Chapter 176

Silence returned. Josiah looked at Sienna in his arms. Her eyes were tightly shut, their corners red and glistening with tears. He wondered if she was crying instinctively or because of another man; the latter possibility chilled him.

"Let's get out of the car," he said, releasing her and exiting first. He circled the vehicle, leaned over, and lifted her out.

For a moment, Sienna shivered in his arms. He frowned. "What's wrong?"

Sienna shook her head, silent.

Josiah guessed. He'd lost control, been too rough—perhaps hurting her. He quickened his pace, carrying her from the garage to the main bedroom and laying her on the bed.

He reached out to smooth her messy hair, but she turned away. He paused, awkwardly withdrawing his hand. After a moment, he said, "You rest. I'll run a bath." He rose and headed to the bathroom.

As the sound of running water began, Sienna opened her tear-filled, red eyes. Fearing Josiah's return, she threw off the covers, got out of bed, and rushed to the door, fleeing.

Josiah filled the tub, retrieved pajamas from the closet, and placed them in the bathroom. He returned, intending to lift Sienna.

"Sienna, wash—" He sat down, about to lift the covers, when he jerked upright, breaking into a cold sweat. He threw back the blanket—the bed was empty. Sienna was gone.

"Sienna?" He frantically searched the room, then the entire house. He rushed to Silver Beach, but she was nowhere to be found.

Where could she have gone? He called her; almost instantly, her ringtone sounded. He spotted her bag on the living room sofa, her phone inside.

Her coat remained, her shoes by the entrance—only her indoor slippers were missing. She'd left wearing only a light sweater and slippers? he thought.

Panic and regret overwhelmed him. She didn't even have her phone. Without it, she could be in serious trouble.

He closed his eyes, pressing his fingers to his forehead, irritated. He'd lost control in the car, but nothing had happened between Sienna and Cedric. He would have known. He'd been blinded by anger, losing control completely.

Years ago, he hadn't been like this. Now, he found himself easily losing control around Sienna, fueled by her insistence that Cedric was superior. That anger had spiraled.

Sienna was right. He was a jerk, but finding her was paramount.

He rushed to the study, accessing the house surveillance. Sienna had left less than twenty minutes ago—dressed only in a sweater, hunched over, running from the gate.

He closed his eyes in shock. Where could she go? She had few close friends in Jelacrity. She must have returned to 12th Avenue. He grabbed his car keys and drove into the snowy weather.

He soon arrived at Sienna's old apartment. He pounded on the door, pleading softly, "I messed up, Sienna. Please, open the door."

There was no response. He assumed she was furious.

An annoyed neighbor opened their door. "Could you stop knocking! No one lives there, so why bother?"

Josiah was stunned. "What! No one lives there? How could that—"

"The tenant moved out ages ago. Who are you trying to reach? You two don't seem close if you didn't know she's gone," the neighbor mocked before slamming the door.

Josiah stood in shock. Sienna had moved? She hadn't told him. Where could she be?

After leaving the apartment, Josiah contacted property management and Zach. By the time he returned to Silver Beach, management had retrieved the surveillance footage. It showed Sienna entering a taxi at the estate's entrance, but only the first few digits of the license plate were visible.

He called Zach.

"Yes, Mr. Flynn," Zach replied, understanding instantly. "I'll get someone to track it. The car's color, model, and partial plate number are helpful leads."

Josiah decided he needed to speak with Sienna's dance troupe colleagues. She hadn't been in Jelacrity long and didn't have many friends, except Rosie. He remembered Sienna staying with Rosie, at City Pearl, when avoiding Cedric.

He drove to City Pearl, but Rosie wasn't home—she was at the troupe, and no one there had seen Sienna.

Where could she be? In Jelacrity, she had few connections. An orphan, she was alone.

Suddenly, he remembered Cedric, Sienna's most trusted person in Jelacrity. Would she go to him? He headed to Cedric's villa at Lion's Bay, according to Yosef.

"Josiah!" Cedric exclaimed, surprised at Josiah's grim expression. "What are you doing here?"

Josiah said nothing, walking inside and checking the premises, intending to go upstairs.

Cedric, suspecting a search, grabbed him. "What are you doing?"

"What's upstairs?" Josiah asked, conflicted. He hoped—and feared—Sienna was there. He didn't want her in danger, but not under Cedric's protection either.

Cedric was confused.

Zach, at the entrance, answered a call. "Mr. Flynn, we have news about Sienna."