Chapter 86: What Love Looks Like?

Chapter 86: What Love Looks Like?
Melissa grabbed her mother’s arm with the help of Detective Philip and guided her firmly into the backseat of the detective’s car. Mrs. Wright, still looking dazed from everything that had just come to light, didn’t resist. They all got in. Detective Philip took the driver’s seat, Melissa sat beside him, and her mother was behind them, quiet but clearly shaken.

As they drove toward Julia’s house, Melissa quickly dialled her father’s number. He picked up almost immediately.

“Dad,” she said, “I need to update you on the situation here. There’s a situation with Victor... It’s bad. And Lydia… she’s missing,  and from what we know she was kidnapped by Victor. I’ll explain everything when we see you, but I think you should come home now.”

There was silence on the line for a moment, then Mr. Wright’s voice came through, tense and serious. “I’m heading home right away.”

They arrived at the Joe residence a few minutes later. Julia opened the door, confused by their arrival at such an odd hour. But her confusion quickly turned to horror as Melissa and Detective Philip explained everything—the truth about what Victor had done and what they thought he might be capable of doing, and how he had kidnapped Lydia from the hospital.

Julia’s face twisted with disbelief and anger. She took a step back, unable to even look at Melissa or Mrs. Wright.

“You… you let him into our lives. You knew what he was capable of,” she said coldly, her voice shaking.

Melissa tried to stay composed. “I know what and how you feel, Julia. But please… save it until we find Lydia. That’s all that matters right now.”

Julia didn’t respond. She walked away from them, gripping the edge of the dining table for balance.

Meanwhile, Detective Philip placed a call to Mr. and Mrs. Joe. He didn’t sugarcoat the situation—he explained what Victor had done and Lydia’s last known location, and the plan to air the case on the evening news to help track them down faster.

The Joes erupted over the phone. Melissa could hear Mr. Joe’s voice shouting in the background. “If anything happens to our daughter, I swear we’ll make them pay for it. All of them!”

Mrs. Joe added, “How could you let this happen to Lydia? How? Please find my baby said Mrs Joe in tears.

Detective Philip repeated calmly, “We’re doing everything we can. I’ve already given orders to have Lydia’s disappearance and Victor’s photo broadcast on national television. We’ll find them.”

Back at the hospital, Dennis was still too weak to leave his bed. His leg was wrapped in gauze, and there was an IV drip running into his arm. The room was quiet—until he turned on the television to distract himself. As the screen lit up, the evening news came on, and right there—Victor’s face flashed across the screen with a breaking news banner. A second later, Dennis froze. They were showing security footage from the hospital entrance. He recognised it instantly.

It was Lydia—climbing into a cab with Victor right outside the hospital.

Dennis sat up slightly, wincing in pain. His heart dropped. He had never thought Victor would do that to Lydia. He had recognised Victor was the one always tailing his car just before the accident but he never thought Victor was the one behind all that had been happening to Lydia and Melissa. But why? Just why is he doing all this?

He reached for his phone and called Detective Philip; however, he got no reply. He felt so helpless that the fact that he couldn't use his legs but had to lie down on the hospital bed made him sad.

At Julia’s house, Mrs. Wright had gone pale. She stared at the TV as the footage played again.

“How exactly did Victor become this? And how did he hide it so well” Mrs. Wright whispered. “Lydia trusted him. I trusted him.”

Melissa rubbed her forehead, pacing the living room. Nothing was making sense anymore. Detective Philip’s phone rang, but the call didn’t go through. It was Victor trying to reach him, but Detective Philip was already out searching for leads and had no time to answer unknown numbers.

Julia sat on the couch, quiet at first, her thoughts spiralling. Then suddenly, she began to cry.

“I feel so stupid,” she said, shaking her head. “She had never felt so alone before. Melissa and Mrs Wright's presence didn't help as it used to.

Her aunt—her mother’s sister—arrived at the police station after getting a frantic call. When she heard about Lydia’s disappearance, she rushed over to support Julia. Together, they began pressing the officers on duty for answers.

“Where is she?” the aunt asked sharply. “Why haven’t you tracked them down yet?”

“We’re following every lead,” one officer assured. “We’ve already broadcast the news.”

Meanwhile, in a quiet house on the outskirts of town, Victor turned on the television. He and Lydia were sitting in a dimly lit living room, the curtains drawn, the door bolted.

The news came on again. This time, it was clearer. Victor’s photo, a headline calling him a suspect in multiple crimes, and the same footage of Lydia getting into the cab outside the hospital.

Victor stood still, staring at the screen.

Lydia looked at the TV, then at Victor. She couldn’t believe what the news was saying, she always saw Victor as kind and caring. But now, as the truth unfolded in front of her, she turned slowly toward him.

“You killed her…” she said quietly.

Victor turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. “Who?”

“Your girlfriend,” Lydia said, her voice flat. “You killed her.”

Victor scoffed lightly. “She insulted me. She called me a psychopath. So yeah, I killed her.”

Lydia’s voice cracked. “You… you killed someone because they insulted you?”

“Yes,” he replied simply. “And I never loved her the way I love you.”

Lydia shook her head slowly, her heart sinking into her stomach. Her entire body felt weak. She was too afraid to move, too shocked to cry. Her chest rose and fell with short, shallow breaths.

“I’ve known you since I was seven,” she whispered. “I even wished I’d marry you when I was a kid…”

Victor sat beside her now, his tone soft. “And I’ve always loved you. You know that, don’t you?”

Lydia didn’t respond.

Victor turned off the TV and placed the remote gently on the table. Then he looked at her again.

“Don’t worry. We’re safe. They won’t find us,” he said with a calmness that unsettled her even more.

Lydia lay back against the couch, her body cold and her mind spinning.

“Wow,” she muttered faintly. “So this is what love feels like?”

Her voice was low, distant. Not because she believed it, but because in that moment, she realised love—at least the kind Victor claimed—was nothing like what she thought love would be.

She looked away from him, her heart breaking into pieces she didn’t even know existed.