Nikolai
“Franklyn arrived at the reception.” Gregory muttered to my ears, and my teeth gritted.
“Keep an eye on him.”
“Do we wait till he makes a move?” Gregory asked, but then I was distracted staring at the couple exchanging rings.
I looked at Adrian who stretched his hands and let Isabelle put the ring on him.
When he grabbed her tiny hands, I drifted my gaze to the beautiful decor of the altar.
Quite spectacular by the way.
“Sir, you haven’t responded.” Gregory reminded.
“Do we help Adrian?”
“Didn’t I say you can do as you please?”
“Yes.
But if he makes a move?”
“Do what you must.”
The church service didn’t take long, in no time we arrived at the reception.
Adrian stood amidst the crowd, gulping down wine.
I had to praise him—he could hold his alcohol.
But I could see it, his steps, even back at the altar.
Leonardo’s rod must have hurt his legs.
He tried to hide it, but even the way he held his shoulders up, it was evident he was in pain.
Shoulder down, spine, and legs.
Even his skin was pale and around his eyes were dark.
The makeup did no justice.
When he walked past me, I couldn’t help but feel his gloomy presence.
The weather in summer was stifling, but the atmosphere was always gloomy wherever Adrian was.
It was as if his whole world was a whole different planet.
He would look at me every now and then.
Even when I wasn’t looking, I could feel his gaze on me—persistent, questioning.
I wondered why, even though I looked half of the time.
There was a looming shadow behind him, and Adrian was chasing it.
“Franklyn keeps leading him on…should we take him?”
I heaved a breath…, staring at Adrian and wondering if heaven would fall if I like Franklyn do as he pleases.
Perhaps, I shouldn’t interfere.
But then-
“Let the bride and the groom walk to the stage.” The Mc announced and when everyone’s gaze drifted towards the bride and groom, there was no groom.
Isabelle looked exhausted.
Liliana wasted no time hurrying to her to ask about Adrian, but Isabel didn’t have a clue.
Just then, Gregory walked over and whispered in my ears.
“Franklyn is no longer here.”
“Where was Adrian last?” I asked.
“Restroom.”
“He didn’t come out?”
“No boss.”
My heart sank, fury building rapidly in my chest. New chapters come out on g.com first.
I rushed to the restroom and looked around.
But then-
Shoe marks trailed across the tiles — signs of a struggle, or maybe nothing at all.
I opened the stall but there were no traces of him there.
Just as I turned to leave, a red glowing light caught my attention.
It was my ruby ring.
I’ve been looking for it.
I had lost it back when Adrian and Leonardo came for the proposal dinner.
What was it doing here?
Could Adrian have taken it?
Why?
Curiosity clamored at my chest.
I broke out of my reverie when the door slammed open and Leonardo walked in with Gabriel.
“What do you mean he was last seen here?” Leonardo yelled at Gregory.
Gregory brought the CCTV and showed it to everyone.
He had entered the stall, but he didn’t come out.
“What about outside the window?” Gabriel asked.
“At the time, there was no CCTV facing the area, nothing was captured.”
“And him?” I looked at Gregory fiercely and the fear that ginted in his eyes when it met mine suddenly caused him to nod.
“Franklyn had entered the restroom before Adrian and you sir.”
Leonardo frowned at me.
“Who’s Franklyn?” He asked cluelessly.
“Someone who we suspect wants to harm Adrian.” Gregory responded to him.
My fist tightened on the ruby ring, but as I was about walking out, Leonardo’s words caused me to stop in my tracks.
“Are you making it up?”
I turned to him with pulsed lips.
“We all know you are against this marriage.
Is this your way of putting an end to it?”
“Leonardo, If I want to kill Adrian, you’d be unable to stop it.”
Leonardo flinched.
“Gregory, let’s go over to the Moretti, maybe Leonardo is putting on a show to frame the Mancini’s.”
There was an instant pregnant silence after the words left my lips, I stared intently into Leonardo’s eyes, waiting for him to question me.
He seemed to care more about who had kidnapped Adrian rather than if Adrian was alive.
If he truly cared about the alliance, shouldn’t Adrian be his priority?
I squinted.
“Have you found him?” Isabelle rushed in with her dress all stained with dirt from sweeping over the floors.
Her teary voice broke the silence in the restroom and quickly, Liliana held her shoulders and wiped her eyes.
“Your uncle will find him.” Liliana assured her and then they both stared at me pleading eyes.
“I’m only going over to the Moretti to make sure they aren’t playing games with us, as for Adrian, shouldn’t his family search for him?”
For a moment, Leonardo didn’t respond, after a while he muttered, “I could take you to the estate, if you think I would kidnap my own son.”
I hissed, “I don’t think you’d do it, I know you can.” I walked out of the restroom straight for the car.
I looked at my ruby ring again, and there was only one possibilities of it being here-
Adrian took it.
Why?
When we arrived at the Moretti’s, I walked straight to Adrian’s room, Gregory following behind.
There were traces of clumsiness in his bathroom.
Hands holding onto the wall, and shelves.
The mirror was fogged despite no recent showers, as if he stared at it often in silence.
Damp towels hung untouched.
One slipper rested sideways—discarded carelessly.
The shower was dried, no sign of usage for the past twenty four hours.
His bathtub had traces of water dent, it seemed as though he spent days soaking himself in a hot bath.
Gregory walked to the Jacuzzi and said, “It seems that Adrian was locked up since the engagement, I heard he wasn’t fed, or taken care of despite his bruises from the rod.”
I clenched my eyes shut, biting down my lips.
I couldn’t hold back the fury that clamored in my chest.
I didn’t want to care.
But why did his absence feel like a missing breath in my lungs?
“Are you done here?
Have you had the guards search the estate?” Leonardo’s voice thundered as he entered the bedroom and without hesitation, I dashed out.
“Have you no sense of worry for your son, or are you just not…” I held back my words.
I’ve made a mistake.
“Aren’t you here to confirm if the Moretti’s are playing games with your family?
Don’t tell me you are concerned for my son?”
I looked away.
“There is no need to search.” I couldn’t bear the sight of him.
Every steps away from Adrian’s bedroom felt like torture.
Was he a fool to let Leonardo treat him in such a way?
I hurried back to the car.
Immediately Gregory settled in the front seat, he muttered,
“We’ve got news from the police patrol division.”
“There was a car that was caught driving past the speed limit on Davion’s mall.
The police stopped him, and from the description they’ve given, it fits Franklyn’s.”
“Do we have an address?”
“The traffic surveillance team just sent an update.”
“Where is it?” I growled.
“At an abandoned warehouse outside of the city.”
An abandoned warehouse?
I tried calming my nerves.
“Should we let Leonardo know?”
“There is no time, all that matters is Adrian.”
Gregory’s eyes widened and only then I realized-
I had made a mistake.
Not because Adrian was gone.
But because I said too much.
Felt too much.
And Gregory saw it.