My Parents Are Kidnapped, and My Cop Brother Refuses to Help, Now He’s Losing His Mind in Regret

Chapter 2

I gripped the phone tightly, my fingers trembling as cold sweat soaked my forehead. My mind raced, realizing the grim reality, something was different this time. The kidnappers' location might have changed, and my confidence from earlier began to crumble.

I begged, my voice cracking. "Please... can you give me more time? I, I..."

The line cut off without warning.

I froze for a moment, the sharp click of the disconnect ringing in my ears. But then I quickly pulled myself together. Showing weakness to these desperate criminals wouldn't help me now. I had to focus, prepare the ransom and find out where they were.

I grabbed a pen and scribbled down the details I remembered from my previous life.

Two kidnappers, both young men. The crime took place in one of their homes. The ransom was one million dollars, to be dropped in the third trash can at the south entrance of the train station.

I had watched my brother use his criminal investigation experience to track them down before they could even get the money. He brought our parents back unharmed and saved the ransom.

I didn't have time to dwell on the past. I dialed 911, then called Uncle Quinn, my dad's close friend and company shareholder. "Uncle Quinn, please get the finance department to prepare the cash."

On the other end, Uncle Quinn's voice was frantic. "Call the police, Emily. I'll handle the money."

A small sigh of relief escaped me. For the first time since this nightmare started, I felt a flicker of hope.

Two minutes later, the local police arrived. Ryan, my brother's colleague and close friend, walked in first, his face grim.

"Emily, your brother called me. Luckily, I was nearby…"

He looked me up and down, his eyes cold.

"Filing a false police report is a crime."

My stomach dropped. I'd never felt more helpless. Jason had convinced Ryan that I was behind the kidnapping. Ryan had been sent to shut me down. To stop me from "making a scene."

I crumpled the notes in my hand, all the anger and fear bubbling up. Just thinking about my parents, held captive and suffering, made me break down.

"Officer Ryan, I'm not lying! I'm an adult. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens! Please, I need your help. I need you to save my parents!"

I sobbed uncontrollably, my eyes darting to the clock. Ten minutes had already passed. I didn't have much time.

Ryan didn't even look up from his phone as he sat back on the couch, casually scrolling.

Seeing me cry didn't faze him. "They say orphanage kids are clever. You think crying's gonna manipulate people?"

"Your brother was right. Kids like you, raised away from home, they don't get it. You're not part of this family."

"And Chloe, she's so much more sensible than you…"

Chloe. The fake heiress. My brother's obsession with her was suffocating. She had been adopted at eight and treated like a precious gem. Even as adults, they were inseparable.

The clock ticked in the background, snapping me back to reality.

I forced myself to calm down. I had to keep my cool.

"Ryan," I said, my voice low and firm. "Since you're responding to this report, you have a duty to investigate it properly."

Before I could finish, Ryan cut me off with a mocking laugh.

"Little girl, trying to play the adult? You think just because you're back in the Bay family, you have control over everything?"

His words hit me like a slap in the face. It felt like I was sinking into ice.

"Your brother told me everything. Your parents don't even love you that much. They always mix up your name with Chloe's."

Ryan continued, shoveling fruit into his mouth like I wasn't even there. "You've been playing mind games to get attention, trying to force Chloe out."

I could feel the anger building inside me, but I refused to let it show. These were the lies my brother had fed to Ryan, and now they were spilling out like venom.

I stood up, straightening my back, not caring how pathetic I looked in front of him.

"What will it take for you to believe me? My parents are in real danger right now."

"If we miss this window, can you live with that?" I pressed.

Ryan paused for a moment, but then stood up with a smirk. "Go ahead and report me then. People like you need to be taught a lesson."

Before he could finish, the door opened, and two uniformed officers stepped in.

"Is Emily here? We received a report and are here to handle the case."

The relief that washed over me was almost too much. I staggered, feeling like I was on the verge of collapse.

Finally. Finally, someone believed me. There was hope. My parents could still be saved.