Chapter 357: Missing Liv

Chapter 357: Missing Liv
[Sarah]

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of Theodore's Manhattan penthouse, watching the bustling street below for any sign of Olivia's familiar car. My phone showed 2:15 PM, and she was over three hours late. This wasn't like Liv at all—she was usually early to everything, especially when I needed her.

My hand instinctively moved to my rounded belly. Even standing for extended periods made my back ache, but the worry gnawing at me was far worse than any physical discomfort.

"Miss Sullivan?" Mrs. Thompson's gentle voice came from behind me. "Still no word from Miss Bennett?"

I turned to face the housekeeper, whose warm brown eyes held genuine concern. "Nothing. Her phone goes straight to voicemail."

Mrs. Thompson approached with a steaming cup of herbal tea. "Perhaps she's caught up in traffic, or maybe she stopped to pick up one of those tech gadgets she's always bringing you. You know how she gets excited about showing you her latest discoveries."

Despite my anxiety, I managed a small smile. "Maybe," I said, accepting the tea gratefully. "But she would have called."

I sank into the plush cream sofa, feeling like a bird trapped in a golden cage. "Give me another half hour. If she doesn't show up or call by then, I'll reach out to James."

Mrs. Thompson smiled approvingly. "That sounds reasonable. In the meantime, would you like me to prepare some lunch? Or perhaps I could have the driver go look for her?"

"Let me try calling her one more time first."

I pulled out my phone and dialed Olivia's number again, only to hear the same automated message about the subscriber being unavailable. Frustrated, I sent another text: Liv, I'm getting worried. Please call me when you get this.

No response.

Just as I was about to call James, the elevator chimed. Mrs. Thompson and I both looked up hopefully, but instead of Olivia's energetic entrance, Daniel appeared with Lily in tow.

"Sarah!" Lily practically bounced into the apartment, her face bright with excitement. "I brought you something special!"

She held up a beautifully decorated pastry box, tied with a pale blue ribbon. Daniel followed behind her, looking slightly apologetic for the unannounced visit.

"I hope we're not intruding," he said. "Lily insisted on bringing these over today."

"Not at all," I said, genuinely pleased to see them. "What did you make, Lily?"

"Lemon lavender scones and chocolate croissants!" she announced proudly. "I've been practicing all week. Daniel said your favorite color is blue, so I made the icing match."

I opened the box to reveal perfectly golden pastries, each one decorated with delicate blue icing flowers. "Lily, these are absolutely gorgeous. You're incredibly talented."

She beamed at the praise, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for this sweet girl who'd been through so much.

"Try one!" she urged, practically vibrating with anticipation.

I selected a scone and took a bite. The combination of tart lemon and floral lavender was perfectly balanced, the pastry light and buttery. "This is amazing, Lily. Seriously, you could open your own bakery."

"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "Speaking of learning," she continued, her tone shifting to something more serious, "I was hoping to ask you something."

I set down the scone, sensing this conversation was heading somewhere important. "What is it?"

"I want to learn how to drive," she said in a rush. "But Theodore says it's too dangerous and won't let me take lessons. I was hoping maybe you could help convince him? You're so smart, and he listens to you."

Daniel shifted uncomfortably beside her. I could see the conflict in his expression—he clearly understood both sides of this issue.

"Lily," I said gently, "driving is a big responsibility. There are a lot of things to consider..."

"I know!" she interrupted. "I've been reading about it online. I understand about traffic laws and safety. I just want the freedom to go places on my own sometimes."

The longing in her voice tugged at my heart. I understood her desire for independence, but I also knew Theodore's concerns weren't unfounded.

Before I could respond, my phone rang with a FaceTime call from Theodore. I accepted it, and his face appeared on the screen, looking slightly tired but alert.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked, his eyes immediately scanning my face for any signs of discomfort.

"I'm fine," I assured him. "Actually, Lily and Daniel are here. Lily made the most incredible pastries."

"That's wonderful," he said, and I could see his expression soften. "Are you taking care of yourself, Lily? No overexertion?"

"I'm fine, Theodore," she said, appearing in the frame beside me. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something. Sarah thinks I should talk to you about learning to drive."

I shot her a look. That wasn't exactly what I'd said, but before I could clarify, Theodore's expression had already shifted.

"Lily, we've discussed this. With your medical history and current condition, it's not safe for you to operate a vehicle right now."

"But—"

"No buts," he said firmly. "I know you want more independence, and I understand that. But your safety comes first. Always."

Lily's face fell, and I felt terrible for her disappointment.

"Maybe we could look into driving simulation programs," I suggested diplomatically. "That way you could learn the basics without any physical risk."

Theodore considered this. "That's... actually not a terrible idea. We could explore virtual options."

Lily perked up slightly. "Really?"

"We'll discuss it," Theodore said. "But for now, the answer is still no to actual driving lessons."

"Sarah," Theodore's attention turned back to me, "have you had lunch yet? And don't forget to take your prenatal vitamins."

"I was just about to eat," I said, gesturing to Lily's pastries. "And yes, I took my vitamins this morning."

"Good. I should be home by seven. Try to rest this afternoon."

By 3:30, Daniel was gathering their things to leave. He pulled me aside while Lily was saying goodbye to Mrs. Thompson.

"Theodore asked me to confirm your medical appointments for next week," he said in his professional voice. "Everything's scheduled as requested. Also, make sure you're getting enough rest. The final trimester can be exhausting."

"Thank you, Daniel. And thank you for bringing Lily by. She's such a bright spot."

After they left, the apartment felt quiet again. Too quiet. My thoughts immediately returned to Olivia, and a chill of real worry settled in my stomach.

I checked my phone again—still nothing. This was so unlike her. Olivia's phone was practically attached to her hand; she never let it die, and she certainly never ignored my calls, especially when she knew I was expecting her.

"This isn't right," I murmured to myself, scrolling through our text conversation one more time.

The last message I'd received from her was from yesterday evening: Can't wait to see you tomorrow! I have so much to tell you about the new project James and I are working on.

With growing unease, I dialed James's number. He answered on the second ring.

"Sarah? Is everything okay?"

"James, I can't reach Liv," I said without preamble. "She was supposed to be here hours ago, and her phone is going straight to voicemail. This isn't like her at all."

There was a pause on the other end. "That's... strange. She never lets her phone die."

"Exactly. James, I'm really worried. She's never disappeared like this, especially not when she knew I was counting on her to be here."

"Let me try calling her from my end," James said, his voice taking on a note of concern that matched my own. "Maybe there's a network issue or something."

I waited, pacing the length of the apartment's main room while he tried to reach her.

"Sarah," he came back on the line, his voice tight with worry, "it's going straight to voicemail for me too. And you're right—her phone never goes dead."