Chapter 5

Lucius's POV.

Panic flooded my veins like ice water as I stood at the edge of the park, desperation clawing at me when I heard the most breaking news.

"Keep looking for her!" 

I don't wait for her response before disconnecting the call.

This is something I didn't expect and it gives me the urge to peel all of a sudden. What if she had gone somewhere else? The thought twisted my stomach into knots. I couldn’t bear the idea of her wandering off alone, especially with her father out there. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to remain calm as I raked my hands through my hair.

It's the craziest feeling ever! I wanted to think but my brain kept giving blank ideas as I found myself also blank.

I was still thinking of what to do when another message from the housekeeper bumped in. 

~Sir, I’m still searching for a house. No sign of her anywhere. Please come back~

"Fuck" I cursed again. This is driving me nuts! What the heck has happened to Roseline?

Maybe I should call her friends, but then I remembered that she didn't have one. I cursed under my breath, the walls of my mind closing in. As the last rays of sunlight faded, a chill settled over the park, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. That thought alone gives more headache.

I paced the ground, each step heavy with dread. My mind raced through every place we had shared: our favorite coffee shop, the little bakery down the street, and even the old bookstore. However, I couldn't find a better thing to do.

When I had the last thought, I turned back toward my car, ready to search the streets. I had locked her in that room, and now she was gone. My thoughts spiraled into a dark place. What if she had gone to confront her father? What if he had found her first? The mere thought sent a surge of adrenaline through me.

I jumped into my car, the engine roaring to life beneath me. The drive back felt like an eternity, each second stretching into hours as I replayed our argument in my mind. Why hadn’t I just listened to her? 

As I drive back home, my mind keeps drifting to her every second. I made a mistake in telling her to leave!

I'm unsure of whether this thing happens to be my fault or not, but I just wanted to find out to avoid Jonathan's wrath. He wasn't an easy man as he looks.

When I finally arrived home, I bolted through the front door. The house was eerily quiet, the shadows creeping along the walls like specters. I rushed to the room, my heart pounding in my chest. The broken window loomed before me, shards of glass glittering ominously on the floor.

“Roseline!” I shouted, panic lacing my voice. No answer. I moved through the house, calling her name in every room, but the silence was deafening.

Even though the maid has told me she trail off, I still wanted to confirm things myself. Probably, she was pulling some pranks to get me to sign the divorce papers.

"Roseline, if you are trying to pull pranks right now, it's not the best idea. Come out and let's talk about it!" I shouted, panic lacing my voice but no answer.

I searched every corner, my breath quickening with each empty room I entered. The living room, the kitchen, and the bathroom were all void of her presence. It was like she had vanished into thin air. 

“Think, think!” I muttered to myself, grasping at straws. I grabbed my phone again, my fingers trembling as I dialed her number. 

The beeping sound indicates that the phone is ringing, I held my breath, praying she would pick up.

Finally, it went to voicemail. My heart sank, and I cursed under my breath, anxiety spiraling out of control. 

I paced the living room, my mind racing through every possible scenario. The front door creaked open, and my housekeeper stepped in, her face pale and drawn.

“Sir, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve searched every inch of the house and the grounds. She’s nowhere to be found.”

A wave of despair washed over me. “She wouldn’t just leave! She wouldn’t..” 

I felt the walls closing in, the weight of my failure pressing down on me. “What if she’s gone to see her father?” I whispered, dread pooling in my stomach.

I was still keeping my emotions on track when the housekeeper almost added to my high pressure. 

"Should we call the police?"

“No!” I snapped, cutting her off. The thought of involving the authorities sent a jolt of panic through me. “We can’t let them know about this. It will only make things worse.”

“What do you want to do, then?” she asked, a hint of fear in her voice. 

I ran my hands through my hair, trying to think clearly. “I need to get to Jonathan first. If he knows she’s missing…” I trailed off, the implications chilling me to the bone. 

“Sir, you can’t just confront him,” she warned, concern etched on her face. 

“I have to,” I said, determination hardening my resolve. “If he’s involved in this, I need to know. I can’t let anything happen to her.”

I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. “I’ll be back. Keep looking.” 

As I stepped outside, the weight of the world settled on my shoulders. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was losing her, that I had pushed her away when I should have been holding on tightly. 

With every passing moment, the fear gnawed at me: What if I was too late? What if she was already in danger? 

I climbed into my car, heart racing with every thought of what la

y ahead. I had to find her before it was too late. Before I lost her for good.