Talk To Me

34. A dark room

Wale, Swalha, and Todo had been in a frenzied search for Kind. Days had passed without any word from him, and no ransom demands had surfaced. It didn't add up—Kind wouldn't just disappear without a trace. He was supposed to have returned two days ago, and Wale had eagerly been awaiting their reunion. But Kind never came, and his phone had remained off. Out of the three of them, Todo was the most frantic, and in his panic, he handed over the responsibility of finding Kind to his mother. Despite Swalha being the last to see him, they still couldn't fathom why Kind had diverted from his route to Todo's mansion.

Todo's mother, however, managed to calm the group down, deploying a private security team for Wale and Swalha. She assured them that everything would be clearer in a few days.

A week later, she confirmed that Cherry's sister was behind Kind's kidnapping. Strangely, there had been no ransom demands. Cherry's sister had come forward and revealed to Todo's informants that she had been ordered to kidnap Kind but hadn't yet been paid. She was promptly apprehended, with Wale insisting that she be kept in isolation but not harmed, for the sake of the child Cherry was carrying.

Cherry's sister was hidden in a safe house accessible only to Wale and Todo's mother. Despite her reluctance to cooperate, she eventually confirmed the suspicions. "I didn't need the payment," she said, unapologetic. "That man hurt my sister and ruined her life. Anyone would do what I did. If he ends up dead in a ditch, I won't shed a tear. My orders were to bring him unharmed, and I did. What happens next isn't my concern."

Wale, who had remained composed throughout, asked, "Was Cherry involved?"

Cherry's sister glared at him. "How many times do I have to say it? Why don't you ask her yourself? She's devastated. You left her for another man. Do you think she's okay with that? You've destroyed her! He deserves to die for what he's done, and I hope they send his remains to you so you understand the pain you've caused."

Todo's mother attempted to calm her, but her insults continued. Wale, however, showed no reaction. After a while, he silently left the room and went to his quarters. He sat there, lost in his thoughts, wondering if he had truly become emotionless. Cherry's sister, whom he had never even met, had gone to such extreme lengths to hurt him. All he wanted was to find Kind—alive.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, covering his face with his hands. His thoughts wandered back to the island, where he had shared moments of peace with Kind, moments that felt too fleeting. They hadn't spent that much time alone since Kind had moved out seven years ago. Now, Wale felt like everything was crumbling. He blamed himself for all of it: for his family, for putting Kind in danger. Kind had been kidnapped right after Todo's mother had terminated his protection. Wale felt useless—utterly powerless to do anything to help.

Todo's mother knocked gently, breaking the silence. "May I come in?" she asked, and Wale nodded, though barely acknowledging her presence.

"I don't believe Cherry's sister knows where Kind is. Keeping her here is pointless. But we could use her as bait to find the real culprits. She's motivated by revenge and greed, and she's bound to reach out to her accomplices," she said. "But there's a faster way—a riskier one. We confront this head-on. I've already threatened two people from the folder you gave Todo, and they've already stepped down. You'd be surprised what people will give up when you know their secrets."

She sat beside Wale and patted his back. "Your parents made a lot of money by taking risks, but they knew when to act. You've been playing this carefully, trying to keep Kind safe, but now they know he's your weakness. This is the time to act."

Wale raised his head, knowing she was right. "Cherry's sister was just a pawn," he said. "Someone used her, and she fell for it."

Todo's mother nodded. "True. But don't forget, some families would do anything for their loved ones. Just as you'd do anything for Kind, Cherry would do anything for her sister."