Chapter 1

It was Leo and Lily' s fifth birthday, a bright morning.

Sarah Miller watched her husband, Ethan Hayes, tickle their fraternal twins until they shrieked with laughter.

He kissed her then, a lingering kiss that tasted of coffee and promises.

"I'll see you at your parents' tonight, my love," he whispered, his hand resting on her swollen belly, their third child growing within.

"Drive safe."

He was Ethan Hayes, real estate tycoon, a man whose empire Sarah had helped build with her inheritance, her mind.

She waved as his black sedan pulled away.

Hours later, the world shattered.

Sarah and the twins were in their own car, heading to her parents' estate for the birthday celebration.

A black SUV cut them off sharply, another boxed them in from behind.

Men in dark clothes, faces grim, dragged them out.

Leo screamed. Lily cried.

Sarah fought, a primal scream tearing from her throat, but a heavy blow to her head sent stars exploding behind her eyes.

They were thrown into a van, the doors slamming shut, plunging them into darkness.

The van sped along rough roads, finally stopping at a remote property, one of Ethan' s many.

It was a "party barn," a place whispered about for its illicit gatherings, a place Sarah never knew existed.

Inside, music pulsed, too loud, too harsh.

Her head throbbed.

Rough hands pulled her out, then Leo and Lily.

The twins were crying, terrified.

"Mommy!"

Sarah tried to reach them, but she was shoved forward, her arms wrenched behind her back, zip-ties biting into her wrists.

Duct tape was slapped across her mouth.

Then she saw them.

Tiffany "Tiff" Monroe, an aspiring social media face Sarah vaguely recognized from gossip columns, stood smirking.

And beside Tiff, watching, was Ethan. Her Ethan.

No, it couldn't be.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird trapped.

Tiff gestured, and her associates, burly men, grabbed Leo and Lily.

The twins were tied to posts, their small bodies trembling.

"Let's have some fun," Tiff purred, picking up a thick wooden stick.

The men laughed.

Tiff swung the stick, hitting Leo across his small back. He cried out, a sound that ripped through Sarah.

Then another man hit Lily.

They became human punching bags, entertainment.

Sarah thrashed against her bonds, muffled screams tearing at the tape on her mouth.

She stared at Ethan, trying to make him see her, recognize her.

He was looking, but his eyes were cold, distant.

He seemed to be enjoying the show.

He pulled out his phone.

Sarah' s blood ran cold.

"Hey, honey," Ethan' s voice, the voice that had whispered love to her hours ago, was smooth, loving. "Just checking in. Are you and the kids at your parents' yet? Traffic was a beast."

He listened, then chuckled. "Good. Tell them I said hi. I'll be there as soon as I can wrap this up. Love you."

He hung up, a fond smile on his face.

He believed she was safe. He was calling her.

This woman here, bound and gagged, watching her children be tortured, was a stranger to him.

The realization was a physical blow.

Tiff, panting slightly, turned to Ethan. "She' s tough, this one' s mother."

Ethan nodded, a predatory glint in his eyes. "You' re doing great, Tiff. Show me you have what it takes."

Tiff' s smile widened. She walked towards Leo, then Lily.

Ethan joined her.

Together, they delivered the final, brutal blows.

The small bodies went limp.

Silence, except for Sarah' s choked, animalistic sobs behind the tape.

Ethan put an arm around Tiff, pulling her close, kissing her temple. "You' re magnificent, Tiff. Ruthless. I like that."

Sarah stared at the still forms of her children, her mind replaying Ethan' s tender words from that morning, his hand on her belly, his loving kiss.

It was all a lie.