Chapter 9 - THE MISSING HEIR
The tranquility was shattered three days later during a trip to Central Park. The boys were running ahead when a chaotic street performer drew a massive crowd.
In the brief moment Alexander turned to buy hot dogs, the crowd surged. When the mass of people cleared, Lucas was gone.
Panic, cold and absolute, seized Alexander. Olivia screamed his name. The security detail scrambled.
"Lock down the park!" Alexander roared, his heart tearing in his chest. For twenty agonizing minutes, they searched blindly. The thought of losing his son just after finding him was a unique kind of hell.
Suddenly, Alexander heard a familiar voice near a nearby precinct booth. He sprinted over to find Lucas, sitting on a bench, eating a pretzel, casually chatting with a police officer.
"Dad!" Lucas yelled, running into Alexander's arms.
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Alexander fell to his knees, burying his face in his son's neck, sobbing openly. Olivia collapsed next to them, holding them both. In that moment of sheer terror and relief, they ceased being a broken couple trying to co-parent; they became an unbreakable family.
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