Billionaire's Betrayal: My Ex Beg Me To Love Him Again
Chapter 0088

Caroline's POV:

Generally speaking, I should have little to no sympathy for my captors. After all, that's how Stockholm Syndrome starts, isn't it? It would be best to detach myself away from my kidnappers as much as possible and focus solely on the survival of little George and I. This girl, Alice, however, seemed to be well protected by her parents. She couldn't have been no older than twelve, still in that blurred space between innocence and adulthood.

But there was no cunning or calculation to be seen anywhere on her warm, smiling face. By all means, this girl was just a regular, sweet young child, living with parents who were caught up in some unsavory dealings.

Alice glanced up at me with a bright smile, looking happy to see a new face around the village. "Hi! I haven't seen you around here before!"

I was caught off guard, having not expected to be met with such innocence after waking up from a kidnapping. Even still, I managed a polite response. "Hello, I'm Caroline. Thank you for looking after George for me."

"Nice ro meet you, Caroline," Alice replied, and I could already tell her parents had raised a polite little lady. She considered the baby beside her with a curious look. "George... that's a good name. A cute name for a cute little boy." Glancing up at Mia, she asked, "Mom, are they done with their visit?" Visit? Is that how Mia had explained all this to her daughter? That we were just "visiting"?

I was about to correct her, but then I caught sight of the pleading look on Mia's face. I should have just ignored it, but my motherly instincts kicked in. It was clear Mia was just trying to protect her precious daughter from the harsh truth, and my heart went out to her for that noble goal. In the end, I kept my mouth shut and just smiled.

"Oh, sweetheart," Mia hummed, clasping her hands together sweetly. "George and his aunt will be staying there for, hmm... three days or so. They can't get enough of our beautiful village. Am I right, Caroline?" Mia's gaze caught mine, and if the jerky movement of her head was anything to go by, she desperately wanted me to back up her version of the story.

I didn't have any other choice, so I just cleared my throat and nodded with a soft "Ah, yes." Despite being trapped in an unfamiliar village by my kidnapper, I did feel an odd sense of peace. We were safe in the village, and I could finally have a small respite away from the likes of William and Sophia.

Beneath the surface, however, I knew the outside world must have been in turmoil.

I could already picture William enraged by George's disappearance, pulling out all the stops just to get his son back. Sophia's deception had been pulled off flawlessly, and now I was stuck in a web of deceit and confusion simply hoping I could safely make it out with little George.

I was snapped from my thoughts when Alice coughed. "Mom, I'm sorry, I'm not feeling good," she spoke up. It was tragic she felt the need to apologize for being in pain. "Can you get me some painkillers?"

Mia's smile was soft, but sad. "Of course, dear. Just let me grab some from the other room and prepare some cookies for you. Come on, Caroline, do me a favor please."

I decided it was best to just follow

Mia, but I chanced a look back at George. He looked so happy as he was being entertained by young Alice. A smile scrawled up on my face, and I knew I could count on such a sweet girl to look after little George. With that in mind, headed outside with Mia.

"What's wrong with Alice?" was my first question, blurted out without even thinking. It had just been at the forefront of my mind and had my curiosity in a chokehold.

Mia's sigh was long-suffering, and she could only give me a sad look. "Congenital heart disease," she answered. "We're trying all we can, but... chances are she might not survive another couple years."

My heart sank in my chest at

hearing her plight. "I'm sorry to hear that," I murmured. "I'm guessing the medical expenses are keeping you from getting proper treatment? Is that why you guys helped with the kidnapping?" It was cruel of fate to force a mother to face her child's potential death.

"Not exactly," Mia replied, letting me inside the first house so we could go grab some painkillers. "Harry could have saved her with ease, but his hand was badly injured in an accident. Unfortunately, he'll never be able to hold a scalpel again."

Mia was silent for a moment to hold

back her sadness and then continued, "He had an old friend who was the only one who could give our child the help that she needs, but. they'velost contact for many years. We don't have the money to spend on travel to find him. Moreover, the employer promised us to provide clues about him."

As I listened to her story, I found myself clinging to one small detail. "Scalpel? You mean your husband's a doctor?" I asked, surprised. What a leap it was to go from a successful career as a doctor to a lowly kidnapper. I almost felt sorry for the man. "Yes, he was a doctor," Mia confirmed to me. "Actually, you might have heard his name in the past. Does Harry Walker ring a bell?"

My brow leapt in surprise and my heart ached in my realization. Of course I heard his name. "The famous surgeon, right? The youngest man in the country to ever become a cardiologist and heart surgeon." Why was someone with his fame and talents living in such a remote village?