Chapter 22The wedding ended perfectly and by nightfall; the car brought the newlyweds and their Best man, Maid of honor and Flower girl into the Mason mansion. It seemed Eunice was very excited about the wedding happening. She showered Christian and Olivia with words and compliments on their way home.“When I get to kindergarten on Monday, I’m going to tell Archer, Jason, Emily and Loveleen all about the wedding and how I was the flower girl”, Eunice said, wiggling her body out of Olivia’s embrace.“Really?” Ruth asked, feigning curiosity.“Of course. They always tell me about the parties they attended, but now I can tell them about mine,” she said, beaming at the thought of the idea.They soon arrived at the mansion and everyone went to their various rooms to change their clothes. After changing her dress, Olivia slipped onto the balcony to get some fresh air, and Ruth followed her.In the middle of their discussion, they heard a small voice. “Olivia?” The two ladies whipped their h
Chapter 23The morning light crept in through the windows. It cast a golden glow on the bed where Olivia slept, nestled in Christian's arms. Her breath hitched as she saw Eunice sleeping behind her while she was in the middle. Her head rested on Christian’s chest while his arms wrapped firmly around her waist. Panic briefly surged through her. But, she froze. She didn't want to disturb him—or Eunice, still asleep next to them.Carefully, she tried to slip out of his grasp. Christian’s grip tightened. He stirred, opening his eyes and looking very shocked that Olivia was in his arms. The surprise in his eyes quickly turned neutral, looking neither warm nor cold.Olivia quickly turned over to try to get up, but Christian held her in place. Olivia swallowed, feeling the awkwardness settle in the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up," she whispered.Christian’s eyes flickered towards Eunice. “Don’t wake her," he said, his voice lacking the warmth it had just the day before. He th
Chapter 24“Trouble in Paradise: Christian Mason and Olivia Benjamin’s marriage on the rocks" was the headline she saw on the news.She picked up her phone to call Christian, and he answered on the second ring.“I already saw the news. "Good thing I suggested that you bring Eunice along with you when you come to the company," he said with a serious expression. “Also, wear your ring. And put on a nice dress. You should give the impression of a wealthy wife. "I'll transfer some money into your account. Use it to buy some nice dresses before going to Eunice's kindergarten." He hung up.Olivia stared at the blank screen of her phone, frustration bubbling inside her. “That was rude,” she muttered. “He didn’t even give me a chance to say anything. It’s like he thinks I’m a prop in his life."Despite her frustrations, Olivia did as instructed. She picked out a stylish dress from the boutique, using the money Christian had transferred to her. She tried to focus on the positives: she was dress
Chapter 25Olivia’s heartbeat increased when she heard Christian’s words and his tone of voice. Suddenly, her mind went back to their discussion about sleeping with each other, when they were discussing the contract. Is it finally time for her to exercise her wifely duties?Christian noticed her absent-mindedness during dinner, and subtly wondered what was wrong with her. As soon as he finished his dinner, he dashed upstairs, while Olivia cleared their plates and put them in the sink. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Maybe she was reading too much into his words. Maybe tonight wasn’t what she thought it would be. But the nerves wouldn’t go away.She finally made her way upstairs, hesitating at the door of their shared bedroom. She rubbed her palms together, trying to calm her nerves. It was time. She pushed the door open slowly, her gaze immediately finding Christian sitting on the bed, his posture relaxed but his expression unreadable.She swallowed the lump in her t
Olivia’s words lingered in the air after her little confession. The silence between her and Christian thickened with the passing second. She watched as Christian had an array of expressions on his face, from surprise to intense concern, his lips pressing into a thin line.“So, you mean to tell me that you saw the vehicle at the amusement park?”, he asked with an unreadable expression. Olivia just nodded in affirmation, unable to open her mouth.His expression quickly switched to disappointment and he switched. “And you didn’t think to tell me about it?" he shouted at her.Olivia shot up in surprise. “How are you blaming me for this? I wouldn’t know they were kidnappers. And please keep it down," Olivia said, unwilling to back down for the first time.“I just didn’t want to jump to conclusions. I mean… they could very well be another family enjoying their time at the park”, she said softly, trying to calm the situation.Christian stood up abruptly and took his phone. “We'll discuss thi
