downstairs, he drove off with Sophia and their bodyguards toward the neighboring city.

Meanwhile, Nicole Evans sat at home, restless.

She stared at her phone, terrified of missing any message.

"A mother's love is pure and true..."

Nicole answered with trembling hands—only to hear a telemarketer.

"Not interested!" She slammed the phone down.

After another agonizing hour, an unknown number finally called.

"Decided how you'll die yet?" a rough voice demanded.

Nicole forced calm. "I—I need more time..."

"Cut the crap! Turn on the gas and kill yourself! Your daughter lives if you die!"

The call ended abruptly.

Nicole checked the duration: thirty seconds.

She dialed back. "I need proof my daughter is safe!"

"Didn't we send photos?"

"I want a video!"

Curses erupted before a girl's cries pierced through. "Stop hitting me!"

Nicole's heart shattered. "Don't hurt her! I'll do it!"

"If you're not dead by midnight, we'll send her to you in pieces!"

"Let me speak to her!"

"One more word and we'll chop her up now!"

The line went dead.

Nicole checked the time—two minutes and three seconds.

She exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to call again.

The surveillance team quickly pinpointed the location: an abandoned chemical plant in the west district.

The intel reached both Kyle and Ethan simultaneously.

Thirty minutes later, their teams converged outside the plant.

Kyle, wearing a baseball cap, entered a nearby condemned building with a black briefcase.

He picked the lock to the top-floor apartment with practiced ease and opened the case.

With a series of clicks, the components in his hands assembled into a sniper rifle.

Kyle set up the rifle, aligning the scope with the factory windows, his finger resting lightly on the trigger.