Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Daughter They Buried Twice: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

When the call went through, Dad was snapping orders for Vera's birthday party."What now?" he barked.I stared at the kidnapper's bloody knife and shook."Dad, I've been kidnapped. Please come get me and Luca."Luca was my son. Three years old.The kidnapper had broken in while I was putting him to bed.Now Luca was on the floor, bleeding out."Estelle Emerson, seriously? Can you go one week without causing a scene? It's your sister's birthday. I'm busy. Don't kill the vibe."Then he yelled, "Beatrice, is Vera's cake here yet? I ordered twenty tiers. Twenty."Click.The call dropped.The dial tone buzzed in my ear as my chest clenched.Actually, today was my birthday too.Twenty-five years ago, Vera and I were born in the same hospital.One nurse mixed up our name tags.Just like that, Vera became Kingsley City's heiress. Spoiled. Protected. Loved by everyone.And me?I became the unwanted girl a crippled man named Frank pulled out of a dumpster in some backwoods place

The kidnapper raised an eyebrow."Your father doesn't want you. Your mother doesn't want you. Who else is left to call? Just give up already."When Frank tied me up and tried to sell me off, he'd said the same thing. "Stop fighting. This is your fate."I didn't accept it then.I bit that man and ran.Ran all the way to the end of that dirt road.That's where I found my father.He'd come looking for his missing daughter.I'd changed my fate once before.The restraints had sliced deep into my wrists, but I barely felt it.I just stared at the kidnapper, too stubborn to give up."I want a third chance."The third call was to Tristan.Luca's father."Tristan, I'm going to die. Please come get Luca. He's three. He misses you."Tristan sighed."What now? I'm busy. I don't have time for your games. This month's child support went through on time. Take the money and behave. Stop bothering me."At his voice, Luca suddenly broke free from the kidnapper and cried out for his dad.

Estelle's POVDad, Mom, and Tristan looked at each other, their faces going pale.Tristan hadn't stepped away to take the call, so everyone heard it.Including Vera, who was still clinging to him.Annoyed, Vera grabbed Mom's arm and shook it. "Scammers are getting way too bold now. They'll say anything. That photo is obviously fake."Besides, Luca was with Estelle. If something really happened, why didn't Estelle call us first? It's a scam."Mom hesitated, remembering the last call. "Could something have really happened to Estelle?"For once, Dad didn't shut her down. He stared at the photo in silence.Maybe because I died still worrying about Luca, I opened my eyes again as a wandering soul.I returned to my parents' side at the moment Tristan answered the call.When I saw them hesitate, my heart sank.Vera walked over, clearly annoyed."If you're all so worried about Estelle, then go check on her. I can celebrate my birthday alone."Dad rubbed her head affectionately. "I

Tristan carefully took Luca from the policewoman and gently rubbed his thin back."Luca, don't be scared. I'm here. I'll take you home, okay?"Luca clung tightly to his hand.His lips trembled as he struggled to get the words out."Save... Mommy..."Tristan froze and leaned closer."What did you say?"Luca dug his fingers into Tristan's palm, forcing himself to stop shaking.He tried several times before finally speaking again.This time, Tristan heard him clearly.Shock flashed across his face.He looked at everyone and slowly repeated Luca's words."He said... save Mommy..."***The police car drove for an hour.Following behind, Tristan watched the city outside change from towering skyscrapers to crumbling neighborhoods.At last, they stopped on the edge of a run-down housing area.Even Tristan looked stunned.As he walked down the uneven path, the smell of mold and rot hit him.He kept frowning."I don't get it. The child support I send every month is enough to

Dad stared at the screen."Thirty million dollars? Where did Vera get that kind of money? What is she spending it on?"Mom looked worried."From what she said on the phone last night, do you think someone's threatening her?"Dad was silent for a moment.Then he made a call."Bring a few people over."***Maybe Vera was too nervous.Maybe she was too desperate to get rid of the ticking time bomb.Either way, she never noticed she was being followed.In the corner of an abandoned building, her sharp voice echoed out."What do you mean you screwed it up? Didn't I tell you to clean up the scene? How did that kid get away? You're useless!"The man's voice was full of irritation. "I was planning to make her call her family and squeeze more money out of them. Who knew nobody gave a damn about her? Her parents ignored her. Even her husband did. I was ready to finish the job, but she suddenly went crazy and bit me. That's how the kid escaped."He scoffed. "Besides, he's just a kid