t your father to be released!” Mr. Carter uttered th

s joke?” I aske

ing?" Mr. Carter asked, a

voice shaking with uncertainty, still not

ge. "It's no joke," he said matter-

room for doubt. I felt my stomach drop. This was no joke. My mother and I were caugh

mother asked, her voice break

Mr. Carter said. "I can't tell you what it is,

e worth all of this?"

th a strange light. "You'll find out soon en

saying. Are you saying that my husband is being held captive, and that you want Althea to

saying," he said calmly. "It's a simple transaction. I

hat?" I asked, my voic

t will be like for her to see her father with such visible scars. It's a terrible situation. It certainly will be

his to us? How could you kidnap your friend and leave his family in the dark?" She d

r voice trembling. "You've known Daniel for years, and you've always

"Daniel was never my friend and he never will be!!! You know exactly why! So, stop wi

hat I was hearing. Mr Carter got to the entrance and proceeded to wa

her eyes and turned to me, her face full of sorrow. I could see the pain in her eyes, and I kne

anted to chase after Mr. Carter and demand answers, but I knew it would be futile. The other part o

ee all of this. I said in my mind

n as I entered the living room. The words tu

istant and detached. She was sitting on the sofa, her ey

frustration. "No one has heard from him in ten years! He's a c

aid, sounding exhausted. "I wish I did, but

touch with him regularly.” My mot

obvious. "But I don't know anything else about him. Don't you think I should know mo

r said, her express

ou know about A

d, her voice soft. "He left home at the age of eighteen

doesn't tell us anything about him as a person. What's he like? What are his values? What does he care about? Do

ng money and a successful busin

person behind it all. I need to know more about him as a p

d. "But you don't have a choice, dear. You don't need to get to know him b

o someone I don't know a thing about! That's not how marriage

dam!” my mother declared in a

fuse to marry someone I don't know. And I won't allow

ck down. "You don't understand. There's no othe

w if he truly has father captive. I have a hard time believing that someone like him would a

voice barely above a whisper. "He has the resources to make it happ

is threat?" I asked, my voice trembling. "How do we e

e said so a while ago

h emotion. "There has to be some hidden agenda that you're not te

from you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to bring your father home, and Mr. Carter is offering us a way

ng something!

emotion. "I have no idea why Mr. Carter said those things about your f

rustrated. "How can he just decide that they were never friends?

s is all very confusing," she said, taking a deep breath. "But I promise you, I'm not hi

wasn't going to give me any answers, no matter how much I pressed her. I felt

married to Adam and you will never see your husband. I will tell Bella the tru

me slowly with fear an

!” I threatened harshly wit

lled again, her v

oice growing louder as I be

d, reaching out a hand to sto

ious and my mother would give in "I have something to t

and sadness “Althea, please don't do this. I be

ustration before continuing "Bella, come here!" I yel

…” She

nd more frantic as I began to head towards the do

er sobbed, her voice firm but gentle. "How could you th

e about to get married, I am. So

won't tell Bella," my moth

wanted to hear what she had to say, but I had to know.

ep breath, and then