'Ramirez called." Mr Black continued. 'He seems to have a lead on Emily. It's possible that she will make an appearance shortly."

Derrick felt a glimmer of optimism, a little flame against the gathering gloom. "Are you serious? That's excellent news, is it not?


"It could be," Mr. Black said hesitantly. "It depends. Emily's testimony is crucial, but it also puts a target on her back. We need to be prepared for anything."

Derrick took a deep breath, trying to process the new information.

The call from Mr. Black shattered the fragile peace in the cabin. With a pale and haggard face, Derrick grasped the burner phone. He said, "Sarah," in a tense, urgent voice that was held in.


Startled out of her sobbing dream state, Sarah straightened her posture. She questioned, her voice tinged with fear, "What is it?"

With a hard swallow, Derrick croaked, "Bobby," his Adam's apple bobbing. "He's transferring ownership of T&T Group."


Sarah's eyes widened. "Transferring? To who?"

Derrick took a deep breath. "Marshal Briggs. The CEO of Somech Ltd."

A flicker of recognition crossed Sarah's face. "Wait, isn't that... ?"

Derrick nodded, his jaw clenched tight. "Bobby's father."

"But why?" Sarah whispered, the weight of the question heavy in the air. This wasn't just about revenge anymore. This was bigger, a power play that sent shivers down her spine.

"I just spoke with Mr. Black," Derrick explained, his voice low. "He thinks it's a power move. Bobby steps away from T&T's daily operations by giving his father control of the company. He becomes untouchable as a result, at least in law."

A horrible fear twisted in Sarah's stomach. She shuddered at the thought of Bobby, emboldened and shielded by his father's resources and connections.

"This is terrible," she murmured in a scarcely audible whisper. "This is really bad."

"We need to call Mr. Black," Derrick said, his voice resolute despite the tremor running through it. "We need a plan."

As Derrick dialed the burner phone, Sarah's mind raced. Bobby transferring ownership of T&T to his father wasn't just a strategic move - it was a personal attack. It implied that they were fleeing not merely from a spiteful former flame but also from a strong dynasty, a network of influence that seemed to stretch forever.

The severity of their predicament weighed heavily on their chests, pressing down on them. They faced a formidable legacy as they fled their own city with their children being kidnapped by a man who was becoming more and more desperate.

But even in the midst of her anxiety and hopelessness, Sarah's eyes flashed with defiance. They would not surrender without a struggle. They needed to find a way to fight back, to show Bobby and his father's games for what they were: a deranged attempt to destroy Ethan, Leo, and their life together.

They clung to that flicker of hope, a fragile ember in the darkness, as the phone rang, connecting them to Mr. Black. His voice, usually calm and collected, held a hint of worry.

"Sarah, Derrick," he greeted them. "I take it you heard the news?"

"We just did," Derrick said, his voice tight. "What does this mean?"

"It throws a wrench in things, that's for sure," Mr. Black admitted. "But it doesn't change our ultimate goal. We still need to expose Bobby and bring him down. However, this adds another layer of complexity."

Silence descended on the line for a moment, broken only by the crackle of the burner phone. Sarah could almost picture Mr. Black, his weathered face etched with concern as he formulated a new plan.

"We need to regroup," Mr. Black finally said. "I'll reach out as soon as I have a clearer picture. In the meantime, stay put. Your safety is paramount."

"But what about Bobby's father?" Sarah asked, her voice trembling slightly. "He's powerful. How do we fight someone like that?"

"One step at a time, Sarah," Mr. Black said gently. "We'll figure it out. Remember, we have allies in this. Ramirez is still building his case against Bobby, and Emily's testimony will be crucial. We just need to find a way to exploit this new development, turn it to our advantage."

A sliver of hope flickered in Sarah's heart. Mr. Black's words, even laced with caution, offered a lifeline in the storm. They weren't alone. They had each other, Mr. Black, Ramirez, and maybe, just maybe, a chance to fight back.

"We're with you," Derrick said, his voice firm despite the fear gnawing at him. "We'll do whatever it takes."

"Good," Mr. Black replied. "Stay strong. I'll be in touch."

