“The acquisition went through. If you’re interested, I’d like to offer you a position as a strategic advisor at my firm.”
Annabel was taken aback, then smiled. “Aren’t you worried I might be a corporate spy?”
He leaned casually against the table, watching her.
“I’ve looked into your background,” he said calmly. “Lucky for you, I didn’t find anything. But seriously, though, my gut tells me you’re someone I can trust.”
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
In the hospital’s VIP ward, the scent of disinfectant was masked by the fragrance of lilies placed nearby.
Tristan sat by the bed, holding a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup. The spoon gently clinked against the rim of the bowl.
“Cassie, just one more sip,” he said, bringing the spoon to Cassie’s lips.
His voice was full of tenderness as he continued, “I simmered it for four hours and skimmed off all the fat.”
Cassie’s pale cheeks flushed faintly. She sipped from the spoon in his hand, her lashes casting a shadow on her face beneath the lights.
“Tristan, if you stay here with me, won’t Ms. Norton…”
“She won’t mind,” Tristan cut in, sounding as if he were trying to convince himself.
“Anna’s always been understanding.”
However, when he set the bowl down, the porcelain spoon struck the glass coffee table with a sudden clink. The sound shot through his temple like a needle.
It had been three days, and he still hadn’t heard from Annabel.
Tristan pulled out his phone. The lock screen lit up with a photo of her serene sleeping face.
Annabel didn’t reply to his last three messages.
The first message was sent at 5:03 pm yesterday. “Honey, I’ll be back later.”
The second came at 10:47 pm. “Are you still mad?”
This last one was sent at 9:15 am this morning. “Anna, pick up the phone.”
Now, the final message remained unanswered, perched at the top.
“I’m going to make a call.” Tristan stood up abruptly. His suit pants brushed against the small stool, knocking it over.
In the fire escape at the end of the corridor, Tristan pressed the call button for the third time.
An automated voice kept repeating, “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.”
The sound echoed eerily in the empty stairwell.
Tristan called Steven Barker next.
“Stever, I need you to check on the villa,” he said after a brief pause.
He didn’t mention he was trying to locate Annabel; he only said that he wanted the security checked.
About half an hour later, Steven replied.
“Mr. Morse, the villa’s security system shows everything is normal. It’s just… “Just what?”
”
“The kitchen’s garbage disposal hasn’t been used for three days. According to the smart home system, the last time it was activated was the day you left.” Tristan’s breathing hitched for a moment.
Annabel was meticulous about cleanliness. She would never leave kitchen waste overnight.
The fingerprint lock emitted a familiar beep. The entrance sensor light turned on as he stepped inside.
However, the house was pitch black. No lights had been left on. Even after he stepped inside, an absolute silence enveloped the space.
“Anna?” His voice echoed in the high–ceilinged living room.
No one answered him.
The faint scent of roses that used to linger in the air was completely gone. All that remained was a cold, hollow emptiness.
Tristan stood at the entrance of the master bedroom,
His heart was racing for no reason. A creeping sense of panic rose within him.
As he slowly pushed the door open, his eyes widened at the sight before him.
The closet doors were wide open. Every single piece of her clothing was gone, On the dressing table, her usual perfume and jewelry box had vanished.
The framed photo that used to sit by the bedside was also gone. Now, only an empty frame remained.
His heart sank. He strode quickly to the study and yanked open the drawer.
He found that her passport, ID card, bank cards–everything that proved her existence had all disappeared.
Only two things lay quietly on the coffee table–a necklace and a stack of yellowed love letters.
Tristan’s hand trembled as he picked up the necklace.
He had given this to Annabel on her 18th birthday. For all these years, she had never taken it off. Now she was nowhere to be found. This necklace had been left behind here, all alone.
Chapter 13
