* * *
"This is my fault," Daniel mumbled to himself again while his body started trembling. His past memories flashed back into his mind and he couldn't stop himself from feeling terrified. Lan was only eight but he had this kind of experience already. Back then, when Daniel was kidnapped, he thought he was going to die, and thinking that Lan was now in the same situation, he couldn't stop himself from feeling terrified for Lan.
Still sobbing as he tried suppressing himself, Daniel watched Luangmin's unconscious figure. He was thankful enough that his son was saved. "Don't worry, Mommy will definitely protect you," Daniel whispered as he wiped his tears and then caressed Luangmin's hair and cheeks. Suddenly, the door of the car was opened again by April. She was about to say something but when she saw Daniel crying, she halted a bit before she cleared her voice.
"Back up will arrive soon with Old Master Chen, someone will come and check Young Master Luangmin's condition as well. Anyway, until then, I need you to stay here and protect him but as soon as things get dangerous, Ryan will be driving you home whether you like it or not." April said pointing at Daniel's bodyguard. Nodding as he understood the situation, Daniel wiped his tears forcing himself to act strong, making April sigh.
"I can't tell you not to worry but I promise you that I will be saving Young Master Lan at the stake of my own life," April assured him. Daniel chewed on his lips, preventing his bawls from coming out as he nodded. Seeing this, April once again closed the door before she faced Ryan.
"Protect them properly, don't let Master Daniel out of the car and when things get dangerous drive him back as soon as possible." April instructed.
"Yes, Three," the bodyguard replied before he proceeded to get inside the driver's seat. After that, April left to where the other bodyguard was. As far as she analyzed, the person they are looking for is working alone. It should be easy to corner him as long as they find out who he was.
Meanwhile, Daniel continued to sob, caressing his son's hair and praying that everything will turn out fine. He knew that was too good to be true in their situation now, but he was hoping that a God is listening now and grants his wish just this once. He wasn't a religious person, he doesn't regularly go to church to pray but he does believe there was a God out there that would listen and occasionally grant wishes.
"W-Where is April going, Ryan?" Daniel asked his bodyguard and driver, wiping away his tears. He watched April's figure disappear back into the school building earlier. She said so herself that it was dangerous but why was she not with him in the car.
"No need to worry about Three, Master Daniel. She's stronger than you think she is," Ryan replied.
"What are you saying? She's so small. Anyone could just push her back and she would break her ankle," Daniel said worriedly. April was literally just 5'4, she was way smaller than his 5'7 and he was inside the car.
"Please trust Three, Master Daniel. She won't be hurt," Ryan replied with a smile, looking at Daniel from the rear view.
"E-Even if you say that…" Daniel said but wasn't able to finish when his mobile phone suddenly started ringing. When he looked at his mobile phone, Lan's number flashed on the screen that he didn't think twice before he accepted it.
"Make sure no one else is listening," Daniel was just about to ask where Lan was when an unfamiliar voice talked.
"W-Who is this?" Daniel asked even though he already has someone in mind.
"Who I am doesn't matter. I have Lancel Mo with me now, too bad I couldn't take your son as well," The unfamiliar voice said. He sounded threatening at first then later disappointed. Hearing this, Daniel was horrified as he quickly confirmed that the man he was talking now was the person who kidnapped Lan.
"W-What do you want? Please don't hurt him, he's just a kid. I-If you want money I'm sure we can talk this out without hurting anyone," Daniel begged, his voice trembled. It must be money, people do this kind of thing for money. Meanwhile, Ryan who was listening frowned. He was trained enough to know and understand what was Daniel's conversation all about. He quickly took a small device from the glove compartment, then signaled Daniel to continue talking before he pressed the device on the back of Daniel's mobile phone as he talked.
"Money? I don't need money. What I need is revenge. Your husband and his brother ruined my life. It's only right for me to ruin theirs as well," the man said with an angry tone, making Daniel confused. Laotian and Hanlu ruined his life? How? Neither of them would do that without a valid reason.
"M-My husband w-wouldn't do such a thing. You must be mistaken, please let go of Lan," Daniel denied and begged again. He thought, if Laotian and Hanlu did ruin this man's life then he should take it out on them, not on an innocent child. But still, Daniel shook his thoughts away, there was no way his husband would do such a thing.
"Then you don't know your husband." The man said angrily, hearing Daniel's denial. How could he mistake the person who took everything from him? His company, his status, his family, everything gone just because he hired someone to tail both Alphas. Back then, when his proposal partnership to the Mo Empires was declined, he only planned to give them a little scare. It's common in the business industry to do that, he had been okay doing that for a long time that his company became successful despite being a small one. However, when he tried to do that with Mo Hanlu and Mo Laotian, he ended up being kidnapped and tortured almost to death. He was threatened instead, and as if that wasn't enough, his company suddenly went bankrupt in just three days because of the pressure they put on it.
