The moment Lucian left the hotel, he rushed toward the forest, calling Cayden on his way.

"Have the men pay extra attention. Roxanne has gone into the forest."

Cayden murmured an affirmative reply. Impressed by Roxanne's concern for Estella, he noted the late hour of her search. After hanging up, Lucian heard a fearful voice.

"Lucian, any news on Essie?"

Aubree, having searched nearby without success and too afraid to enter the forest, had returned to the hotel. Finding Lucian at the entrance, she was overcome with guilt. Lucian pocketed his phone and glared at her. He saw only her clean red dress, a lack of sweat, and slightly uneven breathing—possibly from fear of him. Aubree's heart sank under his furious gaze.

"I've searched all afternoon, but found nothing. How did your search go?"

"Essie went missing because she left to look for Roxanne. That's what you told Roxanne, isn't it?" Lucian countered.

Aubree's face froze, panic evident. How did Lucian know? His answer came in her expression. "You better pray nothing happens to them. Otherwise, I won't show you any mercy, regardless of our history." He walked past her.

Aubree, sensing his fury, grabbed his sleeve. "Lucian, I didn't mean it. She was at the hotel this afternoon, and I just guessed. I never meant to blame her."

Lucian turned, his aura chilling. "You're still blaming others? She was blameless! You went behind my back, worrying my mother, and then lied to provoke Roxanne. What were you trying to achieve?"

His intimidation left Aubree breathless. She struggled to defend herself. "I didn't mean anything. It's my fault for not watching Essie, and—"

"It is your fault!" Lucian shook off her hand. "Leave if you won't search for Essie. Stop wasting my time." He left without looking back.

Cayden and his men searched the forest thoroughly, but despite searching until ten at night, they still couldn't find Estella or Roxanne. Lucian's mood worsened upon receiving this update. Cayden, sensing the increasingly frigid atmosphere, sympathized. It was late, they were in the wilderness, and Roxanne and Estella were a woman and a child, respectively—a worrying situation for anyone.

"Mr. Farwell, perhaps you should rest. It's been a long day," Cayden suggested cautiously. He'd worked for Lucian for years, but never seen him so disheveled. Covered in mud from earlier activities, pale from the night's search, and with messy hair, Lucian's aura remained powerful.

He furrowed his brow. "Let's split up and search." He disappeared deeper into the woods.

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