Chapter 76

Day 1:

I dialed Sophia for what I think was the hundredth time since retrieving my phone from Lily. She wasn't home, but she'd left my phone with one of her housekeepers in case I came for it. I didn't understand why she wouldn't tell me about my phone, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. I needed to find my wife.

The divorce papers weren't supposed to be served today; they were finalized six months ago when we signed our initial agreement. I'd wanted to end things, so I'd instructed my lawyer to serve her when the six months were up. That happened to be the day she returned—the day I didn't have my phone, the day she came home to find me gone and the papers waiting for her.

But how could she leave? How could she not have enough faith that, after all these months, we were truly a couple? I was going to find her and, well, that was for sure.

I ended up at her hometown, the hope in my heart shattering the moment I saw her grandfather's house locked up tight. If she hadn't come here, where was she? There had been no transactions on my card. Where was she?

My phone buzzed. "Any word on Luna?" Peter asked as soon as I answered.

"The CCTV footage shows her leaving with Mrs. Whitlock through the back door; that's why even her security didn't see her go," Peter confirmed. "I've contacted Luna's friends, but no one's heard from her."

"What about her family?"

"Her mother passed away last year, sir. She doesn't really have any family besides that."

"A boyfriend?"

Peter cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I don't think so."

"I need you to keep contacting her and get a trace on her as soon as her phone rings."

"On it, sir."

I disconnected, sighing heavily before calling Sam, whose number I'd gotten from Alice.

"You haven't heard anything from her?" I asked for the sixth time, my jaw clenched.

"No," he said, rolling up his black-sleeved T-shirt and staring uncomfortably at my suit and the casual surroundings. "Don't worry, she'll come back. She always does."

"I need you to call me as soon as you see her, hear from her, anything. If you even see her in your dreams, I want to know."

Chapter 76 (continued)

"Need?"

"Need." He smirked slightly. "You messed up, and you think you're in any position to give me orders?"

"I didn't mess up. I resisted shooting him in the face for my wife's sake. I didn't want her to be mad at me for killing her friend. I wondered why he was even her friend. He looked like an ostrich with his ridiculously long neck. 'We had a misunderstanding.'"

"Sure."

"Sam, let me be perfectly clear. I am insane, and on most good days, I tolerate you for my wife's sake," I said, the coldness in my voice evident. "Without her, I have no reason to tolerate you. You'd better hope I find her quickly, or your name is at the top of my hit list."

He gulped, and I left without saying goodbye.

Day 3:

"We managed to get into Alice's phone, sir." Peter placed an iPad in front of me. I squeezed my forehead and squinted. Lack of sleep will do that to you. She received twenty-six calls in the past three days, none from Mrs. Whitlock. Six were from unknown numbers; three were spam, and the other three were from different clients. There's no trace of Luna."

I nodded, and he left. I grabbed my whiskey and gulped it down. I was sick with worry. What if something was wrong? What if she'd been taken again?

My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it immediately. That's all I'd been doing for the past forty-eight hours—never leaving my phone for a second. What if she called? What if I missed it?

Unfortunately, it was Zach, leaving a text message: Anna hasn't heard anything from her. She's worried. Keep us posted, and let me know if I can do anything to help.

I sucked in a deep breath. Another dead end.

Day 7:

"I'm the best in the field. If there's a trace, I'll find her, and you know it, Mr. Whitlock." I wished Lou's reassurance brought me comfort, but it didn't.

As a last resort, I called Damien, whose phone was unreachable. Twelve hours later, I found a number in a text message from him. I dialed it hesitantly, and Lou was at my doorstep the next day.

"You remind me too much of my wife," I said, gulping. "Maybe it's the skin tone, or the dark hair, or the slight freckles. Who am I kidding? It was definitely the freckles. They're fewer and fainter than Sophia's, but evident enough." "She's just taller."

"I can see the resemblance," Lou smiled, looking at the wedding photo I'd shown her.

"Find her," I whispered, my despair evident. "Please."

One of the housekeepers interrupted, coughing. His eyes avoided mine. "Sir, there's a Sam Riley here to see you."

Chapter 76 (continued)

"Let him in. Now." Hearing his name was the happiest I'd been, the first spark of hope I'd felt. Maybe she'd contacted him. Despite my rage, I felt hope. I'd asked my men to keep a close eye on both him and Alice, and when he'd come to the city to visit Alice the previous weekend, I thought maybe, just maybe, Sophia had contacted one of them.

Sam looked disheveled when he entered. His hair was a mess, and he looked like he hadn't showered. "She's not coming back," he said, avoiding my gaze. "I don't think she's coming back. What if something's wrong?"

I just stared at him. Did he really think coming to my house was a good idea? Did he think I'd console him while he cried over my wife?

It wasn't until I stepped closer that I smelled the alcohol. "Did you accidentally stumble into a bar and shower in alcohol?" I raised an eyebrow, unconcerned.

"It's all your fault, you [expletive]," he yelled. "Look at you having fun with a replica of Sophia, but what about me? What about me? I had one Sophia, and I can't find her! The police can't find her!"

I didn't hesitate to punch him in the jaw, knocking him down. "She was never yours," I spat, looking at the housekeeper. "Get him the hell out of here."

Watching him being dragged away, the worry I'd been concealing clenched at my heart. Where was my girl?