"B-But I don't understand. Our daughter died when I gave birth to her. I even saw her lifeless body and held her on my arms" -Jewel  

ZANDER's POV

I was staring at the police officer in disbelief who just told me that until now, they couldn't find Camila. Until now, they haven't even have any lead. It's been 4 days and they were just singing the same song every time I talk to them and I was getting frustrated. I wanted to burst into rage but I couldn't just do it like that. I must keep myself calm as I could be and analyze the problem properly.

I took a vacation at work but being the CEO, I still had a lot of work to do. My secretary was sending me the works that I must do but even though I was trying to concentrate with my work, I couldn't do it. I was always thinking about my daughter if she was okay, if those kidnappers were treating her well or not, if they're feeding her.

I wanted to distract myself from thinking negative things too much that's why I went back to work today. But even if there were a lot of work I needed to do, I couldn't concentrate at all. But at least here in the office, there were other people I could talk to even though it was all about business. If I stayed at home, I felt like I would lose my sanity because my mind was always full about Camila and I would be just alone there aside from the household helps.

Then there's Jewel. When I saw her the other day, I couldn't help but to bark at her in anger.

She was behaving like she didn't know anything, like she didn't know Camila was our daughter and that she didn't abandon us. I was so mad that I told her those painful words and insults. But even though I was so mad, I couldn't deny the fact that she still has that same effect on me. I guess I couldn't do anything about that now.

For the past 6 years, I have had a lot of flings but I didn't have a serious relationship. When Vanessa came into my life that was the time when Camila began asking about her mother and I felt pressured. Out recklessness, I gave in into her seductions. I thought she was a good person because I even saw her efforts to have my daughter's affection towards her but I was wrong.

I knew it was my fault for being so impulsive and reckless but I was just so worried about my daughter's wellbeing. I knew she needed a mother to be with her, to love and care for her and guide her as she grows up. I thought I was obligated to find someone who could fulfill that role but I guess that was a wrong move. Instead of getting a good mother and wife, I almost got a terrible one.

I was pulled out my reverie when the police officer spoke again.

"I'll be honest with you Mr. Motealegre, this will be a tough case because these kidnappers seems to be good at this. They planned this very well and they didn't even leave any clues" I closed my eyes as I tugged on my hair like I was going insane. Yes, I felt like I was going insane!

"What are you telling me Mr. Richards? That there is a possibility that you can't find my daughter anymore, is that it?" I asked through gritted teeth, my breathing was starting to be ragged because of all these emotions I was holding. He heaved a sigh and he looked at me sympathetically.

"I didn't say that Mr. Montealegre but as the days goes by that she's with those kidnappers, the chance to save her is also getting thinner. I don't want to say this but I have had handled many kidnapping cases like this but---"

"Are you saying that they did something to my daughter by now?" I interrupted him with a dangerous tone. I wanted to punch his face in anger. I was breathing hard as I controlled my temper.

"I am just telling the possibilities" I glared at him as my hand tightened into a tight fist.

"Get lost" I hissed. He nodded and left without saying anything. I angrily swiped my hands on my table and all the things which was on top of it fell on the floor. 

This was my first time feeling like this. I wanted to do something to find my daughter but even the agents I hired to privately do their own investigation, they couldn't find any clue. When the kidnappers left their car at the side of the road, that also cut off our chance to tail after them. I felt so helpless and useless right now because I couldn't do anything to save my daughter.

I looked at the things which were now on the floor and began gathering them all like a fool. When I finished arranging them back on my table, Alexa knocked on my door. Normally, she would've used the telephone to inform me about it but I guess the telephone on my table broke now due to the force of falling down the floor a while ago.

"Yes, what do you want Alexa?" I asked with my most authoritative tone.

"Sorry sir but I couldn't contact you on the telephone. Someone is looking for you. She doesn't have an appointment but she was insisting on talking to you. She said you know her" My eye brows creased upon hearing that.

"Who is it?"

"She said her name is Princess Jewel Morrison" My eyes widened. I was utterly shocked. Why's she here? What does she want?

I gritted my teeth and heaved a sigh. I removed my glasses and massaged my temples. My head suddenly ached. I didn't have a proper sleep since Camila got kidnapped and I felt like I would pass out any minute now because of fatigue and lack of sleep.

"Sir?" I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard Alexa's voice. I cleared my throat and pretended to be calm.

"Send her in" I actually didn't want to talk to her but I was really curious why she wasted her time on coming here. Not even a minute after, she was already standing in front of me. She was wearing a baby pink dress and a flat sandals. Her long hair was in a ponytail and I couldn't help but to admire her beauty. She never changed. She's still the gorgeous and sexy Jewel I knew. The only difference is that she's no longer a teenager.

My eyes involuntarily went down to her bosom down to her small waist. She looked like she never got pregnant before. Her sexy legs were almost on display and I felt the familiar feeling every time I saw her shapely legs. I realized that she still has the strong effect on me. I cursed myself and wanted to punch my face because I couldn't help admiring this beautiful creature in front of me.

