Chapter 5 : The disappearance

Cael had just returned from the office as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the expansive grounds of the Moraine home. 

The estate was one of the many properties in his family's name. This was his home. Where Anaïs now lived temporarily.

The estate was quiet as usual but as the butler opened the door, Cael immediately sensed that something was off. The atmosphere within the mansion felt heavy, almost stagnant. The butler also looked unsettled.

"Where’s Anaïs?" Cael asked in suspicion, shrugging off his coat.

The butler hesitated. "She…she hasn’t been seen since this morning sir, and she is not…not in her room either.” he stuttered.

Cael scowled. "What are you saying? She possibly couldn't leave without anyone noticing.”

His frown deepened. Quickly he went up the staircase two steps at a time, heading for Anaïs’ room.

 The moment he opened the door, his heart sank. She truly wasn't inside. The bed was made, the curtains were drawn, and her perfume was somewhat in the air, but she was noticeably missing.

He looked in the bathroom, the study, and even the library where he recently noticed she often sought solace but nothing. It was as though she vanished into thin air.

Cael, concerned and furious, quickly summoned all the staff, but their answers were all the same—no one had seen her since Doctor Derek had left in the morning.

“Dr Derek?” Cael muttered to himself.

His mind raced with possibilities. Had she gone into the city or had someone taken her? He pushed aside the worry and focused on finding answers.

She really didn't mean anything much to him, he reassured himself. She is only a means to an end.

“Call Doctor Derek!”.

***

Anaïs sat by her father's hospital bed, the once-formidable patriarch of the family now reduced to a frail figure struggling against the icy grip of illness. The rhythmic beeping of the heart machine was the only sound in the room 

"Papa" she whispered, her voice shaky.

He fluttered his eyes open, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "Anaïs, my dear…how are…” he started to ask before he was choked with a cough.

"Don't push yourself, just rest more” she said, her hand resting gently on his. "I just needed to see you and be sure that you are getting better."

“But there is so much you don't...you don't know”, he managed to say.

Before he could say anything further, the door creaked open. Dr. Derek, the doctor in charge of the surrogacy procedure, stepped in, his brows furrowing in surprise as he saw Anaïs.

"Anaïs," he said, his tone cautious. "I wasn’t expecting you here."

She straightened, instinctively wary. "I came to see my father. Is there a problem?"

Derek hesitated, his gaze shifting briefly to the ailing man before settling back on her. "Not at all. It’s just… unusual. Does Cael know you’re here?"

Her expression tightened. "Cael doesn’t need to know. 

Derek nodded, the tension in the room was beginning to rise.

 "Your father needs rest now. Perhaps you should head back to the estate."

Reluctant but unwilling to argue with Dr Derek, Anaïs rose and kissed her father’s forehead. "I’ll come back soon," she promised.

Derek watched her leave, his mind already racing. 

He had received a call from Cael a few moments ago. She had been presumed missing from the estate but it hadn't occurred to him that she would come to the hospital looking for her father. 

He pulled out his phone and dialed Cael’s number.

"She’s at the hospital?" Cael’s voice was sharp, his relief mingled with frustration.

"Yes, "Dr Derek confirmed. "She was visiting her father. But Cael, it's already quite late, and not safe for her to move alone at this hour, especially in this part of the city.

"I’m on my way," Cael said, hanging up.

***

Pulling her cloak firmly around her, Anaïs stepped out of the hospital into the crisp evening air. The city streets were quieter than usual; the glow of streetlights made the night shadows look long and ominous. 

She debated calling for a car but decided to walk instead. The mansion wasn’t far. 

She had taken a risk leaving the estate and taking a drive back would be too visible. Moreover, the fresh night air would help clear her head.

The few weeks at the mansion had felt like a prison. She had been well taken care of, but there had been no real connection, even among the staff. It seemed like they were always on edge. 

“Who wouldn't be on edge working for such a cold person?” she sneered.

Although Cael hadn't been cruel but he always maintained an icy presence that seemed to always follow him around still she couldn't deny that she was somewhat attracted to him, after all, he was a handsome man. 

Her cheeks flushed crimson as she recalled the night with him. She never considered he would choose to make love to her instead of the conventional method.

“Snap out of it, girl!” she hissed.

After all, she chose this path so she could save her father's life.

Her father’s words echoed in her mind. There’s so much you don’t know. What had he meant? What secrets had he been keeping, and why?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the group of men lurking in the shadows.

"Well, well," a voice drawled, stepping into her path. "What’s a lady like you doing out here alone?"

Anaïs stiffened, her heart pounding. "Excuse me," she said, trying to step around him.

Another man blocked her way. "Not so fast. We just want to talk."

She backed away, her mind racing. "I don’t have anything to say to you." She snapped back trying to maintain some bravado.

"Oh, but we’ve got plenty to say to you," the first man sneered, his hand moving to grab her arm.

Anaïs twisted free, instincts kicking in. She turned to run, but another man appeared behind her, cutting off her escape.

“Come on pretty, don’t make this harder than it needs to be," one of them said, his voice low and menacing.

He looked extremely rough with an ugly scar that ran from the corner of his forehead to his jaw. His eyes were dark but glinted with excitement.

“We would be gentle,” he said, grinning widely.

Panic swept through her. She was out in the dark, surrounded by three men. She could smell their lust, their hunger for her flesh.

"Let me go!" she shouted as his large palms wrapped around her arms, her voice echoing in the empty street.

But there was no one to respond.