127 Flesh And Blood

Bryan went home directly. Once his tall, black metal gates were closed and as soon as he was able to pull into a stop, he immediately got out of the car and hurriedly opened the trunk. Anthon instantly crawled out of a thick, tarpaulin sheet, drenched with his profuse sweat.

"How is it? " Bryan actually asked how did it feel to be in a closed compartment. But Anthon was not in the mood to joke around. He did not even care that for few hours, he was like a piece of toast inside a burning oven.

"Successful! " He smirked as he checked the tiny video camcorder in his hand.

"Good. " Bryan felt relieved.

"We are going to use this if needed. "

Anthon assured him that as much as possible, they would not create a stir, especially the media.

After few exchanges of ideas, Bryan went out with a different car to drop Anthon inside a hotel's premises. From there, Anthon hired a private car to bring him home.

He changed into new sets of clothes, packed few pairs of another sets and some personal care items, then tucked it all into a backpack. He, then, headed into Jia's house. Jim opened the door for him and he immediately saw Jia in her disguise look. They did not talk and no one dared to break the silence. The tension in the atmosphere was overbearing.

Beside her, was a kiddy bag, obviously, Jian's stuff. There was also another large, beach bag that was filled with swimming gears, tent, sleeping bag and some beach toys.This was a part of the game.

Jian ran to Anthon right away when he heard his voice. He was very handsome in his beach attire but Jia wrapped him in a warm jacket as Jim turned to pick up his things and loaded it into his car.

"Yeheeey! We'll go swimming again!." He jumped around in joy and excitement and couldn't wait for them to go out. He was very happy , oblivious to what was going to happen soon . Everytime Anthon picked him up, he always associated it into something fun and exciting adventures as those were how Anthon made it up for his son.

"Daddy will take you first to Lola Nita then daddy Anthon will pick you up there." Jim said as he held Jian's hand.

"Why??? " He almost cried, thinking that he was being deceived.

"Don't be a bad boy or else daddy won't allow you to go! "

No matter how precious Jian was in their eyes, they never allow him to go easily on whatever he wanted.

"Okay! " He said it with a pouting lips and tearful eyes.

Anthon's heart was squeezed hard when he heard Jim reprimanding his son. Though it was never wrong to discipline a child and Jim was not even yelling at him nor hurting him, he couldn't understand why he was hurt. But Jim was a good father. He knew it very well. He never lacked in any aspect. And for him, Jian was really his flesh and blood...

He, then, ran to his mom and rained her face with many kisses. Holding her son, Jia couldn't hold back her sadness anymore. All her fears when she was abducted returned. That sorrowful feeling when her heart felt heavy but empty, that hopelessness and fear of death, that helplessness... billowed inside her heart like mighty waves. Hugging Jian back, she started to sob. She wanted to ask why it should happen to them but she knew she had no right to complain. She knew it from the beginning. That was the price of choosing Jim...

The little boy wondered and complained. " Mom, we are only going to the beach just like before. Why you are crying?"

"Because mom loves you very

much....and mom would miss you so much! " Jia cried even harder.

Her tears were contagious and her son began to cry as well though he couldn't understand why. Jim, who was always the weakling, sobbed out even louder . He was so haunted with guilt and with the feeling of being useless...

Anthon's heart sanked as well but he was good in keeping his grief inside. Just as any typical man . Before he turned towards the door, he held his gaze over Jia who was looking pitifully at him. His heart broke even more. Then, he watched her walk towards him with a desperate and pleading look.

"Please, take care of my son, Anthon. Take care of yourself, as well. " She said between her stiffled sobs. So many things she needed to say but her son was listening...

Anthon wrapped her quickly into his arms without saying a word. He wanted to assure her that everything's gonna be alright. Jian was also his flesh and blood. And that he would not go this far if he did not care.

His tears were now rolling silently down his eyes. He quickly brushed it away before turning to leave. Jia could only watch them disappear.

As soon as the sound of the car faded into the distance, she dropped down on her knees pleading God for their safety and protection. And never had she prayed as hard as this in her entire life. Not even when she was taken away and survival seemed very vague. She was willing to suffer anything in his stead. Jim had even initiated their marriage annulment, why did Mr. Wayne still have to hurt their son? What else did he want?

A gap of an hour took in before Anthon followed. With the gates of their house widely opened, Jian could be seen climbing into his car, assisted by Jim. After exchanges of hugs and kisses between father and son, Anthon slowly pulled out away from the house with a racing heart. Though everything was carefully planned and tracking devices were obscurely placed, no one could ever predict their safety , not even Anthon. No one could be trusted enough but themselves within the family.

Anthon slowly headed into the highway towards his favorite beach resort...

Soon, a black car followed, and another two. When they reached into a remote area where only shrubs, wild bushes and mangrooves were on the roadside, the first black car overtook them and screeched to a halt. Four tall men with full masks came out from the car, broke into theirs and dragged Jian and Anthon out.

Soon, Anthon heard a man yelled. "Bring only the child! "

Anthon's heart went wild. This was not the agreement. He had to be with his son, no matter what! As the men grabbed Jian from him, he fought back with all his might and held the child tighter.

"If you don't want to die, release the child! " The man ordered.

Anthon's eyes went wide in fear. Where was Brian? Was he betraying him? They had agreed to play along.. pretend to take Jian away for a show only in order to deceive Mr. Wayne...