Page 238 of From Rivals to I Do

A strangled gasp escapes my lips, and my hand instinctively covers my mouth as tears well up in my eyes. The weight of guilt crashes down upon me, threatening to engulf me entirely. I blame myself for leaving, for not being there when my family needed me the most. The world spins around me, and I struggle to find solid ground.

My mind swirls with conflicting emotions as I struggle to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Should I rush to the hospital to be by Jackson's side, or should I prioritize finding Henry, who is now missing?

Through streams of tears, I break the news to Maria. "Breathe, Maya. We'll get through this. Right now, you need to focus on finding Henry. Jackson is in good hands at the hospital, but we need to make sure Henry is safe. Let's go and find him first."

Her words bring a semblance of clarity to my jumbled thoughts. Nodding through tears, I wipe them away with the back of my hand. "You're right, Henry needs us. We have to find him."

We rush out of the kitchen, leaving behind the half-baked cookies. The world outside transforms into a blur, streetlights and passing cars blurring into streaks of color as we make our way to the car.

With Maria behind the wheel, we navigate the dimly lit streets, the night sky cloaked in a heavy blanket of worry. Silence envelops us during the drive, broken only by the sound of our anxious breaths and the faint hum of the engine. My thoughts race, my mind conjuring up worst-case scenarios, desperately trying to prepare myself for what I might find.

We arrive at Jackson's house, and we find a small search party looking all around the streets with flashlights and worried faces. Karen, her eyes red from tears, rushes toward us as we step out of the car.

"Karen, tell us everything," I say, my voice laden with desperation.

Her voice trembles as she recounts the events of the evening, her words a desperate plea for understanding. "I got a call from Jackson earlier. He said there was a fire, an emergency and he needed to leave immediately. He asked me to come over even though I wasn't supposed to today because he was home with Henry. When I arrived, I couldn't find Henry anywhere. I thought it was some kind of prank, so I searched around the house, but there was no trace of him. I tried calling Jackson, but he wouldn't answer. I panicked, and that's when I remembered I had your number."

"Relax, Karen, this is not your fault. We'll find him."

Together, we join the search, scouring every corner of the property, calling out Henry's name into the night, our voices etched with a desperate longing. Minutes turn into an hour, time slipping through our fingers like sand, and yet there is no sign of him.

Maria pulls me to the corner. "We've searched everywhere outside. Perhaps we should check inside the house once more. There might be a place Karen missed."

I nod, my heart pounding in my chest as we make our way back into the house, retracing our steps. As we comb through each room, I can't shake off the overwhelming sense of guilt gnawing at me. How could this happen? My decision to leave feels like a weight upon my soul.

I enter Jackson's room, and that's when I see it—the secret closet tucked away in the corner, its existence known only to a select few. Something tells me to investigate further.

With trembling hands, I approach the closet, slowly pulling the door open. And there, amidst the darkness, lies Henry, curled up in peaceful slumber. Relief washes over me, tears streaming down my face as I rush to his side, cradling him in my arms. He stirs, his sleepy eyes blinking open, confusion etched upon his face.

"Maya?" He calls out. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

I hold him tightly, my voice breaking with emotion. "Oh, Henry, we were so worried. Karen called saying she couldn't find you. Why did you hide here?"

Henry rubs his eyes, his face heavy with exhaustion. "I thought I was by myself; Karen took a long time coming back, dad left, and I was all alone. I got scared because I heard some gunshots in the distance, so I hid in the secret closet. Then I fell asleep."

Tears stream down my face, a mix of relief and overwhelming love. I press my lips against his forehead, murmuring words of reassurance and gratitude. "You're safe, Henry. You're here now, and that's all that matters."

Together, we walk out of the room, joined by a chorus of relieved sighs and tearful embraces. Karen and Maria wrap their arms around us, tears of joy mingling with tears of fear and anguish.

"Maya, we found him. Now, let's go to the hospital. Jackson needs you," Maria whispers, jolting me back to the other predicament. We don't say a word of Jackson's accident to Karen or Henry; they've had enough troubles to deal with for the day.

Chapter eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Ienter the hospital, my heart pounding in my chest, and my palms damp with sweat. The sterile scent of antiseptic fills the air, mingling with the hushed

murmurs of anxious voices and the distant beeping of medical equipment. Maria follows closely behind, her presence a source of strength amidst the

overwhelming despair that looms before us.

Approaching the nursing station, I lean against it, my breath coming in shallow gasps. The nurse looks up, her expression one of practiced calm. "Excuse

me, we're looking for where to find a man involved in a fire accident who was brought in not long ago. His name is Jackson. Can you please help us?" I

manage to say, my voice quivering with both fear and urgency.

The nurse looks down at her paperwork and then up at me again, her eyes filled with empathy. "Jackson Reed?" When I nod, she continues, "Accuse me,

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