Chapter 21
On the other end of the line, Penelope was crying as she explained, “Xay said he wanted one of those bunny–shaped apple slices, so I went downstairs. By the time I came back with the fruit, he was gone.”
Sebastian shot to his feet. “Did you check the security footage? Did he leave the house?”
“I did. Not long after 1 went downstairs, he slipped out of the villa alone and disappeared from the camera’s range.”
“Send the the footage.”
Sebastian hung up. Moments later, the security video landed in his inbox.
He watched as Xavier deliberately waited for Penelope to turn her back before snealding out of the house.
The apple slices were clearly just an excuse to get rid of her.
Sebastian replayed the footage several times, Xavier definitely looked like he was heading out to find someone.
He didn’t call the police right away. Instead, he called Julia
At The One Design, Julia was immersed in sloetching, but the moment her phone rang, she instinctively picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Xav is missing”
Sebastian’s voice was cold. Did she not even recognize his number anymore?
Julia blinked, glancing at the caller ID. She’d forgotten to check who it was.
Her tone turned distant. “Xavier’s missing? What exactly are you trying to tell me?”
“He snuck out of the house alone. We can’t find him.”
Sebastian spole tightly, barely keeping his emotions in check. “Julia, you need to come back and help look for him. He’s just a six–year–old ldd-” “If he’s missing, call the police. Do you think 1 magically know where he is?” Julla cut in coldly.
Before he could speak, she snapped again, “What, just because I’m not there, now it’s my I
fault your son went missing? You’re his father. You didn’t watch him, and now you’re only calling me?”
Sebastian’s breathing turned sharp, clearly rattled by her words. “Our son is missing, and you’re not even worried? Julia, do you even deserve to be called his mother?”
He couldn’t believe it. Xavier was missing, and Julia’s first reaction was to tell him to call the police.
“Oh, right. I’m just not fit to be a mom.
Julia didn’t hold back for a second
If Xavier were truly in danger, would Sebastian still be wasting time lecturing her? This was probably just another excuse to get her to come back.
So, Sebastian, hurry up and sign the divorce papers. Once we’re divorced, we’re officially done, and Xavier won’t have to call me ‘Mommy‘ anymore. Go ahead, sign them,” she said, pushing him to get it over with.
“Julia, do you even hear yourself right now?
Sebastian’s voice was sharp with disbelief. Once again, he felt like he was seeing a new level of how petty she could
“I hear myself just fine.” Julia’s tone turned cold and cutting. “I’m not good enough to be Xavier’s mother? Fine. I think Penelope’s perfect for the rule. “So, hurry up and divorceme, Sebastian. Make space so you can marry Penelope, and you three can be one big happy family.”
With that, she hung up.
She let out a long breath and forced herself to stop thinking about Sebastian and Xavier.
Her design draft was nearly done and just needed some final touch–ups.
She tried to focus and get back into the groove, but after a few strokes of her stylus, it was clear that she couldn’t concentrare at all.
Sebastian’s words had gotten under her skin.
Xavier was only six years old. What could happen to a kid that young out there alone if he weren’t found in time?
Her mind spun into dark places she didn’t want to go–images she couldn’t stop.
A speeding car hitting Xavier, or worse, someone kidnapping him.
The more she thought, the more anxious she became.
No matter how disappointed she was in Xavier, he was still the son she’d carried for ten months, the child she’d raised with care for six whole years.
A
