As the minutes turned into hours and their panic grew Harris and Mallory couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. Their fear for Harriet's safety was immense, and their desperation was palpable.
"This is my fault," Mallory said, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I should have given more of my time to our daughter. Now, Harriet is missing."
"Baby, don't blame yourself," Harris pulled Mallory into his arms to comfort her. "This is not your fault. You need to calm down and think clearly."
Mallory rested on Harris's chest for a moment, letting her anger subside until she was ready to talk to someone she suspected had taken Harriet.
"I can't believe someone would do this to Harriet. If it's not Dominic, who else could it be?" Mallory, her voice trembling, held her phone tightly as she spoke to Dominic.
"Dominic, you need to tell me the truth," Mallory said as soon as Dominic took the call. "Do you have Harriet? Please, if you do, just bring her back safely."
But Dominic vehemently denied any involvement. "Mallory, I swear I have nothing to do with this. I would never harm Harriet."
"You better be telling the truth Dominic, or else you'll regret lying to me. You don't know what I'm capable of when it comes to my daughter," Mallory said sternly.
"Mallory, I swear to you,  I don't have Harriet with me. I won't add another problem to what I already have right now. Believe me," Dominic pleaded.
Mallory hung up, convinced that Dominic was telling the truth. "It's not Dominic. He doesn't have Harriet. But who could it be?"
Harris was pacing the room, a whirlwind of emotions inside him. His love for Harriet and fear for her safety were overwhelming. "We need to think. Who would want to hurt us this way?"
Mallory's mind raced as she considered possibilities. A terrifying realization dawned on her. "Harris, it could be your mother, Marian. She's been desperate, and she knows how much Harriet means to us. Could she have...?"
Harris grabbed Mallory by the shoulders, his eyes filled with determination. "That's possible, knowing she doesn't have an ally right now and no means of winning me and Harriet back like she always wanted. Dominic is facing multiple lawsuits. If it's my mother, we'll find her. We'll get our daughter back."
Together, they decided to contact the authorities and provide all the information they could to aid in the search for Harriet. Their emotions were a turbulent mix of fear, anger, and determination, as they began the harrowing journey to bring their daughter safely home.
Meanwhile, Marian watched Harriet playing in the grand playroom, her heart heavy with mixed emotions. Her actions had put her own son and Mallory through hell, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction.
She tried to push away her guilt and doubt as she looked at Harriet's smiling face. "You deserve a better life, my dear. Away from all this chaos," she muttered.
 
Harriet, oblivious to the turmoil around her, laughed and continued to explore the toys in her new playroom.
At almost 7 in the evening, Mallory and Harris were growing frantic. Their search for Harriet had yielded no results so far, and their worry intensified with each passing moment.
"Harris, we need to find her, and quickly. I can't bear the thought of her being scared or hurt." 
Harris nodded, his face etched with determination. "We'll do everything we can, Mallory. We'll find her. The police just called me and said, "they will search Mom's mansion."
Together, they redoubled their efforts, determined to bring their daughter home safely, no matter the cost. Their friends, David, and Amanda, Heidi, and Scott offered to help too. They will ask people they know who could help search for Harriet.
In less than an hour, Marian arrived with Harriet.
"Mommy, Daddy," Harriet ran to her mom and Dad. "I played with Grandma today."
"Oh my God, my baby!" Mallory hugged her daughter tightly. "I miss you, Harriet."
"I miss you too, mommy. I'm a little tired today." 
Mallory laughed softly at her daughter's humor. "We'll get you to sleep right away, sweetie."
"She's supposed to be in bed by now," Harris said coldly, looking at Marian. His eyes were piercing; if looks could kill Marian wouldn't last a minute. 
Harris took Harriet into his arms. "How are you, my princess?" He places a gentle kiss on Harriet's cheek.
Harriet yawned, "I'm fine, Daddy. I'm sleepy," she complained. 
Harriet's innocent face removed all the worries that Harris felt for hours.
"We had fun playing in the playroom I had customized for her," Marian said enthusiastically.
Mallory and Harris ignored Marian. They couldn't talk while Harriet was listening. "Alright then princess, your Mom will tuck you to bed. I'll have to talk to your grandma first."
Harriet nodded in agreement. "Bye Grandma," she blew a kiss to Marian. Her eyelids were heavy as she closed them.
As soon as Harriet and Mallory were gone, Harris's voice trembled with anger as he confronted his mother in his mansion's grand living room. His eyes bore into Marian, filled with a mixture of rage, disappointment, and frustration.
"You've crossed a line that can never be forgiven. Taking Harriet without our permission is unacceptable. You've caused enough pain already, and I won't allow you to manipulate us any longer. I told you before to stay away from my family, but you didn't listen."
Marian, looking guilty and yet strangely defiant, responded to her son's accusations. "Harris, I only wanted to spend time with my granddaughter. Is that too much to ask?"
Harris, his patience worn thin, shook his head, his voice cold and unforgiving. "It's not just about that, Mom. It's about constant lies, manipulation, and scheming. You've caused harm to us, to Nicole, and now you've dragged Harriet into your mess. We're done! Get out!" Harris pointed at the front door.
Tears welled up in Marian's eyes as she realized the gravity of her actions. She had alienated her son further, pushing him away with her selfish desires. "Harris, please, give me a chance to make things right. As you can see, I took your daughter back, I only spent time with her like a grandmother should."
But it was clear that the bridge between them had been burnt to ashes, and nothing could rebuild it. 
"I'm not gonna say this again. Get out!" Harris turned away, his heart heavy, and left his mother standing in the grand living room of his mansion, a growing chasm separating their relationship, perhaps forever.
Mallory went downstairs after tucking Harriet into bed. "Hey! I heard you and your mom. Are you sure about your decision?"
"Without a doubt, Mally. She is still my mother but it's not healthy for us, especially our daughter to have such a manipulative person controlling us. Now is not the right time to reconcile with her. I want to focus on you and our daughter, Harriet," Harris said, pinching Mallory's chin.
Mallory smiled, "If that's what you want.  I trust your judgment. Thank you for prioritizing me and Harriet."
"How is Harriet?" Harris inquired.
"She's fast asleep," Mallory replied.
"In that case, would you like me to tuck you in as well? I'm quite the adept babysitter," Harris teased, accompanied by a mischievous wink.
"Behave yourself, Mr. Thompson," Mallory playfully chided, her hand playfully striking Harris's arm as she dashed toward the staircase.
"Hey, Mrs. Thompson, care for a game of hide and seek?" Harris called out, trailing Mallory up the stairs to the second floor.
"Excuse me! I'm not your Mrs. Thompson. Don't get ahead of yourself," Mallory retorted.
Harris grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Who knows what the future holds. Maybe tonight I'll change your mind." He continued to follow Mallory into her room.
Inside Mallory's room, the atmosphere shifted from playful banter to a more intimate tone. The soft glow of her bedside lamp illuminated the space, casting a warm ambiance that danced on the walls. Harris approached Mallory, his eyes locked onto hers. Before she knew it, he owned her lips.