When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 224

Chapter 224 Parents Panic Kids Nap Hard

Everyone saw Susie as soft and delicate, a little princess too weak to even lift a finger; only Sean knew his sister had surprising strength.

She was just good at pretending to be fragile.

That hammer was heavy enough that even an adult would have to brace to wield it–yet Susie had swung it around like it was nothing more than a toy.

The two children decided the van wasn’t safe; after a quick discussion, they climbed out and found a hiding spot nearby, quietly waiting for their parents to come.

As for calling the police? The thought had crossed their minds, but this whole matter was too big; they weren’t sure if it might implicate their dad. Better to wait for Baron.

On Baron’s end, the blinking red dot on the map suddenly stopped moving.

“Head here–now!” he barked.

His men turned the car around instantly.

He worried Natalie would panic.

Though he didn’t want her to see a single trace of blood, the thought of her losing sleep, tormented with worry for the children, made him send her the location anyway.

“The kids are probably here. I’ll go first; bring Chris and the others.”

“Alright.”

Natalie, finally with a clear destination, urged Chris to drive faster.

Both parents were sick with worry.

Baron knew his son had always been fascinated with concocting poisons, but Sean was still a child–facing grown men, maybe several of them. The thought terrified him.

And Susie…she was just a little girl. Had she been scared to tears?

The image of her swollen eyes, her trembling little body–it nearly shattered him.

“Faster!”

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At his command, the car shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Natalie, too, was in a rush.

The two of them arrived almost at the same time.

Baron jumped out, yanking open the van’s door–only to find two unconscious men inside. No sign of the children.

“Susie! Sean!”

His heart clenched so tightly it hurt.

He hadn’t felt this kind of anguish since his mother died.

The last time had been when Natalie had disappeared into the flames; now it was his children.

He balled his fists, his eyes burning red.

He had thought himself strong enough to protect those he loved; yet his children had still been frightened and endangered.

The aura pouring off him was ice–cold, almost tangible; even the air around him seemed to drop below freezing.

Natalie arrived to see this exact scene.

For a moment she thought he might lose control entirely, fall into madness.

She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

The chill radiating from him made her flinch.

“Baron, we’ll find them,” she whispered.

Her voice was quiet, yet it cut through his fury like gentle rain, softening the murderous edge that had risen inside him.

Baron glanced at the unconscious men and ordered coldly, “Bring them back alive. Treat them, then interrogate them thoroughly.”

His men hurried to obey.

Baron took Natalie’s hand, guilt pressing down on him.

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“Sorry…I made you worry. I failed to protect them.”

His children had been taken right out from under his nose, inside his own villa. The shame and pain stung worse than a public slap across the face.

Natalie didn’t blame him.

She knew better than anyone how much he loved those kids.

There are a thousand days for a thief to steal, but no one can guard against a thief for a thousand days.

If someone was determined to target them, loopholes would always exist.

“This isn’t your fault. Let’s just focus on finding them. They’re not here–so where did they go?”

Though she hadn’t witnessed what happened, one look inside the van left her with doubts.

If no one helped them…could the kids have done this themselves?

Just then, a message came through.

“Mr. Baron, madam—we’ve found Sean and Susie. But…”

The hesitation made both their hearts seize.

“What about them?”

Natalie could no longer hold her composure.

She broke into a run toward the spot where the children were hiding.

Baron cast a sharp, warning glare at his man, then followed quickly after her.

When Natalie arrived, she saw Susie sprawled across Sean’s chest, fast asleep, a soft little snore slipping from her lips.

Sean wasn’t snoring, but he too slept deeply, his tiny mouth smacking as though he were dreaming of something delicious.

Natalie’s heart finally settled.

The sight was so precious it nearly melted her on the spot.

“What is it? Are they hurt?”