The world had descended into chaos.
Every news station played the same breaking footage on loop—Leon Xu cradling a child in his arms, standing defiantly under the storm outside Lin Global's headquarters. His chilling words echoed endlessly in the hearts of billions:
"If you want them back, Ella… come and take them yourself."
Ella Lin sat motionless in the war room of her private estate, the air around her frozen despite the oppressive heat of the global scandal blazing outside.
Her fingers trembled over the digital map projected onto the glass table, red blinking signals tracing every potential route Leon could have taken.
"Any updates?" Her voice was low, but it vibrated with the deadly calm before a storm.
Her lead security officer shook his head.
"Ma'am, he's erased every trail. Private flight records have been wiped. The Xu family's offshore assets went dark two hours ago. We believe he's taken the child out of the country… but we can't confirm the destination yet."
Ella's nails bit into the smooth surface of the table. Her heart raced so fast it felt like a war drum pounding against her ribs.
"Mobilize the international security network. I want every port, every airfield, every private marina under surveillance. Freeze all remaining Xu assets. I don't care how powerful he is—shut. Him. Down."
"Yes, Chairwoman Lin!"
But inside, her icy façade cracked.
Leon… how far are you willing to go? How much further will you fall?
Meanwhile, across the ocean in a secluded, snow-covered chalet hidden deep in the Swiss Alps, Leon Xu sat before a roaring fire.
In his arms, the child slept soundly, tiny fists curled against his broad chest.
He gently rocked the child, his dark eyes hollow yet filled with a strange, terrifying tenderness.
"My beautiful son," he whispered, his voice hoarse from days without rest. "Don't worry. Daddy will protect you… even if the whole world tries to take you away."
But the cracks in his sanity widened with every passing moment.
He stood and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the frozen landscape. Snow drifted down in silence, as though the world itself mourned what he had become.
"Ella, you forced me to do this…" he muttered to the glass. "I gave you every chance to come back. You made me kneel. You humiliated me before the world. But I'll have you back… even if I have to burn this world to ashes to do it."
Three hours later, Ella's private jet tore through the skies en route to Switzerland.
Her fingers curled tightly around the photo of her child Leon had held on live broadcast.
Her son. Her innocent, helpless son.
Her heart bled, but her eyes remained dry.
"Leon Xu…" she whispered under her breath, her voice full of venom and heartbreak. "I'm coming for you. And when I find you—this ends."