The vibrate of his phone pulled Stefan back to a reality he had momentarily escaped. As he read the message from Lucia, a cold realization settled in his gut: in the chaotic whirlwind of Luiz's rescue, they had overlooked a critical piece of the puzzle.
The family had originally scheduled this urgent meeting with Dr. Rivera to dissect the psychological nuances of the abductor's demands. However, once Luiz was safely back in their arms, the relief had been so blinding that the appointment had been shoved to the back of their minds. In their haste to reach the hospital, they had completely abandoned the estate.
Now, miles away from the sanctuary of their home, Stefan could only imagine the scene: the renowned doctor, a man whose time was as precious as his insights, sitting in the heavy silence of their sprawling living room—waiting alone in a house that had forgotten he was coming.
