Chapter 7

Sinclair POV.

The night dragged on, and with each passing hour, my anxiety grew. I had combed through every corner of our neighborhood, retracing my steps, hoping against hope that I would find Roseline. She had vanished, and with her disappearance came a sense of impending doom that weighed heavily on my chest.

It was as if I'd made a mistake for running my mouth to her. I couldn't stop myself! Is that even hard? Why can't she stay quietly and wait till I return from work?

My plan is to explain things to her and make her understand since I was the one that misunderstood her good intention.

I pulled into the parking lot of the café where I hoped she might have gone. It was a long shot, but the familiar sight of the place stirred something in me, a regression and anger. As I stepped inside, the warmth enveloped me, but I found no trace of her.

“Hey, have you seen a girl?” I asked the barista, desperation creeping into my voice. “About this tall, dark hair, maybe looking a bit lost?”

If this could bring me somewhere, i would get a lead to her whereabouts as it driving me crazy more than I thought.

The barista shook her head, and I felt my heart sink further. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Roseline was close, that she was just out of reach. Every second felt like an eternity, and the longer I went without finding her, the more frantic my thoughts became.

I stepped out, pacing the sidewalk, my mind racing. What if she was with someone else? What if she’d gone to her father? The thought made my stomach churn. Jonathan had always been volatile, but now, with Roseline missing, I could only imagine how furious he must be.

As I paced, my phone buzzed, and I nearly dropped it in my haste to answer. It was Jonathan!

~If you get home, let me speak with Roseline. It has been a while since I talked to her and her phone is off~

Those line of words almost get me crazy successfully, it's just like someone was directly my life with tight challenges. I don't even have the face to show up in front of him, let alone, the mouth to explain how Roseline left the house.

I'm not trapped in my own decisions unable to figure out the solution to my existing problem.

With a trembling hand and a glimpse of hope, I sent a text message back. 

~Roseline has gone missing~

Even though I used my hands to type, I could feel my mouth shaking.

In a swift moment, my phone rang out and my heart skip thousands beat. It felt like I was standing at the gate of heaven, ready to face the judgment.

However, as man to another man, I decided to pick the call and speak with the little confident that I gathered in terms of urgency. 

"I just saw your text message, can you explain your humble self. If you deserve to be call humble, i will know at the end of our conversation. Now, explain yourself" Jonathan's voice over the phone sound like an ocean wave blowing heavily to the ears.

I gulped, shutting my eyes and open it back. "I can explain the situation..." Just like I expected, he cut me off halfway.

“Explain what? That you’ve driven her away?” His anger was palpable, and I could see the tension in his posture. “Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’re in?”

At this moment, I only have to add strength to my patience and allow him to vet his anger.

"It's not what you think! She run away herself"

After saying this, I don't know why I felt like I've lied to him and I was feeling guilty when I knew the reason why Roseline chose to run away.

“Don’t lecture me about my daughter’s well-being! You think I don’t know her? I know why my rose can do and can not, so stop giving me some annoying excuses” he barked, his voice resounding over the phone. 

“I didn’t say that,” I countered, my heart racing. “But you need to listen. I was at work when the maid inform me about her disappearance and I confirmed it when I returned home " I choose my words by omitting the fact that I locked her up in a room.

“Where is she, Sinclair?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. “You know something. If you’ve hurt her, she might have the thought of running away!”

I knew he was very calculative, he can see through my voice. However, I won't allow him to figure things out easily.

"What do you mean? I was too busy at work and my head is dealing with some things" I tried to explain.

I heard him laughing at the other end, and I could imagine the look on his face. It will be deadly as expected.

"It's fine that you are busy with things, and I hope you will be busy solving the problems that might come after breaking the contract" With this, the phone disconnect.

With a loud sigh, I finally admit that I'm in trouble. My facade anger has put me into what I always avoid, now, I'm trapped.

The situation has become unbearable as I left the cafe, heading back home. I even cling on a last idea of calling her phone again 

"Please pick up Rose! Please pick" I found myself pleading earnestly but the number was unreachable as before.

As i stepped out into the night, my uneasy alliance forged in the fire of concern for Roseline, I felt a mix of dread and determination. I had to find her before Jonathan did, before he could lash out in anger. 

But deep down, I knew I wasn’t the only one s

earching for her. And as the night deepened, I realized that time was running out.