Chapter 132 Looking for Elara 1

Chapter 132 Looking for Elara 1
Jayden's POV

At first, I got no reaction to what Maurice said.

It was as though my brain refused to process the words that had just left his mouth.

Elara was...

No.

That wasn't possible.

She couldn't just disappear.

She couldn't just vanish into thin air.

For a few long seconds, I simply stared at him, waiting for him to laugh and tell me it was another one of his sick jokes.

He didn't.

His expression remained serious.

Then his words replayed in my head.

Elara's missing.

I felt my heart drop.

A strange ringing filled my ears, drowning out every other sound around me.

The room suddenly felt too small.

Too hot.

Too suffocating.

My feet moved on their own as I took a step towards Maurice, my breathing growing uneven.

"What do you mean by Elara is missing?" I asked, hoping I had somehow misheard him. "Where did you hide her?"

Maurice scoffed.

"Do you think I would be here if I hid her?" He asked, giving me a dumb look. "I'm certain that you can't be that dumb."

Even though his tone sounded sarcastic, the worry still managed to slip out.

That tiny crack in his voice destroyed the little hope I had left.

If Maurice Lanfield looked this worried...

Then something had truly happened.

"Fuck!"

The curse tore out of my throat before I could stop it.

I turned away from everyone and slammed my fist against the nearest wall.

The impact echoed through the mansion.

Pain shot through my knuckles, but it barely registered.

I shut my eyes tightly as another curse escaped my lips.

One month.

Just one bloody month.

That was all I managed to keep her safe.

One month before that bastard finally found her.

Or...

At least before she disappeared.

Whether she had been taken or had gone somewhere against her will, none of it mattered.

She was gone.

And I had failed her.

Again.

I dragged both hands through my hair, pushing it back roughly before forcing myself to breathe.

Panicking wouldn't help.

Getting angry wouldn't help.

I needed answers.

Slowly, I turned back to Maurice.

My jaw remained clenched.

"What happened?" I asked in a tight tone.

Maurice inhaled slowly.

"We were at the park..."

My head snapped up.

"She went to meet you?" I interrupted, my voice sounding accusatory.

I knew how unreasonable it sounded.

I knew.

But guilt had settled heavily inside my chest, and I desperately needed somewhere to throw even the smallest part of it.

Maurice had made it sound like Elara went to him.

Maybe...

Maybe that was why she had insisted on going out today.

Maybe she was still angry because of what happened this morning.

Maybe she had wanted to see him.

Maybe she had wanted comfort.

Just...

Not from me.

The sound of Maurice laughing interrupted my thoughts.

It wasn't a genuine laugh.

It was hollow.

Bitter.

Mocking.

He chuckled loudly, yet there wasn't an ounce of amusement in his eyes.

"Is that why you didn't get her a phone?" He asked, his laughter slowly dying down. "So she wouldn't talk to me anymore? Wow."

He tilted his head before letting out another dry snort.

The question landed like another punch to my chest.

I lowered my eyes.

It sounded worse when someone else said it aloud.

Petty.

Controlling.

Selfish.

I had convinced myself it was for her safety.

That nobody could track her if she didn't own one.

But somewhere deep inside...

I knew there had been another reason.

I hadn't wanted Maurice reaching her.

Hadn't wanted either of them talking behind my back.

Hadn't wanted him reminding her of everything I wasn't.

Now...

That decision had become one more thing to blame myself for.

Maurice's expression slowly hardened.

His eyes remained fixed on mine.

"Elara sounded really sad and angry, I'm guessing you had something to do with it. You did something wrong that made her want comfort, and you're angry it came from me?"

Every word hit exactly where it hurt.

He didn't hold back.

His glare was so intense it felt like he was trying to look straight through me.

I swallowed.

I had hurt her.

That much I knew.

But it hadn't been intentional.

Hell...

I could barely remember what happened that night. All I was certain of was that shs saw me and Zia together.

I didn't know if it was an assumption or if I really did...

Fuck.

Just after kissing her that bloody morning.

I kept hurting her.

A tiny sniffle suddenly broke the heavy silence hanging between us.

Maurice's eyes shifted away from me.

Mine followed.

Jake stood there with trembling lips, tears gathering in his eyes as he stared between both of us.

Leo remained beside him, trying hard to stay composed, but even his little fists had curled tightly by his sides.

Fear had completely replaced the confidence they usually carried.

"Mum..." Jake whispered under his breath before looking at Maurice. "Uncle Maurice..."

The room immediately became quieter.

Even Maurice's angry expression softened slightly as he looked at the twins.

He released a slow breath.

"We'd get back to what you did later."

His attention returned to me.

"It was a coincidence Elara and I met at the park. Then we began talking... She said she wished it was me that night instead of you."

Those words stabbed deeper than I expected.

I refused to let them show on my face.

This wasn't the time.

There would be time to hate myself later.

Right now...

I only needed to find her.

I stepped closer until only a short distance separated us.

"Get to the bloody point before my fist touches your face."

Maurice didn't react to the threat.

He merely continued.

"She walked away to get us drinks, next thing I knew it had been over twenty minutes and she hadn't returned."

Twenty minutes.

That was long enough for anything to happen.

My heartbeat quickened.

"I asked for the CCTV footage already. I just wanted to bring the boys home and tell you in person what's going on before I go find my... Elara."

The brief pause before her name didn't escape me.

Neither did the way he corrected himself.

He had almost called her something else.

My what?

Or perhaps... He had simply stopped himself because I was standing there.

Either way, I didn't have the patience to dwell on it.

"I'm coming with you."

Maurice frowned.

"What?"

"You didn't expect me to stay still while you and play hero right?"

He looked at me for a long second before opening his mouth again.

Before he could speak, two small voices interrupted us.

"Daddy, uncle we'd go with you."

Both boys had stepped forward together.

Their worried eyes searched our faces.

Their fear was obvious.

I immediately shook my head.

"No. You can't. As soon we figure our where your mother is, we'd bring her back."

Jake's face crumpled.

"I don't want to stay with aunt Zia."

"Me neither."

Maurice's brows furrowed instantly.

"What has your fiance been doing to my nephews?"

I sighed.

"Don't take the term to seriously."

Even saying the word fiancée felt wrong now.

Everything about my relationship with Zia suddenly felt insignificant compared to what was happening.

I crouched down until I was at eye level with the boys.

My voice softened.

"Hey, Leo... Jake. Zia isn't going to do anything to either of you. She's not that cruel, she can't hurt you."

They remained unconvinced.

Neither of them answered.

I looked around the room before my eyes landed on the one person I trusted enough to leave them with.

"How about this..."

"Dion."

My assistant stepped forward almost immediately. He had been standing by the side oc the room, quiet.

"Stay with the boys. Keep them safe until I come back with their mother."

"Yes boss."

I straightened and looked at Maurice.

Every second we wasted here was another second farther away from Elara.

I wasn't wasting another one.

"Let's go."