Mariah’s grip on reality erodes under Ian’s psychological manipulation, blurring fear and intuition until she becomes convinced Dominic is in grave danger. She feels an overwhelming, uncontrollable bond to the child she carried for Abby and Devon, despite having no legal claim. Ian’s influence convinces her that Abby’s home is unsafe and that unseen enemies are closing in. Believing she is the only one who can protect Dominic, Mariah carefully studies the Chancellor estate and its routines. Ordinary moments become, in her mind, critical opportunities to act. Once convinced that rescuing Dominic is a moral necessity, her panic hardens into chilling calm. She plans every detail with precision, avoiding cameras and noise. Entering the nursery, she lifts Dominic gently, convinced she is saving his life. She leaves no trace behind, executing the act with surgical care. To her, it is not a kidnapping but a rescue mission.

Abby discovers the empty crib and is instantly thrown into primal terror, desperately hoping there is a rational explanation. Devon rushes in and quickly realizes the unthinkable has happened. Their home feels hostile and violated as panic overtakes them. Abby calls 911 while Devon struggles to process the loss. Police arrive and turn the Chancellor estate into a crime scene. Detectives find no forced entry, no signs of struggle, and no clear suspect. The absence of evidence suggests an insider with intimate knowledge of the house. Questions about motive and emotional attachment quietly surface. Devon vows to use every resource to find his son, refusing helplessness. Meanwhile, the search for Dominic rapidly expands across Genoa City.

Mariah hides in a secluded motel with Dominic, disguising herself and paying cash to avoid detection. She watches news coverage of the frantic search with conflicted but eerie calm. Dominic sleeps peacefully, unaware of the devastation left behind. Mariah remains convinced she has saved him, clinging to Ian’s haunting words. Yet faint dread begins to creep through her certainty as she realizes the scale of the hunt. She knows Abby and Devon’s resources and desperation will only grow. Though she plans to return Dominic once the danger passes, she fears how she will be seen. The thought of being labeled a kidnapper terrifies her. That fear drives her deeper into hiding. The secret threatens to destroy everyone involved.

News of Dominic’s disappearance deeply shakes Genoa City, especially Tessa, whose thoughts immediately turn to Mariah. Old memories resurface, revealing warning signs she once dismissed as grief. Guilt overwhelms Tessa as she realizes she may have abandoned Mariah when she needed help most. She puts her budding relationship with Daniel on hold, knowing her focus must be elsewhere. Turning to Sharon, Tessa voices her fear that Mariah may be involved. Sharon, already uneasy about Mariah’s behavior, listens and connects the emotional dots. Together they reconstruct Mariah’s psychological timeline rather than chasing physical evidence. They suspect Mariah took Dominic out of desperate, delusional love rather than malice. Determined not to treat her as a criminal first, they plan a careful, compassionate approach. Tessa and Sharon commit to finding Mariah and Dominic, resolved not to let this nightmare end without trying to save them both.