CHAPTER 12About a week after the visit of the social worker, Christian seemed to be in a dilemma, and he needed help with it. He was seated in the dining room when Olivia came around and saw him.Olivia saw him deep in thought, so she went and sat in front of him.“Mr. Mason, I’ve been noticing that you have been stressed since the visit of the social worker last week. Did she say something that caused you to be like this? Will they take Eunice out of your care?" Olivia asked him firmly.Christian sighed. “They are not going to remove Eunice from my care. Don’t worry. But they said they had a recommendation for me to help Eunice grow up like every normal child.Olivia was surprised and curious. “Oh. What was the recommendation?“The board said I needed a marriage. They said that apart from me being a father figure, Eunice needed a mother figure, since a nanny is usually temporary”.Olivia sighed before asking, “Can I tell you what I think about this?" Christian looked at her and nodd
Chapter 13Christian sat at the head of the long, polished boardroom table, reading the report he’d received earlier. However, he could not focus on it. His mind kept replaying the conversation he had with Olivia the previous night. He was not giving up on convincing her, but how to go about it was also very confusing.“Mr. Mason”, one of the older board members, Mr. Stuart called, pulling his attention to the meeting.“The reports are fine so far. If we continue this way, we would be leading the country in no time”, Christian replied, thinking they wanted his feedback on their report.Mr Stuart cleared his throat. “We have something else to discuss with you, sir." As soon as he heard that, Christian looked up to see Mr. Stuart staring at him intently, and the other board members murmuring to one another.“What is the matter? Is it about the company?” Christian asked as he shifted in his seat.Mr. Stuart shook his head. "Well...It is not exactly about the company, but it is related to
CHAPTER 14Olivia was silent for a minute. “I thought we had talked about this. We agreed to look for another solution together for the time being," she said softly.Christian nodded, before replying, “I also agree with you, remember. But the board members of my company are also on my matter now. They are requesting that I get married.Olivia scrunched her face in confusion. “Your board members get to decide when you get married? I thought this was your personal life."“They were not supposed to, but they somehow do now. They said that my singleness would reflect on the company negatively and the shareholders would not be comfortable with me becoming the new chairman. They want me to get married for the media to see." Christian said while pacing around the room.Olivia saw his agitated expression and could not help but feel back for him. ‘He looks like he’s stuck’, she thought to herself.“So, you don’t have any other young women in mind? What about those young ladies from prestigious
CHAPTER 15On the television, reporters were swarming around Christian, their microphones extended toward him. “Mr. Mason, is it true you got engaged? Who is the lucky woman? Which family is she from? "How long have you been dating each other?" Multiple questions were being thrown at him, different voices ringing at once.Olivia stared at the television screen, her mouth agape and her hand on her waist, as she stood in the middle of the living room. Her heart was beating fast in her chest, hoping that Christian didn't spew any nonsense.Christian raised his hand, signaling them to keep quiet. He flashed them his rarely seen signature smile. “I will address all your questions shortly," he said coolly.“I was planning on calling for a press conference this week to announce it, but since it has come to this, I better confess”, he said, causing the crowd in front of him to burst out laughing.“I’ve been dating my girlfriend for a few months now, and I proposed last night. I’m not sure whe
CHAPTER 16The next morning, Olivia was sitting on her bed, thinking about the unusual conversation she had had with Christian the previous night.“Would you like to go on a date with me?" Christian asked, his eyes hopeful for a positive answer.Olivia’s brows furrowed. “A date?”, she asked, feigning confusion.“I was thinking that we should go on dates a number of times before we get the contract. That way, we can get to know each other better. And your identity will be revealed after marriage. The media will ask you funny questions about me, so…” Christian explained.“Okay. Let’s go on a little date. But I recommend that we go no more than three times before marriage. I mean, it is just for show.Christian nodded and smiled at her. “Yes, three times."The two of them came to a conclusion and agreed to go on a date the next day.Olivia sighed. The reality of what she had agreed to had just started sinking in. She was about to marry a man she had absolutely no romantic feelings for, a
CHAPTER 17She read the news article and saw the photos under them. There were some more articles about them and the news seemed to have gotten the attention of many. Every headline seemed louder than the last, and each photograph felt more invasive. She didn’t want to read the comments under the news.But curiosity got the best of her.Her heart sank as she read the comments. They were harsh, nitpicking every little thing about her appearance.“That dress is hideous. Christian could have done so much better.”“She looks like she bought that outfit from a clearance rack. Not the kind of woman you’d expect next to Christian Mason.”“She’s pretty, but not Christian Mason pretty, if you know what I mean.”Suddenly she remembered something from a date in the afternoon. Christian was acting strangely with her, tucking her hair and locking their hands. So this was the reason. She got off her bed to go confront him in his office.“Take all the articles down and be quick about it”, she overhe
