Chapter 69 Patience Tested
\-An hour ago-
Julian stepped out of the presidential residence roughly an hour later, his mind already elsewhere— The dinner with Seraphina. He had no idea why he was anticipating it more than any other events on his to-do list.
He imagined how she would look in that red gown and desire rushed down his groin at the thought.
He didn’t try to downplay his feelings this time. He let himself feel it, and surprisingly- he loved the feeling.
He couldn’t wait to see her again.
For a brief second, he considered cancelling the final meeting on his schedule. His fingers hovered over his phone as he stood beside his car, jaw tight. He could still turn back. Pick her up himself. See her reaction when she opens the door. Watch her eyes flicker. Watch her pretend she wasn’t anticipating the night.
But he exhaled slowly, letting logic cloud his impulse.
A promise was a promise. He had to keep in touch with Adrian’s aunt.
He slid into the passenger’s seat and spoke into the phone the moment the call connected.
“Take Seraphina to Montana H. Keep her in the V.I.P private section. It’s reserved for only her and I tonight.” He instructed his driver calmly. “Ensure she gets anything she needs before my arrival.”
“Yes, sir.” Kelvin replied with sharp professionalism. That was Julian’s favorite Chauffeur.
Julian ended the call and immediately sent a short message to Seraphina.
Meet the driver. He’ll bring you to the venue. I’ll join you shortly.
He stared at the screen for half a second longer than necessary before locking it.
He finally arrived at his second location of the day. He stepped out of the car when he saw her.
Adrian’s aunt. Vera Hilton.
She emerged from the exit door in a black dress, walking toward him with shaky steps, her hands trembling slightly as if the air itself weighed heavily on her. Her eyes were red-rimmed, glossy even before she spoke.
“Good evening, sir,” she greeted Julian in a tone that sounded fragile.
He gave a small nod. “Hi, Vera.”
Her lips quivered almost instantly. “Any… update?”
Julian held her gaze, as if he could make her calm with that. “I’m yet to find your sister,” he replied evenly. “But I am taking every possible step. It’s only a matter of time.”
Her shoulders shook.
“I… I have a bad feeling,” she whispered, clutching the cross chain hanging from her neck so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Last night… I saw Jesus in my dream. He told me my sister is dead.”
The words dissolved into silent tears as they slipped down her cheeks.
Julian’s eyes dropped briefly to the holy cross she clutched, then returned to her face. She was trembling more now, breathing unevenly.
“That is why I am in black,” she continued between soft sobs. “I am already mourning her. I can’t believe evil people killed her husband… and then killed her too.”
Julian said nothing immediately. He surely didn’t believe in dreams or spirituality. He was a plain logical thinker, but he allowed her spill.
She lifted her watery eyes to him.
“You have tried for me, Julian,” she choked. “You can return Adrian now. I am ready to take care of my sister’s son.”
Julian’s expression hardened just slightly, his voice calm and convincing.
“Calm down, Vera. You are currently not in the right state of mind.”
She shook her head, tears falling faster.
“I cannot return Adrian yet,” Julian continued. “It is dangerois to trus the boy in your care while investigations are still going on. He’s safe in my custody.”
“…And your sister might not be dead,” he added. “Even if she is… I will verify it before any conclusion is made.”
Vera let out a broken sob.
“Holding onto hope is hurting more,” she whispered hoarsely. “Holding onto the thought that she might be alive… it hurts more than knowing she is gone.”
Her breathing hitched, and suddenly she began choking on her tears.
Julian stepped closer without hesitation and gently drew her into a brief, controlled embrace.
“Everything will be fine,” he murmured, one hand steady on her shoulder.
“Vera!”
A angry husky voice interrupted them.
Julian’s brows pinched as a man in black stormed out of the house, face twisted in anger.
“Have I not told you to stay away from this man?” he barked, glaring at Julian.
Vera pulled away quickly, wiping her tears. “Sam, how can I stay away from the only person helping me find my sister? The police have not even been invested in the case!”
Her husband scoffed harshly.
