The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 127: Chapter 127

There were actually extra rooms in the house, but Serena felt it was better to keep Alyssa close. That way, if anything happened during the night, she could handle it right away.
Alyssa had wanted to stick with her anyway, so she nodded without hesitation.
The look of complete trust on her face made Serena's heart melt. She wished things could stay like this forever.
Over the next few days, Serena went to work during the day while a professional nanny looked after Alyssa. In the evenings, she would come home to have dinner with Alyssa or take her out for a bit.
Serena even made a few custom dolls she had designed herself. Alyssa adored them and wouldn't let them out of her hands.
Even Keith, whenever he dropped by and saw Alyssa laughing and full of energy, couldn't help but feel a little emotional. He had never seen her so cheerful before. Still, he didn't feel jealous.
Serena had a unique warmth that seemed to draw people in, as quietly uplifting as sunshine breaking through the clouds. Every time she went to the kindergarten, she was especially well-liked.
A few days later, Serena returned home with some cupcakes she had bought, and as soon as she walked in the door, she sensed something was off.
Every day when she got home, there would be a little figure by her side, circling around her, curious about what treats or toys she had brought back. But today, it was far too quiet.
As soon as Serena stepped into the room and realized Alyssa wasn't there, she felt her heart drop. She hurriedly checked all the other rooms, but the girl was nowhere to be found, and that was when she started to panic.
She knew very well that Alyssa was a well-behaved kid, so there was no way she would just wander off like that.
With trembling hands, Serena pulled out her phone and called Keith.
Work had been hectic for Keith lately with a major business deal in progress, so she rarely bothered him. The moment he saw her name on the screen, a bad feeling crept over him. He quickly stepped out of the meeting and answered the call.
He quickly asked, "What happened?"
Serena sounded shaken and uncertain. "I came home and Alyssa was just... gone. The room doesn't show any sign of her. But she would never go out on her own."
Keith's expression hardened. "I'll call the nanny right now. Stay home and wait for me. I'm coming back."
The only people who had access to the place and could get close to Alyssa were Serena and the nanny.
Keith didn't doubt Serena for a second, so that left just one answer—the nanny must have taken Alyssa outside.
He called the nanny twice, but no one answered. That alone was enough for Keith to be sure that she was the one who had taken Alyssa. What he didn't know yet was why.
He thought worriedly, 'If it's just about money, that's still manageable...'
Nervous thoughts clouded his mind as Keith reached the apartment complex. He spotted Serena already speaking with the property management, trying to get access to the surveillance footage.
One of the staff said, "This one is the camera outside your door, right?"
Keith and Serena both stared at the screen. Soon, they saw footage of the nanny walking away with Alyssa. That confirmed their worst fear. He immediately called the police.
"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I never imagined the nanny would actually take Alyssa," Serena said, overwhelmed by guilt. As long as Alyssa remained missing, she couldn't breathe easy.
Keith kept his voice steady as he said, "This isn't your fault." He knew that now more than ever, they had to stay calm and focused.
He added, "If anyone is to blame, it's me. I assumed the nanny wouldn't do anything to hurt a child. It was my idea to leave Alyssa with you, so don't blame yourself."
Hearing that helped Serena regain some composure. She realized that panicking would only make things worse. Her eyes, which had just moments ago been full of distress, now showed a flicker of steadiness.
She said, "The most likely person behind this is Tara. She has been bothering Alyssa nonstop lately. I can't think of anyone else who would do something like this."
Then, Serena turned to Keith and asked, "Can you reach her? Maybe Alyssa is with her."
Keith nodded. "I don't have her number, but I know someone who does."
Serena's eyes lit up, and both of them spoke at the same time. "Nicole."
Tara and Nicole had been classmates. If it hadn't been for Nicole, Tara wouldn't have been able to find work at the company back then. So, they were certain Nicole had a way to contact her.
"I'll call Nicole. You stay here and wait for news from the police," Keith said as he stepped outside.
Serena took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
The police arrived quickly. Normally, a person had to be missing for 24 hours before a case could be filed, but since it was a child, and the surveillance footage clearly showed her being taken, the officers got involved right away.
Keith headed out and wasted no time dialing Nicole's number.
Nicole sounded genuinely surprised on the other end. "Mr. Brannon? What a surprise! I'm still at the office. Did you need something—"
Keith didn't wait for her to finish and said, "Send me Tara's contact info. Right now." With that, he immediately hung up.
Nicole didn't understand what was going on, but she could tell something was off. He sounded much more anxious than usual. Without hesitation, she sent over Tara's phone number and WhatsApp contact.
After getting the contact info, Keith called Tara right away. She picked up quickly, sounding annoyed. "Who is this?"
"Tara, is Alyssa with you?" Keith's voice was sharp, like it could cut straight through ice.
Tara went silent on the other end for a couple of seconds before abruptly hanging up. She didn't admit anything outright, but it was obvious now that she had indeed taken Alyssa.
Just then, Serena called out from inside, "Keith, come look. We found the license plate."
They had combed through the surveillance footage again, and finally, in a corner camera at the edge of the complex, they spotted the nanny carrying Alyssa into a car. The angle happened to catch the license plate.
One of the officers said, "We'll follow up on this lead right away. If you find out anything else, contact us right away."
It was shocking how brazen the traffickers had become, stealing a child straight from someone's home. The officers couldn't believe how bold these people were getting.
Another officer added, "My colleague just sent an update. We tracked the nanny through the agency and already have her in custody. She says a woman paid her to take the child. Do either of you have any enemies?"
Hearing that, Keith and Serena exchanged a look.