Maya's point of view

I thought I would go crazy with worry, the kids have gone far this time. Where could they have gone?

I ran to the kitchen where I expected them to be: I caught Pedro earlier doing some sort of concoction with the juices grandma helped me make.

But they were nowhere to be seen.

My heart hammered against my chest, a feeling of dread washed over me but I refused to conclude yet.

Like a madwoman, I raced to the room, my eyes darting around in search of them yet there was no one in sight. I moved to my bathroom, still couldn't find a single soul.

I grabbed my hair and tousled it frantically, this was making me go bananas. I didn't like this tight knot in my stomach.

All of a sudden, my eyes fell on my wardrobe that looked like someone tampered with it - could it be that they were hiding in there.

I moved towards my wardrobe but just as I was about to reach out for the handle, Emily called for my attention.

"I think you might want to see this," she told me which prompted me to follow after her at once.

"Cecil discovered the entrance door was open and surmised the kids must have snuck out while we were engrossed in the attention"

"Oh my God" I gasped from shock, she was right.

Isabella was crafty, she must have rounded up everyone and deceived them into going on this unknown power trip without proper supervision.

Before both women could stop me, I had left and covered the fleets of stairs in search of those kids.

"Isabella! Anabelle! Pedro!" I yelled their names once downstairs.

The sun had set, and dusk had fallen over the environment yet electric bulbs from stores and street lights shone brightly, illuminating my path.

I didn't mean to cry - I hated showing this level of weakness- but these annoying tears keep falling off my face without my permission.

I was panicking- I knew that but I had to find them. Yes, Isabella was smart but these were little kids and who knew the kind of trouble they might have led themselves into.

What if a kidnapper or child traffickers or worse, child molesters captured them? What would they do? Pedro was still young to defend them.

I stopped a stranger who was going down the street, "Excuse me sir but have you seen these three unique kids - two girls and a boy. The girls are ten years old and - "

"Maya!" My name was called and I whipped my head around to Emily and Cecil while the stranger shook his head and left.

"Get a grip on yourself, you're not even putting on footwear!" Emily shook me hard.

I looked down, realizing apprehension had made me come down barefooted.

"I know my niece, Isabella, she would not purposely lead them into danger," Emily said.

I took a deep calming breath, she was right. I had to get my senses back to gear if I wanted to find those brats - and when I get my hands on them, they would regret ever coming into this world.

"We should report this to the Police," Cecil suggested.

"No" I wiped my eyes with my hands, smoothing my messy strands, "Call Niklaus, he would find them faster and smoother without drawing attention"

"And Eden as well, he has the right to know what happened to his kid" Emily added.

"No," I objected, " There's no need to burden him with such negative news. Once Niklaus arrives and finds his kid, we'll send her back to her people - hopefully, unharmed"

"Alright, call Niklaus already!" Cecil snapped at me.

I knew she didn't mean to, she was probably anxious over her son. I wasn't a mother, yet was troubled over the girl's safety talk more her.

Emily's gaze and I collided.

"Why are you staring at me that way?" I asked her, bothered by that odd look.

"Shouldn't I be asking the same thing? You're giving me that expectancy glance" she defended.

"Of course, I'm waiting for you to call Niklaus"

"Why should I be the one calling him? You have his number too ! "

"Because I broke up with your brother, moron! And I'm trying to keep my distance from him so his girlfriend doesn't misunderstand my intentions !"

"You know what, damn the both of you! " Cecil cursed again.

She strode over to Emily, snatched the phone from her grip, scrolled down her contacts and found her brother's number, and pressed the call button.

"Now answer" She pushed the phone onto Emily's chest who caught and pressed it against her ear.

I could not help but feel that there was some sort of tension between her and Niklaus judging from the way she bit her lower lips and the nervousness in her voice when he picked the call.

Perhaps, she was worried that Niklaus would be against her sleeping with his bodyguard. Well, that was their business, not mine.

