Chapter 71

Steven couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him. For a second, he wondered if

Lucie might do something drastic. But then he remembered how calm and logical she always was. Doing something reckless just wasn't her.

"Lucie really hasn't come back yet?" he asked, voice tight.

Mr. Anderson shot him a hard look. “I should be asking you that. Where did you send her?"

Steven froze, panic flickering across his face. "Grandpa, I'm serious. I can't reach Lucie at all. I'm really worried."

"You think I'm joking?" Mr. Anderson's voice was cold. "I'm asking you, where is my granddaughter? If anything happens to her, Steven, you'll answer to me."

With that, Mr. Anderson walked into the villa and told the guard to shut the gates behind him.

Steven felt his scalp go numb and his chest clench. The sense of dread was suffocating.

Nick and Andy stood nearby, both looking grim. "Mr. Heath, we can't get a location on her phone at all," Nick said.

Andy added, "Should we check with the airport and customs? See if she's left New Amberton?"

Steven snapped, "Then what are you waiting for? Go!"

"Right. We're on it."

The bodyguards immediately sprang into action, pulling every string and calling every contact they had to track Lucie down.

Steven slumped in the back seat of his car, feeling an anxiety he couldn't put into words. Sure, they'd fought before, but she'd never reacted like this, never threatened divorce. This time, she really meant it. He could feel it.

Ten minutes later, Steven's patience wore thin. He'd lost count of how many times he'd asked, "Anything yet?"

"Just about, sir," the tech guy muttered, fingers flying over the keyboard.

The rest of the bodyguards were dead silent, barely daring to breathe. Everyone knew Mr. Heath's temper-when he blew up, no one was safe. They all silently prayed for Mrs. Heath to come home soon. She was their shield; with her around, Mr. Heath was almost human.

"Mr. Heath, we have an update," the tech finally said. "Mrs. Heath boarded an eight o'clock flight to Westbrook this morning."

Steven's eyes narrowed. "Westbrook? Why would she go there?"

Everyone exchanged awkward looks and shook their heads. If the boss didn't know, how could they?

Frustration built inside Steven. Lucie's phone was off. Mr. Anderson refused to give him anything. He was getting nowhere.

"Book me the next flight to Westbrook. Now."

"Yes, sir."

His bodyguards hustled to get him a ticket.

That afternoon, after a three-hour flight, Steven landed in Westbrook. But it didn't help. He had no idea where to even start looking.

Lucie had checked into a secure training base run by the Antiquities Bureau. Every artifact for their upcoming exhibition was a national treasure, so security was airtight and everything was kept secret. He couldn't get any information, no matter who he called.

He kept trying her number, but every time it just rang and rang until the recorded voice kicked in: "The

number you have dialed is powered

off

etry again later.

He must have called a hundred times, but it was always the same. No answer. No

trace. It was like she'd vanished from the world.

He sent her text after text.

[Babe, where did you go? Can you just call me back?]

[Whatever it is, we can talk in person. Please don't hide from me. I'm really

worried. I just need to know you're safe.]

Nothing. No reply. His messages just disappeared into the void.

Steven spent three days in

Westbrook, searching everywhere and getting nowhere. On the fourth day, his company called an emergency board meeting, and he had no choice but to fly back to New Amberton-alone.