Divorced and Chased by My Alpha Billionaire Ex-Husband
Chapter 97: The Waiting

Chapter 97: The Waiting

Aurora knelt down again, brushing a strand of hair from Aria’s face.

She tried to speak, but her throat felt dry, her words failing her.

Instead, she pulled Aria close and whispered, "We’re going to find him, I promise."

Derek had been quietly talking with the officer, his face serious as they discussed the next steps.

Aurora caught bits of their conversation—something about surveillance cameras, roadblocks—but it all seemed distant, as if she were hearing it through a thick fog.

Her only focus was Leo.

Ava hovered nearby, her hands clasped tightly together.

Aurora glanced at her and saw the guilt written all over her face.

Ava hadn’t said much since the call with Aurora, but her distress was clear.

Aurora knew Ava was beating herself up, probably imagining a hundred ways she could have prevented this.

And Aurora wanted to reassure her, to tell her it wasn’t her fault. But the words wouldn’t come.

Suddenly, Derek approached with a sense of urgency.

"Aurora," he said softly, but with a firmness that demanded her attention. "The police are going to check the nearby security footage from the shops around the park. They’ve asked us to stay here, in case Leo comes back."

Aurora shook her head. "I can’t just sit here, Derek. I have to do something. I need to be out there, looking for him."

"I know," Derek said gently. "But we need to trust them to do their job. They’re already expanding the search, and they have more resources than we do."

Aurora stared at him, her mind swirling with fear and frustration.

She knew he was right, but standing still felt impossible.

Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

She pulled it out and saw another message from Lucas: We’re outside the park. Do you need help?

Aurora hadn’t even thought to tell him that Leo was missing when she’d rushed off earlier.

She had just assumed he’d stay in the car with Gabriel.

But seeing his message now reminded her that Lucas, despite everything, was there for her.

She needed all the help she could get.

She texted back quickly: Come to the playground. Leo’s missing.

Within minutes, Lucas and Gabriel appeared near the park entrance.

Aurora spotted them first, and as Lucas approached in his wheelchair, she could see the concern etched across his face.

"Aurora," he said softly, wheeling closer. "What happened?"

Aurora took a shaky breath. "He... he went to the slides, and when we went to check on him, he was gone. The police think he might’ve been taken in a van." She choked on the last word, the reality of it sinking in deeper.

Lucas looked pained, his hands gripping the arms of his wheelchair tightly.

He glanced at Gabriel, who gave him a firm nod, signaling he was ready to assist however needed.

"Have they found anything yet?" Lucas asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Aurora shook her head, biting back tears. "No, not yet. They’re checking cameras now."

Lucas reached out and gently placed a hand on her arm. "We’ll find him. I’ll do whatever it takes."

Aurora wanted to believe him, but the panic clawing at her insides made it hard to focus.

She nodded weakly, her eyes flickering over to where the police were talking to a couple of other parents nearby.

Every second that passed felt like a ticking bomb.

Gabriel, standing beside Lucas, spoke up. "I’ll contact some of our security people, see if we can get more eyes on the streets. The more people looking, the better."

"Thank you," Aurora whispered, grateful for the support.

She glanced at Derek and Ava, who both looked just as shaken as she felt.

This nightmare wasn’t just hers anymore—it had spread to everyone around her.

Suddenly, a voice crackled from one of the officer’s radios, breaking the tense silence around them.

Everyone turned to look as the officer stepped away to listen more intently.

Aurora’s heart raced, her breath catching in her throat.

After what seemed like an agonizingly long minute, the officer returned, his expression serious but not without hope.

"We have a possible lead," he said, addressing Aurora directly. "A van matching the description was spotted at a gas station about ten minutes from here. They’re pulling the footage now, but it’s looking like this could be our guy."

Aurora’s knees nearly buckled with the surge of emotion. "A lead? So... so they might know where he is?"

"We’re following up on it right now," the officer said, his tone steady but cautious. "We’re going to need you to stay here, though, while we investigate further."

Aurora felt like she was being torn in two—she wanted to rush to wherever this van was, to tear the city apart until she found Leo, but she knew she had to let the police do their job.

She nodded numbly, wrapping her arms around herself as if that would hold her together.

"I’ll stay," she whispered. "Just... please, bring him back to me."

The officer nodded, then headed back to his patrol car with a few other officers in tow, leaving the small group standing together in the fading evening light.

Aria tugged on Aurora’s sleeve again, her eyes wide and fearful. "Mommy... will Leo be okay?"

Aurora crouched down once more, brushing a hand through her daughter’s soft curls.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to smile. "Leo’s brave, sweetheart. He’ll be okay. We just have to be patient."

Aria nodded, though her little face still held that innocent worry. She leaned into her mother’s side.

As the minutes stretched on, Aurora stood beside Lucas, Derek, Ava, and Gabriel, each of them lost in their thoughts.

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the park.

The waiting, the uncertainty—it was unbearable.

But as long as there was hope, as long as the police were still searching, Aurora refused to give in to despair.

Her son was out there, somewhere. And she wouldn’t rest until she had him back in her arms.