“This man might even be involved,” Samuel snapped. “He’s pretending to help just so he can sleep with you.”
Vera gasped. “Enough, Sam. Now you’re bluffing!”
Samuel suddenly raised the Bible in his hand like a weapon, voice rising dramatically as he directed it at Julian.
“I curse you to hell if your intention is to sleep with my wife!” he declared, beginning to recite verses loudly, eyes burning with misplaced righteousness.
Julian watched him. Unmoved.
If anything, faint amusement flickered behind his grey eyes.
He found him ridiculous.
Vera looked at Julian with pleading gaze, scared that he would find this offensive, then threw a glare at her husband. “Stop it! You are disrespecting him!”
Samuel ignored her and grabbed her arm roughly. “Go back in if you still want to be married to me.” He ordered, voice harsh.
Julian’s expression changed instantly. His indifferent expression changed to a cold one.
He stepped forward and intercepted, his voice dropping into something dangerously quiet as he grabbed Samuel’s arm unexpectedly. Samuel gazed at him in shock, mouth parted.
“The next time you drag her like that in my presence, or if I’m gone and I get to hear it from her later,” Julian said slowly, eyes locking onto Samuel’s, “your arm will not survive the next day.”
Samuel’s grip loosened immediately. His face drained of color as fear replaced his earlier theatrics. He didn’t find Julian’s threat empty at all.
Vera swallowed and whispered at Julian, “I’m sorry… he’s just oblivious.”
Julian didn’t look at her.
Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Samuel.
“Stay with your wife. She needs you till I find her sister.”
Samuel nodded before he even realized he was doing it.
Fear and sudden respect.
Julian faced Vera. “You’ll be fine. And if it makes you feel better, Adrian is fairing very well.” Vera nodded. “Thank you so much, Sir.”
Samuel could only blink and watched the exchange now, his earlier fire watered down by Julian’s magnetic control.
Julian turned without another word, slipped into his car and drove away, his focus now entirely on dinner with Seraphina. His safe place.
—
Julian didn’t wait till he gets to the venue. He picked up his phone and dialed his driver to confirm their arrival at Montana H.
The call went through but Kelvin didn’t pick.
His jaw tightened slightly. His chauffeur always picked at the very first ring.
He tried again. Still no response.
A faint frown appeared between his brows.
He dialed Seraphina next.
Switched off.
His fingers froze mid-air.
Why was her phone switched off?
And why was his driver not answering?
Instinct surged through. It was so raw it immediately put him on edge.
He slammed his foot on the accelerator. The engine roared as the car surged forward, speed increasing sharply as his composure began to fracture beneath the surface.
His heart, usually controlled and unshaken, beat harder with every passing second.
He called again.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles whitened.
Just then, mid-road, he sighted a small crowd formed around flashing lights. Ambulance.
Sirens sliced through the night air.
His car screeched to a halt before he even fully registered what he was doing.
The door flew open.
Julian stepped out swiftly, his long strides moving back, then cutting through the gathered crowd as an unfamiliar dread gripped his chest.
People murmured. Police tape fluttered. Medical personnel moved hurriedly.
And then he saw the car. He recognized it immediately. The car Seraphina was gifted on her wedding day.
His gaze dropped to the stretcher before him and the world went silent.
It was Kelvin. His Chauffeur. His dead frame was being wheeled away on a stretcher.
The sight of blood, sound of sirens…everything made his head fuzzy.
Julian’s heart sank violently.
For the first time in years, sweat coated his skin.
He felt real fear. Terror swam his body like it was replacing the blood in his system.
If Kelvin who he had sent to pick Seraphina was dead…then where was Seraphina?
His breathing slowed unnaturally as his eyes scanned the scene with frightening precision.
He checked the car’s front seat and saw Sera’s clutch. The very one he bought for her for tonight’s dinner- laying on the car’s passenger’s seat. He swallowed.
His eyes blazed as he turned to the nearest officer, his own voice unrecognizable in his ears. “There were two people. Where is the woman?”