Chapter 27The early morning light filtered through the curtains as Olivia stirred, her body stiff from the restless night. She had barely slept, her mind plagued with thoughts of the argument she and Christian had the previous night. It felt like an insurmountable wall had risen between them, and Olivia wasn’t sure how to climb it, or if she even wanted to anymore.She looked over at Eunice who was breathing softly beside her. This little girl was the only connection between her and Christian as of now. And she’s thankfully oblivious to the trouble that surrounds them at this point. Christian remained in the armchair, his face hardened even in sleep. Olivia watched him for a moment, the ache in her chest growing stronger. He looked like a stranger now, the warmth that had once flickered between them replaced by a cold, unreadable distance.Olivia quietly slid out of bed, careful not to wake Eunice. She needed some space, some air to clear her head before facing the inevitable convers
Chapter 28The atmosphere in the house hung heavy as Christian ended the phone call. Olivia’s heart raced as she watched him, her mind swirling with questions. She tried to focus on cleaning up the shards of the broken vase with Eunice, but her hands trembled. Christian’s sudden call, the coldness in his voice—it all added to the gnawing fear in her chest.Christian slipped his phone into his pocket, his eyes hard and distant. He didn’t say a word as he turned back toward the stairs, but Olivia knew something was wrong. She could feel it in the tightness of his posture, the way his jaw clenched as if bracing for something bad.“Christian”, Olivia called out softly, desperate to close the growing chasm between them. “What was that about? Is everything okay?”He stopped halfway up the stairs, his back still to her. There was a long pause before he finally spoke, his voice low. “The security team found something… They’re coming to discuss it”.The weight of his words sank deep into Olivi
Chapter 29By the time it was afternoon, Olivia could no longer contain the chaos that was raging in her head. She needed someone to unload her worries on. She picked up her phone to call Ruth. “Hey, babes. Are you at home right now?" she asked.“Right now?" Yes, I am. You coming over?" Ruth asked over the phone.“Yes. I’ll be there in a while”, Olivia replied, before hanging up her phone. She quickly picked up a modest outfit and put it on, grabbed her car keys and drove off to Ruth’s house.As Olivia drove to Ruth’s house, her mind spiraled. The weight of Christian’s distrust clung to her like a heavy cloak, suffocating her every thought. How could he think she’d ever harm Eunice? The very idea was absurd, and yet… here she was, driving away from the mansion because she couldn’t take the tension anymore.When she pulled into Ruth’s driveway, her stomach churned with unease. Ruth greeted her at the door with a bright smile, but it quickly faded as she noticed a strain in Olivia’s exp
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
Chapter 88There was a long, tense pause before Christian responded, his voice cold and clipped. “I’m on my way. Stay there and don’t let anyone leave until I get there.” Olivia ended the call, her mind racing. Who had taken Eunice, and how had they known enough to impersonate Christian? As fear churned in her chest, she forced herself to stay calm, knowing she needed to keep her head clear.Olivia quickly dialled Josh’s number, her hands trembling. He picked up almost immediately. “Olivia? What’s wrong?” Josh’s normally laid-back tone was laced with alarm. “Eunice... she’s gone,” Olivia said, barely able to keep her voice steady. “The teacher said someone who looked like me picked her up. Christian’s on his way, but I need you and Ruth to check if she somehow made it home.”“What?!” Josh barked, his disbelief evident. In the background, Olivia heard Ruth asking what was happening. “We’re on it,” Josh said firmly. “Stay calm. We’ll call you back as soon as we check the house.” Olivia
Chapter 87The sun rose over the Mason mansion, bathing its grand façade in golden light. Christian stood in the kitchen, dressed in a sharp navy suit, scanning through his emails on his phone while sipping his morning coffee. The distant sound of Eunice’s giggles echoed upstairs, followed by Olivia’s cheerful voice coaxing her to finish her breakfast.The excitement of the day was palpable. It was Parents’ Sports Day at Eunice’s school, and the young girl could barely contain her enthusiasm.“Uncle Christian! Olivia!” Eunice’s voice rang out as she bounded into the kitchen. She wore a bright yellow T-shirt with the school logo and black athletic shorts, her hair tied back in a ponytail that swayed as she moved.Christian smiled, setting down his coffee. “Ready for your big day, champ?”“More than ready!” Eunice grinned, clutching a water bottle and a small towel. “Are you coming with us?”Christian crouched to her level and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “I’ll drive yo