Chapter 66

Stefani paced wildly across the living room, her heart racing in her chest. Her head was overrun with a million thoughts, none of them good. Her palms were slick with sweat, and her throat constricted as fear clutched her entire existence. The twins—Elara and Ethan—were missing.

Her breaths came in short gasps, and she fought back the sob that threatened to tear through her. “Jacob,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “Where could they be? I can’t accept it if something happened to them…”

Jacob stood nearby, phone in hand, his expression set in a mask of determination. He had been on the phone with the police for the past several minutes, his voice steady and firm as he relayed every detail. His free hand rested on Stefani’s trembling shoulder, trying to keep her grounded.

"We'll find them," Jacob reassured her, though she could hear the worry creeping into his tone. He wasn't nearly as composed as he tried to sound, and the tension in his voice se