Inside the lounge, Amelia nearly collapsed, her face twisted in despair.
"One hundred million, right? I’ll pay! I’ll pay! Tell me where you are, I’ll come right now!"
The kidnapper sneered. "You? I don’t trust you. I only want Grandma Perry to personally deliver the ransom. Otherwise, her precious grandson can wait to die."
Amelia broke down, screaming, "That old witch doesn’t care about Owen at all, she won’t pay! I will, I’m willing to!"
The kidnapper scoffed. "Who are you fooling? Everyone knows how much Grandma Perry loved Anna. After Anna died, only her son remained. Since you all claim Owen is her son, then Owen is Grandma Perry’s blood relative. For her daughter’s child—just one hundred million—why wouldn’t she pay?"
If Owen really was Anna’s son, then of course the old woman would pay the ransom.
But... both the Perry Family and the Reid Family knew perfectly well that Owen had nothing to do with Anna!
"N-no, that’s not—" Amelia’s throat locked up, unable to explain.
On the other end, Owen’s agonized screams echoed again. Amelia panicked, sobbing, "I’ll pay you! I’ll pay you! That old hag won’t come—don’t hurt Owen, I’ll give you whatever you want!"
The kidnapper slowly set the knife down, shaking his head. "But Mrs. Reid, I don’t trust you. I only trust Owen’s real kin. Reid has plenty of sons—lose Owen, and there’s still Logan and Luke. But Grandma Perry is different."
"That’s not true!" Amelia shrieked until her voice broke. "It’s not, it’s not! I’m the only one who’ll save Owen—it’s me!"
"Why’s that?" the kidnapper pressed. "No, I still think you’re lying. Who’s to say you won’t call the cops once you have the address? Maybe you don’t care whether Owen lives or dies. You’re not his birth mother—just a foster. I don’t buy it."
Owen sobbed desperately through the tape, muffled cries begging for his life.
Amelia’s heart felt like it was shattering. Frantic, she cried, "No, no! I am Owen’s real mother! I’m his biological mother!"
The kidnapper let out a low chuckle. "Lies. Everyone knows you’re Logan’s mother. Owen was just a boy you ’took in.’ Not long ago, you even revealed Owen’s so-called ’real identity.’ And now you’re saying he’s your true son? Then what about Logan? You think I’ll believe that?"
Logan and Owen were the same age, but not twins—there was no way they came from the same mother.
If Logan was Amelia’s son, then Owen wasn’t.
And now Amelia claimed Owen was her real son—so where did that leave Logan? Was he supposed to have popped out of a rock?
Just then, the kidnapper ripped the tape off Owen’s mouth.
"Mom! Save me, save me! I don’t want to—"
The tape was slapped back on immediately.
"No, no! Logan isn’t my son—Owen is! Owen is my real son!" Amelia wailed, staring at Owen’s bloodied, pained face, her heart breaking into pieces. She sobbed and screamed, "It’s Owen! It’s Owen!" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"But you’ve never admitted that publicly. Why should I believe you? Do you have proof?"
Out in the hall, Daniel was about to lose his mind. He had no way to stop her, and could only watch helplessly as Amelia rushed out, desperate: "Yes! Of course I do!"
The kidnapper seemed intrigued. "Oh? What proof? Tell me. If I believe you, I’ll give you the address. But don’t you dare lie—Owen’s life is still in my hands."
Amelia’s mind and heart were filled with nothing but Owen. How could she think of lying? She wished she could spill everything she had been holding back all these years:

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The readers' comments on the novel: Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
Read it all in one go. Was amazing...