I gathered all my will power and looked back to her eyes. Then I saw how tensed she was while standing there in front of me. Her eyes has a glint of nervousness in them. What for? Is she guilty about what she did to us?

"Seat down Ms. Morrison" I said with a business like tone. She sat on the chair across me. I tried my best to look as professional as I could be but my traitorous eyes went down to her lips. I even caught her biting it. I knew that gesture of her, there's two reasons when she's biting her lower lip like that, it's because she's nervous and when she's about to climax. Damn you! What are you thinking idiot?!

"Thank you" She muttered.

"What do I owe you for visiting me Ms. Morrison?" she gingerly looked down to her hands on her lap and then took a deep breath before she looked up and stared directly into my eyes. Now she looked determined and braver. The hint of nervousness was gone. She never changed.

"I want to clarify the things that you told me the other day when Camila got kidnapped. I've been trying to call you for quite sometime now but you kept on ignoring my calls.....Why did you tell me that Camila's my daughter?" I looked at her in disbelief. Is she for real?

I wanted to reach for her and shake some sense on her. I didn't know what to think about all these. Does she have an amnesia?

"I don't know what you're trying to achieve for acting like you have an amnesia or something but I will just pretend to go along with your games. Yes, she's our daughter. You left her with me before you went abroad to escape your responsibilities as a mother. Now tell me, what do you want? Why did you come back?" I was beginning to get vexed of her behavior. 

Now she looked so confused. Her lips were partly parted together while looking at me with disbelief. She looked like she just heard the biggest news of her entire life. Great!

"B-But I don't understand. Our daughter died when I gave birth to her. I even saw her lifeless body and held her on my arms" She said with a trembling voice. She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"What the heck are you talking about? She was never dead! She's very much alive when your father gave her to me! If you're trying to make excuses of abandoning us, just stop it!" I was almost yelling because of annoyance and anger. I didn't know what she's up to.

"What do you mean by that? My father gave her to you?" I laughed sarcastically. I can't take this anymore!

"What the hell Jewel! Ca—"

"Please answer my question" She interrupted me. I closed my eyes momentarily and massaged my temples. My headache suddenly became unbearable.

"I already told you. He gave her to me and told me that you wanted me to take care of her because you're going to Switzerland to fix your life. He even told me that you were giving me all the right and responsibilities to her because you couldn't take care of her" She shook her head like she couldn't fathom all the things that I just told her. Tears welled down her cheeks and I instantly felt alarmed. I found myself being affected by her tears.

I hated seeing her crying when we were still a couple but now I found out that I still felt the same. I wanted to wipe every tear which were continuously falling from her beautiful eyes.

"No! That's not true! I never said that! I thought she was dead! Oh God! I thought she was dead!" She said and covered her face with her hands. She was sobbing louder now. I raised my hand and tried to reach for her but I slowly pulled back my hand.

"Why are you crying?" I asked her gently which made me surprise. My anger has disappeared and my angry voice mellowed. She didn't stop from crying and didn't answer me. Instead, she continued her sobs. Sh*t!

I stood up from my seat and approached her. I gingerly touched her shoulder, trying to comfort her. I wanted to hug her and console her but something was keeping me from doing so.

"That's enough Jewel" I said but I was surprised when she suddenly stood up and hugged me tightly.

"I didn't abandon her! I didn't know! I-I didn't know" She kept on saying between her sobs. Now I was lost. She's talking like she didn't do anything of what I believed her do in the past. She was acting like she was also confused and at the same time, sad. But I could sense that there's a tinge of happiness even though she's crying.

She kept on shaking her head like she couldn't believe what was happening. After a couple of minutes, she calmed down.

****

JEWEL's POV

I kept on crying to my heart's content. I couldn't believe it. My daughter was actually alive. All these years I thought she was dead. I didn't know what happened. From the moment I saw my lifeless 'daughter's' body on my arms, I became a walking corpse. 

I felt like I died too that moment and it was the most difficult thing I've ever gone through. But now, Zander was telling me that our daughter was actually alive. Even though I was beyond confused about things, I wanted to believe in him, believe that our daughter was actually alive. But if she is alive, who was the dead baby they showed me at the hospital?

After how many minutes of crying, I finally calmed down and sat back on the chair. Zander reluctantly went back to his seat too.

"Now, I want you to tell me how come you're claiming that you didn't abandon your own daughter because I am confuse as hell right now. It's been years that I was keeping on asking myself why you left us just like that" I looked at him to see if he's really telling the truth but he looked serious and honest in all of the things he was saying. If he was acting, he was doing an excellent job.

"Just like I told you, I didn't abandon her. When I gave birth to her, I lost consciousness and when I came to, they told me that she was dead the moment I gave birth to her. They even showed her body to me. Daddy and my nanny were there too" Upon hearing those things, he was utterly shocked. He looked like somebody just kicked him in the gut.

****

Ouch...Poor Jewel and Camila.....

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