Imogen chuckled softly, releasing her gaze from the flowers. Turning to Johanna, she said, "I've already made arrangements. When my brother returns, we'll visit Frosty Chapel together. And then..." She beckoned Johanna closer with a mischievous wave.

Johanna leaned in, curious.

"I'll make sure you two get some alone time," Imogen whispered, smiling. "You have to take the chance. No man can resist a woman who puts herself out there. Sometimes, you just have to abandon 'playing hard to get.'" Johanna's face flushed crimson, the blush spreading to her ears. She mumbled, "I understand, Imogen. I'll try my best..."

Satisfied, Imogen patted Johanna's hand. The two women lounged in the courtyard, basking in the sunlight as they waited for Stephan's return.

Stephan had been overwhelmed with work for the past few days. After a long absence from Seldvale, his responsibilities were immense. His conglomerate alone had accumulated a backlog of issues, not to mention his numerous other enterprises. While smaller tasks could be delegated, major decisions required his personal approval.

He sat in his CEO's office atop the city's tallest skyscraper, finally finishing a stack of documents. Tossing his pen aside, he reached for his phone. His inbox was overflowing with messages, but none were from Felicia.

He dialed her number directly, wondering what she had been doing. A cold, automated voice responded, "The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later..."

His brows furrowed. This was the third time in as many days he'd tried calling her, with the same result. Was she ignoring him, or had something happened? His gaze darkened as he considered the possibilities. Without hesitation, he dialed another number.

Mike, unprepared for the call, answered with playful sarcasm. "Well, Stephan. It's been a week. Miss me already?"

Stephan resisted the urge to hang up. "I need you to find Felicia. See what she's up to."

Mike scoffed. "Seriously? You're dragging me into this? I have a lot on my plate."

"I'm not joking. Just do it," Stephan replied curtly.

"Fine," Mike sighed, grabbing his car keys. "Man, my life is tough."

Mike began his search at Felicia's apartment. He knocked, but received no answer. Frowning, he called Stephan. "Hey, she's not here. Maybe she moved? She's wealthy now, right? Why wouldn't she upgrade?"

Stephan wasn't interested in conjecture. "Check the college."

Mike groaned but complied. When he arrived on campus and inquired, he was shocked to learn Felicia hadn't attended the first day of classes, or even registered for the semester.

Before he could call Stephan, his phone buzzed.

"Did you find her?" Stephan's voice was sharp.

"No," Mike admitted, his tone serious. "She wasn't at her apartment, and she hasn't been to campus—not even for registration."

A moment of silence followed before Stephan's voice cut through. "Keep looking."

"Relax, Stephan. I'll check the Walsh residence next," Mike offered, attempting to soothe him. "Felicia's grandfather passed away a few days ago. She might be there for the funeral."

Stephan's grip on the phone tightened. "Let me know the second you find her."

"Will do," Mike replied, already heading for his car. His own expression had grown grim.