Niklaus arrived quicker than expected and sprang into action. He sent his guard to go and investigate the CCTV surrounding the convenience store here since this building didn't have one.

Silence enveloped the living room once the guard who I captured his name to be Lucas left.

Everyone was alone with his or her thoughts until I felt a fierce gape and turned around only for my eyes to lock with Niklaus'.

My breath caught in my throat while my pulse quickened. Why was my body reacting like this? Why was he the only one capable of melting me slowly?

The look in Niklaus' eyes made me weak at the knee, it was so hot and scalded my skin even though it did nothing but bring back memories of that night.

I looked away, this was dangerous. It was as if Niklaus was having sex with me with his eyes. Gosh, I was beginning to feel wet under.

Maya, cut it out! I scolded myself, this wasn't time to salivate over my irresistibly hot ex-boyfriend.

Thank God, Lucas returned that moment before he continued the lust of the eyes.

"None of them left the building"

"What?!"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"If they didn't leave that means - "

"They're here and neatly hidden" I took the words right out from Niklaus' mouth

How was that possible? Does it mean the kids were still in my place? Where had I overlooked?

Then why was the door open? Unless Anabelle had forgotten to lock it after she escorted granny out.

Oh my God, it was beginning to make sense.

"But where could they …."

Cecil was still asking when the so thought missing Anabelle staggered into the room, walked past Niklaus, and lied down on the empty couch.

Everyone was bewildered, what just happened?

As if someone said "Jack Robinson" we all rushed to the unconcerned sleeping girl.

"Anabelle! Where are the others?" I shook her but the girl just fluttered her eyelashes, mumbled some indecipherable words, and went back to sleep.

"That's it !"

I was about to yank her off that sofa with the anger in me when the others stopped me but something else happened.

My brows lifted and my nose wrinkled when a familiar scent wafted into my nostrils causing me to freeze. The others noticed the change in me and loosened their grip.

I leaned closer and sniffed Anabelle like a police dog sniffing a crime scene. My face turned Scarlet from fury as I finally put two and two together. That brat, Isabella!

"I know where they are" My voice was deep yet taut, a sign of me trying to curtail my anger.

"You really do?"

Cecil asked but I stormed off in the direction of my room while they followed after me briskly.

"Pull up the bed"

I commanded no one in particular but Lucas who looked like something a heavy breeze could blow away any moment, stepped forward and lifted the bed effortlessly.

Lo and behold, Pedro and Isabella were sleeping on their sides with their backs touching each other. There came sharp gasps from the stunned audience.

I picked up the half remaining limited edition bottled Smirnoff

green appletini that I had kept hidden for future purposes- so granny doesn't take notice of it.

"Did they drink that?" Cecil lifted a trembling hand to her mouth.

I gestured to the glasses in the little bucket that brat had also hidden under the bed, which contained liquid droplets - evidence of the consumed drinks.

"Take your drunk kids home everyone, this party is over " I announced and vacated the room.

I left my apartment entirely and climbed further up the stairs, reaching another floor before I sat down on the bare cemented ground.

I took a huge sip out of the remaining drink. I was in so much pain at the moment and I needed to get drunk to take away the pain. Sadly, this drink wouldn't do.

About to take another drink out of the bottle, it was snatched away from my grip by Niklaus who I glowered at.

"Give it back!"

"Look, I'm probably sure this is all my daughter's fault and I know you're angry - I'm not even proud of what she did - but getting yourself drunk is not the right way to get rid of the fury"

"Do you know how scared and anxious I was today because your daughter was missing? I was so stricken with anxiety that I couldn't think straight, I was so anxious over someone's daughter that isn't mine! " I screamed at him.

I was so angry, I wanted a release and he was the perfect candidate.

"I'm sorry " he apologized yet it made me further angry but the funny part was that he wasn't even the source of the anger.

"I was dead worried over someone's child yet my own mother has never worried over me" the tears began to stream down my eyes.

"Does she even have a heart?"