Chapter 151 Only Hazel's Father Remains

Chapter 151 Only Hazel's Father Remains
Adrian's POV

I pace back and forth, my breathing becomes uneven as rhte call refuses to connect for the fifth time.

I stare at my phone for a long moment before pressing the call button for what feels like the hundredth time.

Nothing.

The same automated voice. "The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable."

My fingers tighten around the phone. Unavailable. Why unavailable?

The plane should have taken off by now. If everything went according to plan, Maleek should have called me the moment they landed. Even if they couldn't speak for long, he would have sent a message.

Something.

Anything.

My chest tugs painfully. I blink rapidly, forcing myself to breathe.

No.

Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe they're still in the air. Maybe there's no network. Maybe...

My thoughts stop halfway. The flight duration doesn't match. Enough time has passed. Way more than enough.

I stand up abruptly, pushing the chair backward. It scrapes loudly against the floor.
The silence in my office suddenly feels suffocating.

I loosen my tie before resting my hands on the table. The room starts to spin and I shake my head.

Why can't I breathe properly? What the hell is wrong with me? I rub my chest slowly. I don't like this feeling.

Calm down, Adrian.

Think.

Don't panic.

Panic has never solved anything.

But how am I supposed to stay calm? Darcy is on that plane.

Darcy...

I close my eyes. For a brief second, her face flashes through my mind. The way she smiled yesterday.

The way she tried so hard not to cry. The way she forced herself to be strong because she didn't want me worrying about her.

My throat tightens.

Don't let anything happen to her. Please... I don't know who I'm praying to anymore.

God.

Fate.

Anyone.

Just don't let anything happen to her.

I immediately dial the airport management. The call connects after two rings.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Ashford."

"I need confirmation." My voice comes out rough.."Flight AX271. Has it departed?" I hear keyboards clicking.

"One moment, sir."

Every second feels like torture.

"Yes, sir. The flight departed successfully."

I freeze. I let out a shaky breath I didn't know I've been holding.

Why aren't they answering?
I swallow hard. "Was there any incident?"
A brief pause.

"There was a temporary security lockdown before departure, but the aircraft departed safely."

Security lockdown. My heart skips. Maleek was right.

Camille's people really showed up. I squeeze my eyes shut.

Damn it. They actually found them.

I inhale sharply. "Thank you." I end the call. My hands begin trembling. The plane left..So why can't I reach them?

Did something happen onboard? Did someone follow them?

Stop.

You're doing it again. Thinking of the worst.
Before I can call again, my phone vibrates.

Unknown number.
I furrow my eyebrows in irritation. I really do not have the patience to deal with Camille right now.

The phone continues ringing and I click on the answer icon.

"Hello." I groan.

There's silence for some minutes, before a distorted voice follows.

Cold. Mechanical. Impossible to identify. "Mr. Ashford..."

Every muscle in my body tightens. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"Hazel is dying." The person states.

My heartbeat stops. "...What?"

"I really want to help you but whether your daughter lives... or dies..."

My breathing becomes uneven.

The person concludes "...depends on your performance."

My fingers tighten around the phone until my knuckles turn white. "You touch her..."

The caller interrupts. "No. You'll do exactly as you're told." With that the call ends. I stare blankly at the phone.

I lean heavily against the desk. The person claims to help but is threatening Hazel, what am I supposed to believe?

What exactly did that child do to deserve this? She's barely lived. She hasn't even experienced life. Yet every day, someone wants to use her.

Control her.

Hurt her.

I slam my fist against the desk. "Damn it!" Everything on the table shakes. My breathing grows heavier.

Six hours later.

The office has become darker. Night has fallen and I haven't moved from my chair.

Every few minutes, I check my phone. Still nothing.

Then...

It rings.

Maleek.

I answer before the first ring finishes. "Maleek."

His tired voice comes through. "We're safe." My eyes close immediately.

Relief crashes into me so suddenly that my legs almost give out. I sink into the chair. Thank God.

"We had to disappear for a while," he continues. "They were still looking for us."

I rub my forehead. "So that's why your phones..."

He cuts in. "They could've tracked it." He informs me.

I nod slowly.

Good.

Very good.

"You made the right decision." I breathe out.

"We stayed off the radar for hours before contacting you." He pauses. "I'm sorry."

I shake my head instinctively. "No. You did exactly what you were supposed to." Silence follows.

"Darcy wants to speak with you."

My heart skips.

A few seconds later, I hear her breathing. Neither of us speaks.

What exactly am I supposed to say? That I missed her? That I almost lost my mind today? That hearing her breathe is enough to make my chest hurt?

"Adrian..." Her voice is softer than usual. "...I'm okay."

I swallow. "Are you hurt?"

"No but Maleek got grazed."

My eyes close again. I knew something happened even though Maleek kept it away from me.

Another silence. Long. Comfortable. Painful.

"I wanted to hear your voice." She whispers it so quietly that I almost miss it. My lips part.

"So did I."

I hear her sniffle. "I'm safe." She repeats. "You don't have to worry about me anymore."

How am I not supposed to worry? You're the woman I love. You're carrying my heart with you. But I don't say any of that.

Instead, I smile faintly. "I'll always worry."

A tiny laugh escapes her. "I know." She pauses again. "Go get Hazel."

My chest tightens.

"You promised me."

"I know."

"You'll bring her home."

"I will."

"You'll come back too."

I stare at the darkness outside my office window.

"I'll come back."

"I'll be waiting." My throat burns.

Neither of us says goodbye immediately. Neither of us wants to.
Eventually, she whispers, "I love you."

The words hit differently now. They're not dramatic. They're quiet. Steady and certain.

The complete opposite of everything Camille ever made me believe love was.

I smile despite myself. "I love you too." The line disconnects as I continue staring at the dead screen for several seconds.

Without hesitation, I remove the SIM card. I hold it between my fingers. If Camille gets hold of this, she'll keep chasing Darcy.

I snap the SIM card in half, until the tiny pieces fall into the trash bin.

No more connections. No more risks.

Darcy is beyond Camille's reach now.

Darcy will recover and she'll live.

And me...

I finally have nothing left holding me back. Only one thing remains.

Hazel.

For the first time in weeks, the fear inside me doesn't feel stronger than my determination.

Camille wanted me broken. She wanted me drowning in grief. She wanted me chasing ghosts while she controlled everything from the shadows.

Not anymore.

My reflection stares back at me through the glass. The man looking back isn't the same Adrian who cried over a grave. Nor the husband desperately hoping his wife was innocent.

That man died the moment he saw Camille suffocating their daughter on that footage.

Now...

Only Hazel's father remains.

And this father is coming for his daughter.