CHAPTER 18The sound of murmurs echoed throughout the conference room as Christian made his announcement. “In the event of this, we would like to have a very private wedding ceremony with only our friends and family around. Thank you." A round of applause sounded through the conference room as Christian concluded. Cameras continued to flash, capturing every second of his calm yet commanding presence. Olivia was watching from the television in the living room and she felt herself go limp as Christian confidently confirmed their wedding.‘But what was this two-week time frame he threw?’ she thought to herself. He did not even discuss anything with her. However, she knew something unexpected was going to happen sooner or later. This was coming. They had signed the contract. But hearing the announcement on television made it feel so real, she started to feel a chill run down her spine.News articles have started pouring in. There it was, her face splashed across every major news outlet as
CHAPTER 19They spent the next couple of hours poring over wedding ideas, discussing color schemes, and debating whether or not to include a bridal party in the wedding. It was a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in Olivia’s mind.The evening approached soon and they came to the end of the planning. Ruth and Josh also left for their various homes. Olivia found herself in her thoughts once again. She wandered out onto the balcony, the cool evening air brushing against her skin as she gazed out at the city skyline. The weight of the upcoming wedding, the contract, the media attention—it all felt like too much. “You seem to have a lot on your mind this evening”, a deep voice sounded behind her. Olivia turned around and saw Christian leaning against the door frame. His expression was unreadable as he walked over to stand beside her.Olivia sighed, wrapping her hands around herself. “I’m just not sure if I’m ready for all this. The wedding, the attention of the m
Chapter 97Christian stood outside the holding cell, the fluorescent lights above casting harsh shadows on the stark walls. Detective Fisher’s voice echoed in his mind, reminding him to tread carefully. But Christian had no intention of being careful.Inside the cell, Mrs. Patricia Oxnard sat stiffly on the metal bench, her hands folded in her lap. Despite her disheveled appearance, she carried herself with a dignity that belied her situation. When she noticed Christian, her face flickered with hope, though her eyes remained wary.“Christian,” she began, standing slowly. “Thank God you’re here. I knew you’d realise this was all a mistake.”Christian forced a small, tight smile, stepping closer to the bars. “Mrs. Oxnard, I want to believe it’s a mistake,” he said, his tone measured, almost warm. “You’ve been a trusted figure in my life for so long. I couldn’t just stand by while you were dragged into this mess.”Her eyes softened, and for a moment, she looked like the woman who had onc
Chapter 96The night air was heavy with a suffocating stillness as Christian sat in his dimly lit office, phone in hand. The room, usually an emblem of power and control, now felt more like a prison. Every shadow seemed to mock his inability to act fast enough. His mind churned with the latest revelation: Mr. Petty, a man he had trusted implicitly through Margaret, was at the centre of a storm he could barely piece together.But there was no time for hesitation. Christian pressed a number on his phone, his resolve hardening.“Detective Fisher,” came the gruff voice on the other end, tinged with surprise.“It’s Christian Mason,” he began without preamble. “I need your help. My niece, Eunice, has been abducted.”The line was silent for a beat before Fisher responded, his tone shifting to one of professionalism. “When did this happen?”“Five days ago,” Christian admitted, his voice strained. “The trail’s gone cold, and I need someone I can trust to take over the investigation. Your team
Chapter 95The city buzzed outside Christian’s office as he paced back and forth, his frustration mounting with every passing moment. The images of the child’s shoe and the signs of activity at the warehouse lingered in his mind, but the security team had turned up nothing more. It was a dead end—a cruel tease that brought them no closer to finding Eunice.He stopped by the window, staring out at the skyline, his reflection staring back at him. His face was worn, lines of exhaustion etched deeply around his eyes. But there was no room for rest. He had promised Olivia he would bring Eunice home, and failure wasn’t an option.The sharp ring of his phone broke his thoughts. He snatched it off the desk. “Josh?”“No updates yet,” Josh said, his voice cautious. “We’ve combed through the warehouse and surrounding areas. Whoever was there cleared out fast.”Christian’s grip on the phone tightened. “And the security footage?”“Nothing useful,” Josh admitted. “They avoided cameras, and any reco
