Chapter 76- Austin Found Faith

Chapter 76- Austin Found Faith
Austin's POV

I had already gone to every possible place where Axel might be. For days, I kept going in circles—searching, hoping I would finally find him. But nothing. That bastard only added to my problems. Instead of focusing solely on Faith, Axel himself seemed to be hiding from me as well.

Four days had passed, and I was still busy searching for three people. I decided to return to Zambales while my men continued investigating different parts of the Philippines. Yes—only within the country, because my friends had already checked the airports, and there were no records of them leaving the country.

As for Axel, I ordered my men that if they found him and he resisted, they were to lock him up in the basement first. That wouldn’t be surprising at all.

The day we traced the condo where Faith had been staying, I immediately had Jaecob located. He and Stella were the last people seen with Faith on the CCTV footage. Within an hour, one of my men gave me an address. But when we arrived, they were already gone. Only Jaecob’s mother and the household staff were there.

According to his mother, Jaecob had already returned to Zambales. That was when I learned that his family was far from ordinary—wealthy, well-known, and influential. Yet despite all of that, Jaecob still chose a quiet life in Zambales as a school principal.

“Sir Jaecob really has an unusual preference, sir,” Jake commented while driving. “He’s rich, but he chose to be a principal instead of a businessman.”

I stayed silent for a moment, busy with my laptop as we continued driving toward Zambales. I hadn’t slept properly for days.

“I’m sure he has his reasons,” I replied quietly without lifting my eyes from the screen. “Whatever those reasons are, they’re none of our business. He hasn’t done us any wrong.”

“Yes, sir. I was just curious,” Jake said with a small smile.

I glanced at him, my eyes heavy with exhaustion. “Curiosity gets a lot of people into trouble, Jake,” I said in a low voice. After a pause, I added, “And at its worst… it gets people killed.”

He didn’t respond anymore. Only the hum of the engine and the soft music filled the car. I closed my laptop and shut my eyes, letting my exhausted body rest, even if only for a few hours.

I woke up inside the car. The engine was still running, but we weren’t moving. It was already dark outside, and Jake wasn’t in the driver’s seat. I rolled down the window and looked around.

I blinked when I realized we were already in the garage of the house in Zambales.

“That idiot Jake… he didn’t even wake me up,” I muttered as I turned off the engine and took the keys.

After getting out of the car, I stretched a bit before heading to the main door. Just then, Jake appeared, holding a cup of coffee on a saucer.

“Sir, you’re awake,” he greeted hurriedly. “I was about to go back and check on you.”

I looked at the steaming coffee. Without a word, I took it from his hand and drank.

“This is for me?” I asked between sips.

“Ah, sir—” he didn’t finish before I grimaced.

“Jake!” I almost spat the coffee out. “You know I don’t like milk in my coffee!”

Jake laughed. “Well, sir, that one’s actually for the skin. I thought you were still asleep.”

I shook my head, trying not to laugh. “Next time, Jake, me first before your coffee.”

“Noted, sir,” he replied, laughing. “But can I have that cup back? It’d be a waste.”

I raised an eyebrow before handing it back.

As I walked inside the house, I could still hear his soft laughter outside.

When I entered Faith and my bedroom, the longing hit me even harder.

Every corner of the room held memories of us—laughter, embraces, mornings filled with happiness. Now, only silence remained.

“Where are you, honey? Please come back… let me explain,” I whispered into the air, still hoping somehow she could hear me wherever she was.

I took my phone from my pocket and called her again. Unreachable. She had completely turned off her line.

Days had passed since the last time we spoke. That time, my hands were trembling as I held the phone.

“Thank God you finally answered. Honey, where are you? Please tell me—I’m going crazy looking for you and Jairee. Let’s talk, please hear my explanations. I am not—”

I didn’t get to finish. She ended the call before I could explain anything.

I tried again and again. But every beep, every “the number you dialed is either unattended or out of coverage area,” felt like a knife stabbing my chest. Only days had passed—I couldn’t let this drag on any longer.

I took a shower, hoping it would ease my mind. But even there, memories of Faith surrounded me.

The scent of her favorite soap, the small pink towel she used to wrap her hair, even the half-used shampoo bottle. To ease the longing, I used everything she used—just so I could smell her on my skin.

I lay on the bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. The only sounds were the soft hum of the air conditioner and my restless heartbeat.

A phone call broke the silence. I looked at the screen—it was Hero. I answered.

“Hello, big guy!” he greeted loudly, as if he were miles away.

I closed my eyes and immediately ended the call. He probably had nothing sensible to say.

He called again and again, but I ignored him—until a text message arrived that made me answer.

I sighed deeply before pressing the answer button.

“What do you want, Hero?” I asked, clearly uninterested.

“You’re the one who needs me,” Hero said confidently.

“What’s your point?” I asked flatly.

“I have information for you,” he said, laughing shamelessly. “In exchange for one of your cars!”

I paused and took a breath. “That depends. What is it about? If it’s not about my wife, you’re getting nothing.”

“I’ll give you a number,” he replied mysteriously. “Call it, and that person will give you the good news themselves. The price? Your newly bought Bugatti.”

He laughed and hung up. Damn it—my car was only two months old.

I received the number Hero sent.

Dr. Bautista? What did a doctor have to do with this?

But desperate as I was, I called.

“Hello—” the voice answered, but I cut him off.

“Is this Doctor Bautista?” I asked directly. Every second mattered.

“Yes, speaking. Who’s this?” he replied calmly.

“Hero gave me your number for the information I need,” I said, not introducing myself.

“Oh, you must be Austin. Hero probably already told you the price for the information I have,” he said, laughing.

I took a deep breath, almost in disbelief. Was this really a doctor—or just one of Hero’s jokes?

He told me how he met Faith, what she looked like, and what happened. But one line struck me so hard it felt like the air was ripped from my lungs.

Faith is pregnant…

My wife is pregnant!!

“Ahh!” I shouted in pure joy.

Faith and I are going to have a baby!

Hero could take all my cars—it wouldn’t matter. I could always buy new ones.

I sat quietly for a moment, trying to process the news. All the searching, all the longing—everything had taken on a new direction.

I needed to be more careful now. I had to ensure their safety—not just Faith and Jairee, but also our unborn child, already at risk even inside her womb.

The enemy must not find out her true condition. One wrong move could put them in danger.

As I thought about it, a deep anxiety settled in—not for myself, but for Faith and our children.

I will not allow anyone to hurt them.

Not now.
Not ever..