Arthur held his children closely while trying to catch his own breath.
He looked into Emily’s eyes and stroked her hair gently with one hand.
The little girl was breathing heavily as her small chest heaved up and down.
Arthur: Emily, look at me sweetheart, you are safe now.
Emily: I had to keep him safe, Daddy!
Arthur: Safe from what, my sweet girl?
Emily: Mommy said we had to stay quiet and not make a sound!
Arthur: Why would she tell you to carry your brother away like this?
Emily: Men came to the house with large black bags, Daddy.
Arthur: Men inside our house? Where are they right now?
Emily: They are downstairs near your locked office door!
Arthur felt a cold chill run straight down his broad spine.
His mind raced as he remembered the sensitive trust fund documents stored there.
His wealth was built over years of hard work in real estate investment.
He had recently set up an inheritance fund worth millions for his kids.
Only his wife Victoria held the secondary key to that heavy steel office safe.
Arthur looked back down the bright long hallway toward the master bedroom.
Standing rigid near the corner stood his impeccably dressed wife, Victoria.
She wore an expensive cream dress, but her face was completely pale with shock.
Her hands trembled violently as she clutched a heavy brass key in her palm.
She had not expected Arthur to return home from his business trip so early.
Arthur stood up from the floor slowly while holding baby Leo in his arm.
He carefully placed Emily behind his back to protect her from any danger.
His face hardened as pure anger replaced the initial panic in his heart.
He stared at Victoria with demanding eyes that wanted instant answers.
Victoria took a tiny step backward toward the dark shadow of the hallway.
She tried to speak, but no words came out of her dry throat.
Arthur stepped forward with heavy deliberate footsteps that echoed down the hall.
The peaceful home felt like a ticking bomb waiting to explode with dark secrets.
He knew that every answer he needed lay right inside that locked room.