Chapter 11
C
“What do you mean she ran away?“}
My voice came out sharp, cutting through the tense atmosphere. My grip tightened around the phone as I turned to face my staff.
Murmurs spread through the church. Guests whispered among themselves, shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Some glanced toward the altar, where the priest stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Others turned to the grand doors, expecting Katherine to walk in at any moment.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain composed. “There’s been a minor issue,” I announced, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Please enjoy the refreshments while I take care of it.”N
Then, without another word, I stormed out of the church.
“She left?” I repeated once we were away from the guests. “Explain. Now.”
One of my security men swallowed hard before speaking. “Miss Katherine ordered the driver to change routes, sir. She never made it to the church. Her phone-” He hesitated. “She blocked your number.“W
Blocked. A sharp, cold feeling settled in my chest.
I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.
Voicemail.
I tried again. Blocked.
I tried a different number. Nothing.
What the hell was going on? I didn’t know what was happening. I left the estate, she promised me that she would come. I knew she would come.
We’re better… I knew that.”
She was already seeing me as her husband. She had accepted me. I knew what she had felt. I was sure of it. We’re going to be a happy family. I had already planned everything… So why is this happening?}]
Why did she run away from me? Was this because of Keith? Did she realize that she still loves him? But that was impossible. She had moved on. I knew, even if she didn’t tell me, that she loves me.”
Before I could demand answers, a furious voice sliced through the tension.”
“Katherine is missing?”
I turned, just in time to see her mother storm toward me, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The moment she reached me, she grabbed my wrist, her nails digging into my skin.
“Where is my daughter?” she demanded.}
I exhaled sharply, trying to maintain my composure. “I don’t know.“}]
Her eyes blazed with fury. “What did you do to her? Why would she run away? She was supposed to be here. What did you do?“}
I stiffened. “Nothing.”
“Then why would she run?” she snapped. “She was happy. She was finally moving on. She wouldn’t just leave–unless you did something.“D
I opened my mouth to argue, to tell her that I had done nothing to make Katherine run, but then–I remembered.}
The hotel. The dizziness. The missing memories.}]
My stomach twisted. There had been a woman.
I never saw her face, never knew who she was. But now…
No.”
No, this couldn’t be.}
Could someone have set me up?”
I never would have betrayed Katherine. Not willingly.
But she must have seen something. A photo. A message. A goddamn trap.
I ran a hand down my face, frustration clawing at my throat.
“Katherine’s mother,” I said slowly, meeting her gaze. “I think I know what happened.“}]
She narrowed her eyes. “Explain.“}
And so I did.
I told her everything. The night I blacked out. The strange hotel. Waking up in a bed that wasn’t mine.
Her face darkened with each word.
“Why didn’t you tell her?” she asked, her voice like steel.
I clenched my jaw. “I thought it was nothing.” My voice was hoarse. “I didn’t want to worry her. It was nothing. I swear, I wouldn’t do that to her. I love her.”
She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Jeron, you idiot.“}}
The words stung, but I didn’t have time to argue.
I had to find her.
I turned to my staff. “I want every available resource tracking her down. Check every airport, every hotel. I don’t care where she is- find her.”
They scrambled into action. I pressed my fingers against my temples, forcing myself to think.
Where would she go?”
She wouldn’t go back to Keith–she wasn’t that stupid. She wouldn’t go abroad–her passport was still in the estate.
She had to be somewhere close. But where?
Unbeknownst to me, hidden in the bushes just outside the church, someone else was watching.”
Sasha. A slow, cruel smile spread across her lips as she listened to the chaos unfold.
Katherine was gone. Jeron was panicking.
Everything was going exactly as planned.
She pulled out her phone, sending a single text.}
Phase one: Complete.
Then she slipped away into the shadows.
