Chapter 102

Chase sat lost in thought, stirring his soup. He seemed worlds away, perhaps contemplating me, or perhaps wrestling with anxieties about the future.

Their conversation nearly drove Grandma frantic. She would have likely given my father a stern talking-to. Incredibly, with his daughter missing, he prioritized appearances and refused to involve the police.

Nicole offered her opinion. “Dad has a point. You’ve already searched Shadowmoor, and no one—not even the shadiest characters—has seen Amanda. She’s probably hiding somewhere in the city. Calling the police would negatively impact both companies, potentially tanking the stocks.”

“I have a terrible feeling,” I replied. “I’ve started having nightmares again. I dreamt Amanda was dead, lying by the river in her wedding dress, surrounded by blood, begging me to save her.”

Nicole chuckled, spooning chicken soup into his mouth. “Chase, you’re just stressed. That’s why you’re dreaming this. Amanda’s fine. If something happened, the police would be involved. You’ve lost weight. Eat your soup.”

Chase, brow furrowed, silently allowed Nicole to finish the bowl.

Dad patted him on the back. “No news is good news, son. Rest. If Derek wins and marries a wealthy woman, the Reyes family fortune will be firmly in his control.”

A chill flickered in Chase’s eyes as he looked down. “I understand. We’ll wait.”

He rose and approached Grandma. “Grandma, take care. I’ll visit in a few days.”

Grandma, once fond of him, now regarded him with disdain, perhaps even disgust, stemming from her knowledge of his relationship with Nicole. Chase attributed her reaction to worry about me.

“Grandma, I promise I’ll find Amanda. Don’t worry.”

If Grandma could express herself more fully, she would have scoffed. My ashes had been scattered, and now he planned to find me.

Just then, a familiar figure arrived. Derek, in his wheelchair, hadn't been seen since our brief encounter in Shadowmoor. He appeared thinner than at the last Reyes family gathering, yet his commanding presence remained undiminished.

His sharp features radiated a coldness that seemed to lower the room's temperature. Though Chase wasn't pleased, he managed a grudging, “Hi Derek.”

Even Nicole, usually haughty, showed a flicker of fear, softening as she greeted him. “Hello, Derek.”

Derek ignored her, wheeling toward the bed. The Kennedy family appeared awkward, especially given my father’s encouragement of Chase to compete with Derek for the family fortune. As they say, speak of the devil.

Derek’s gaze, cool and assessing, fell upon my father. Despite his youth and seated position, his presence commanded respect.

Chapter 103