There was a long pause when the call ended. Derrick and Sarah looked at each other worriedly, the weight of Mr. Black's words falling over them like a robe.

"A monkey wrench in things," Sarah murmured, her voice almost audible above a whisper. "That's putting it mildly."

Derrick stated, "He's right, though," with a resolute expression on his face. We cannot allow this to deter us. We have to fight back."

Sarah nodded, a fierce glint in her eyes. "For the kids, for ourselves. We can't let Bobby win."

They sat in silence for a moment, the sound of the wind whistling outside amplifying the turmoil within. The news of Bobby transferring ownership cast a long shadow, raising a troubling question.

"What about Rico?" Sarah finally asked, breaking the silence.

Derrick frowned. "Rico? What about him?"

"He seemed… hesitant today," Sarah mused, recalling the goon's nervous demeanor at the ransacked apartment from the hidrem security camera footage she watched on her phone. "Like maybe he wasn't entirely on board with Bobby's plan, especially when it came to the kids."

"Could be," Derrick admitted. "But can we trust that? He's been Bobby's loyal lapdog for years."

"Maybe," Sarah conceded. "But maybe not. Maybe this whole thing, involving children, is a line he's not willing to cross."

A spark of hope ignited in her eyes. "If we could somehow reach out to him, get him to see what Bobby's really doing, maybe he could be an asset. Maybe he could be our inside man."

Derrick considered this for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "Risky," he said finally. "Very risky. But if it works, it could give us a major advantage."

"We need all the advantages we can get," Sarah said, her voice firm. "Mr. Black can handle the bigger picture, but we need someone on the inside. Someone to keep tabs on Bobby, to see what his next move is."

"And if Rico's the one, we need to tread carefully," Derrick cautioned. "One wrong step and we're exposed."

"We'll be careful," Sarah assured him. "However, we cannot rule out this option. That is the only hope we have at the moment."

They worked on their strategy for several hours, a high-stakes bet that depended on Rico's fading commitment. They were aware of the enormous stakes and the potentially disastrous effects of one mistake. However, they were prepared to accept the danger because their kids' safety was at stake.

The fight had only started, Sarah and Derrick realized as the last of the sun's rays fell below the horizon, throwing dark shadows across the cottage.

They were now up against a strong dynasty rather than merely a spiteful ex-lover. They were propelled, however, also by a love that outshone all dread and provided them with the willpower to resist, reveal the truth, and take back their own lives.

Sarah awoke to the sound of the phone ringing persistently. With her pulse thumping fiercely, she searched for it in the cabin's faint light. A frightening idea given their current circumstances, it was an unknown number.

"Hello?" Sarah answered cautiously, her voice rough with sleep.

"Sarah? It's Didi," a familiar voice chirped through the receiver. Relief washed over Sarah in a wave. Her best friend, Didi, a beacon of normalcy in the midst of their chaotic world.

"Didi? Oh my god, is that really you?" Emotion exploded in Sarah's voice. A lifetime in the pressure cooker of their circumstances, it had been weeks since they had spoken.

"Hey, it's me!" Whereas Sarah's voice had been tense all the time, Didi's voice was bursting with excitement. "An issue with a distant relative had occurred. I realize it has been a while. Impromptu trip and all that. Anyway, I was just checking in, seeing how you're doing."

Sarah hesitated, the weight of their situation threatening to crush her. Could she put this enormous load in the hands of her carefree, lively best friend, Didi? The words became stuck in her throat, a jumbled mixture of desperation and terror.

Didi lowered her voice, detecting her reluctance. "Hey Sarah, what's up? Is everything good at this point?

The wall cracked. Sarah's vision grew fuzzy as tears filled her eyes. In a choked whisper, she began to tell Didi everything – Bobby's threats, the children, the constant fear. She poured out the story of their flight, the cramped cabin, the gnawing uncertainty that gnawed at her soul.

Didi listened patiently, her usual playful demeanor. Sarah was comforted by the words that came through the phone, which felt like a balm to her raw feelings. A long-dormant seed of hope started to blossom in Sarah's heart as she talked.