Chapter 4 — Austin’s Disappearance

Raphael attended the wedding ceremony of his daughter's murderer even it's against his will. Lucy requested him to just set aside his anger and just enjoy the day. He's now old and he wants a peaceful living with his daughter, son-in-law, and his grandson so he accepted Lucy's request. 

The wedding venue was held in one of the finest hotels in Makati. The Rich Bell's hotel catered everything from the menu, drinks, and party games for the couple and visitors. All who received an invitation letter were there. They called the VIP's and if you didn't have a card barcode, you can't pass inside. 

While everyone is busy dancing, cheering, and having a good time, Austin ran to the restroom to take a pee. Cassandra, who served to be his nanny focused on the incredible act of a magician the coupled hired for entertainment and didn't realize that Austin wasn't beside her anymore. 

"Austin? Austin! Where are you?” she quietly looks for him outside the venue. 

Cassandra's body quickly trembled in fear, fear of losing Austin from her again. She's also worried about Lucy and Kent's reaction if they found out that she lost Austin. 

She roamed her eyes on an empty hallway of the hotel since everyone we're gathered inside for the wedding party. 

“Austin? Sweetie, just come out, please. I will get mad at you!” she warned him while making her way to the restroom. 

"Austin? Austin? Where are you?” she repeatedly called Austin's name and check every cubicle but still no travels of him. 

Cassandra started to panic. She keeps fidgeting her fingers and wandering her eyes from left to right. She's having a nervous breakdown again. She quickly cupped her head when she felt throbbing inside. 

“Argh, get away! I don't want to see you anymore!” she keeps on screaming and she stops when Lucy came. 

"Cassandra, are you sick? Where's Austin?” she asked her when her friend shook her head.

She walked closer towards Lucy and kneeled on her. 

“I'm sorry, Lucy but the truth is, uh…I—" she stuttered. 

Lucy looks impatient. 

"What? Tell me, where is my son!?!” she asked her once again. You can see how she was eager to know Cassandra's answer. 

“I-I lost him. I'm so sorry. I concentrated on that magician and when I check him beside me, he's gone,” she explained but Lucy seems not to listen well because her attention was on her son. 

She trusted Cassandra so much because she knew she was very fond and obsessed to take care of Austin, but she can't believe that someone took their son. 

"Ahh!!! How dare you take out Austin from your sight? I trusted you!” she lost her temper and slapped Cassandra on her cheeks. She holds her face due to the sudden hit. 

Kent heard the commotion outside and even the newlywed Eloisa and Gale followed too. The party stop unexpectedly. 

“Hey, honey, what happened? Why are you hurting Cassandra?” he asked his wife while seeing her mad face. 

Lucy shifted her gaze at Kent and narrowed her eyes on them. She started to cry. Her emotions poured out and she can't hold back anymore. 

"Honey, someone took Austin. He's not here. We look everywhere. Because of her, she was a reckless nanny for our son!” she set another glare at her friend. 

Cassandra felt deeply hurt that Lucy called her a foolish nanny. 

“What? You know I treated Austin as my son, but you’re getting mad at me because I was not good enough to guard him? Lucy, I can't believe you see me like shit!” Cassandra let it all go while tears started to roll down her face. 

Kent just explained Lucy's reaction. 

“Honey, let's just call the police. Maybe our son is just playing somewhere. Let's not overreact, okay?” he said but Lucy was still mad. 

She began to suspect someone. There are two of them and it's the new couple, the stars of the party. They were Eloisa and Gale. 

She wasn't sure about it but why their son disappeared like a ghost during the party. 

“Come one let's not waste time. Let's call the police!” Raphael said but Lucy blurted out something. 

"We need to check the footage! I guess we can find Austin there." Lucy advises but Eloisa opposed it. 

"There's no time for that. We must call the police first so they can lock down the area!” she told her opinion. 

“It's done. The police are coming!” Gale informed the.

Kent quickly held Lucy when he saw her face turn pale and she looked like she was about to fall. 

"Hon, just relax. We will find our son, promise. Cassandra, understand that she’s upset, okay. It's not your fault." Kent told her while supporting Lucy back to their room. 

Eloisa looks worried for Lucy and hoping that Austin will soon be found. She noticed a smirk on Cassandra's face which made her terrified. She closes her eyes to confirm it, but she was confused why she's now in tears. 

Cassandra stared at her with teary eyes. 

"I swear, I did all my best for Austin!” she said and ran to look for him again. 

Gale and Eloisa took a deep sigh and hold each other's hands. Their party has ended because of the incident. Gale's nephew seems to be missing and that's the most important right now. 

The visitors went home after congratulating them. The owner of the hotel cleared the people outside and reviewed all the CCTV cameras in all parts of the hotel.

***

One Hour Earlier Austin felt bored and wanted to pee, so he decided to walk on his own to find the restroom. Cassandra was focused on the magician doing his act, so she had no idea that he was already gone. 

Austin navigated the hallway and found the restroom on the left side, so he ran inside but he wasn't aware that someone is following him. A person wearing a black raincoat with a greedy mask on his face. 

He was holding a white cloth to be used to his prey. As Austin went out of the cubicle, he felt hands covered his mouth with a cloth that yelled like a chemical. He saw the one who took him wore leather black gloves before he lost consciousness. 

The kidnapper looked up to check if there are CCTV cameras in the area and he found one. It's facing exactly towards them, so he took his silencer from his back to shoot the lens of it. After that, he carried the unconscious boy to his arms and brought him outside the hotel where his car park. 

He looked around to check if someone followed him but it's negative. He put Austin in the backseat and drove fast going back to his hiding place. 

While driving the smile on his face never fades. 

He started to hum his favorite song, Rockabye. 

***

Because of that party, their child went missing. Who was the culprit? Kent was started to get suspicious of the person close to his family and it was his brother Gale.