Chapter 94The late morning sun cast long shadows over Ruth’s apartment as Christian approached the door. His steps were heavy, the weight of recent events bearing down on him. The tension from his last argument with Olivia loomed large, and he braced himself for an icy reception.Ruth answered the door with a sharp glance, her eyebrow arching as if to say, "What do you want?" She leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed.“Christian,” she said, her tone clipped. “Didn’t expect to see you here. Thought you’d be too busy playing lone wolf to come and actually talk to your wife.”Christian inhaled deeply, already regretting his decision to come in person. “I’m here to see Olivia,” he said evenly.“She’s in the living room,” Ruth replied, stepping aside but not before adding, “Try not to ruin her day any further.”Christian clenched his jaw but said nothing, stepping into the cozy apartment. Olivia was seated on the couch, her back straight, hands clasped in her lap. The moment she
Chapter 93The air in Christian’s study was stifling, the faint smell of leather and old wood doing little to calm his frayed nerves. He paced the room, the phone pressed to his ear.“I can guess you heard about Eunice from your mother, but who told you about Olivia?” Christian demanded, his tone not so cool.“That’s the thing. Why do I know so much about your life?” the caller questioned bitterly. “Don’t play games with me,” Christian retorted.The caller sighed. “I think my mom is involved in the kidnapping of Eunice. I can’t say for sure, but she’s someone who will go miles to get what she wants.”Christian could not believe his ears. He blinked, looking at his screen. “I’m not going to listen to you say rubbish.”“I know,” the caller continued. “I know it’s difficult to believe my mother is capable of something like that, but she is. Haven’t you seen the signs? She always tried to pit you and me together for some sort of marriage alliance, but thankfully your mom never agreed to i
Chapter 92The morning sun struggled to penetrate the heavy fog that hung over the mansion, inside and out. Christian’s world remained shrouded in uncertainty. His usually clean and sharp demeanour was nowhere to be found. His beard had grown, forming a stubble around his jaw. He stood in the operations room, his jaw set as he scanned the large map pinned to the wall. Pushpins marked locations of interest, each representing a lead that had fizzled into nothing.Josh entered, carrying a stack of papers and his laptop. His face was grim, but his eyes held a spark of determination. “The lead we traced last night,” he began, setting the laptop down. “It’s thin, but it’s something.”Christian crossed his arms, leaning against the desk. “What have you got?”Josh tapped at the keyboard, pulling up an email. “We found another account connected to Elise’s network. It’s tied to a property on the outskirts of the city—an old storage facility. I’ve sent a team to check it out, but—”“Don’t say it
Chapter 91The house had never felt this still. It wasn’t just quiet—it was suffocating. Christian sat in his study, his hands gripping the edge of his desk as the faint glow of his laptop illuminated the room. It was past midnight, but sleep had become a stranger to him. Each time he closed his eyes, the image of Eunice’s frightened face haunted him.And then there was Olivia.He had replayed their argument in his mind a hundred times, each iteration leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. The anger that had fuelled his words now seemed hollow, replaced by a gnawing ache he couldn’t ignore. He had hurt her—pushed her away when he needed her most.The phone on his desk buzzed, breaking his thoughts. It was a message from Josh: “Team just sent me something. Check your email.”Christian opened the file Josh had forwarded. It was footage from a security camera near the warehouse. A black van had been spotted leaving the area shortly before their team arrived. The license plate was barely vi
Chapter 90The mansion felt emptier than ever, even with everyone inside. Olivia sat in the dimly lit living room, staring at the untouched cup of tea Ruth had placed before her hours ago. Christian hadn’t spoken to her since they returned from the failed rescue attempt at the warehouse. Not a single word, not even a glance in her direction. His silence was louder than any accusation could have been.From across the room, Ruth watched Olivia carefully. Her brows knit with concern. Josh entered, his laptop tucked under his arm. “Any updates?” Ruth asked softly.Josh shook his head, his expression grim. “No leads." The trail went cold after the warehouse. "I've got a few people digging into Elise’s connections, but...” He hesitated, glancing toward Christian, who stood by the window, his back to everyone.Olivia couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed herself up from the couch and crossed the room to meet him. “Christian,” she began, her voice small but steady. “We need to talk.”He didn’t
Chapter 89Olivia and Ruth were pacing around in the in the stifling atmosphere. Olivia sat on the edge of the couch, her hands twisting the scarf that had now become a cruel reminder of Eunice’s abduction. Ruth hovered nearby, her calming presence a balm Olivia desperately clung to. Meanwhile, Christian and Josh were locked in a flurry of activity, coordinating with law enforcement and private investigators. Every phone call, every lead, seemed to come up short.Olivia’s chest felt like it was being crushed under the weight of helplessness. Eunice is out there somewhere. Alone. Frightened. The thought nearly undid her. She forced herself to focus on Christian’s promise. He would move mountains to bring Eunice home. He had to.“We’ve got a lead,” Josh announced, though his tone lacked the confidence she had hoped for. “The car was spotted in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. A team is already on the way.”Olivia bolted to her feet. “I’m coming with you.”Christian’s