48

BELLA

I walked out on Trevor and went straight to the garden. The cool breeze outside sent chills down my body. Since my kids got kidnapped, the palace had lost its life. Everything seemed dead. I couldn't remember the last time I laughed about anything. I cried at the slightest thought of my children.

I moved further into the garden and leaned on the tree just in the center. My eyes traveled all over the place as I tried to prevent the tears threatening to pour. I didn't deserve to be in this open space, living freely when my children were confined somewhere with some strange people.

I thought of the note I found in that basket. It was clear that my children were kidnapped because of Trevor. Yet, I couldn't do anything aside from rejecting Trevor. I didn't want to tell Trevor about it because he would approach it harshly and go after the kidnappers. That would in turn cause them to hurt my kids.

I shuddered at the thought of it. What if I never got to see my kids again? What if they