Moreover, the same pressure was put on his parents and siblings' workplace, they have been fired with a message to blame him for it. After he was tortured by that demon Mo Hanlu, they left him barely alive in a hospital. He survived, but with what they did to him, they were basically killing him. More than 5 years had passed since then and he survived working a part time job in a convenience store. He hadn't planned on getting revenge but seeing that bastard's face on TV, having the best time of his life, he just couldn't help but feel bitter.
He knew what would become of him after doing something like attempting to kidnap both Lancel Mo and Mo Luangmin, but he would happily rest in hell as long as he got his revenge.
"Both brothers are demons, they ruined me… I will never forgive them for what they did. You're lucky I didn't have much time to take your son as well. It would have been nice to see all their faces going crazy looking for their sons."
"Y-You're crazy! Both children are innocent, t-they have nothing to do with anything that you said," Daniel yelled as he imagined having his child experience something so horrible.
"Lan… g-give Lan back to us…" Daniel yelled again, having enough of the unfamiliar man's nonsense. Laotian and Hanlu ruined his life? How could they? Even though he knew Laotian wasn't exactly a good man, he already noticed that, especially when Daniella was still a threat to them. He was not blind, he could feel and see the dark stares the Alpha would give to people other than him and the rest of the Mo Family, but Daniel ignored it because even though Laotian was like that, he believed that the Alpha wouldn't purposely make someone else's life miserable. There would have been a reason why.
"You want him back? Go get him yourself," the unfamiliar man said with a laugh, making Daniel tremble once more. "I'll be waiting for you, you'll be my audience. Until you arrive I'll delay this kid's death, so don't worry, I'll be patient until you find me. Oh, but please do remember, the moment I see any other person aside from you, I'll plant a bullet in this kid's head. Anyway, this academy is small, surely you can find me in minutes," the man added before he hung up.
As the call ended, Daniel continued to tremble. His tears were streaming down his face non-stop as he dropped his phone in his lap. Why was this happening to them? To him? His heart is currently in so much pain.
"Calm down Master, we will save Young Master Lan as soon as possible. Three and my partner are doing that now. Backup is also on the way, it won't take long until Young Master Lan will be with us again." Ryan tried to convince him, even though as he listened to the earlier conversation, the chances were fifty-fifty. The suspect didn't want money, what he was after was revenge and it looks like he didn't care if he died in the process or not.
"N-no… I-I should go… He'll kill Lan if anyone other than me goes," Daniel sobbed, covering his face with his palm. He knew this could be a trap to harm him as well but what can they do? If there was a chance to save Lan then he didn't care if he was harmed. He knew it was stupid of him to be thinking this way, because he'll be putting his babies in danger as well, but cowering inside his car, waiting and crying like he was doing now will not save anyone. He can't sacrifice Lan's life even if it was for his own children. He just can't do it. In any case if he dies, the twins will be dying along with him. At least that way he could still be with his babies and Luangmie. He would feel bad for Luangmin but he still had Laotian. But if Lan dies, he would be lonely, he didn't do anything. He's too young to have his life taken from him.
"We can't let you go, I was instructed that if things get dangerous I will have to drive you back to the main estate," Ryan said, making Daniel cry even louder. He was so frustrated and angry at himself. Why was he so weak? Why was he always the one that should be protected? He hated it! He hated it so much. He was not some precious gem who needs to be taken care of and protected. He wanted to protect the people he loves too. He hated being the only one who couldn't do anything. Back then too, Laotian protected him but he… he couldn't even protect Luangmie, his daughter, his princess.
And now, he had a chance to protect Lan, to save him. But why was he not allowed to? He had a fighting chance in the least. He wants to protect! He wants to be helpful.
Daniel cried even harder. "Why? Why are you being like this? Lan is in danger. There's no time to think about my own safety. Lan is just turning nine… *sobs* h-he's just turning nine…" Daniel screamed between his cries. He wasn't able to finish his sentence when he realized again how young Lan was.
"O-Oh God! He's just e-eight…" Daniel sobbed. He chewed on his lips, trying to suppress the painful cries but it was useless.
"Please understand. We have orders to protect both the Master and Young Master Lan. I assure you, we will save Young Master as soon as possible but we can't sacrifice your safety for that," Ryan said again. He understood how frustrated the Omega was but they couldn't sacrifice his safety as well.