Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Six
Conan’s POV

The morning came faster than I wanted, and I had barely slept.

I forced myself out of bed and dressed for the office because the more I sat around the villa the more I thought about Aurora’s face when she saw me with Vanessa and the guilt that followed me like a shadow, so I threw myself into work, telling myself if I stayed busy maybe I could breathe a little.

When I got to the office my assistant Rachel was already waiting by my door with her tablet and a list of schedules for the day. She followed me inside quickly.

“Sir, the press conference is in one hour. I already prepared your notes, and the board is waiting to review the statement,” she said, walking beside me as I pulled off my jacket and sat behind my desk.

“Good. Bring the notes,” I told her, rubbing my temples. She set them down and I scanned them, barely taking in the words.

She stood quietly, watching me. “Do you want me to push your other meetings to next week?”

“No. Keep them. In fact, add more. I need meetings lined up back-to-back,” I said firmly. “Schedule calls with the Japanese investors, also with the Dubai project head, and get me a private dinner meeting with Mr. Zhang.”

She nodded quickly, writing it down. “And Vanessa’s father?” she asked carefully.

I looked up at her, my jaw tightening. “Yes. Book me a meeting with him too. I’m ending that contract.”

Her eyes widened. “Sir, that contract is worth four hundred million. Termination will cost—”

“I don’t care,” I cut her off. “Cancel it. I want nothing tying me to that family.”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Understood. I’ll make the arrangements.”

By the time we got to the press conference, cameras flashed in my face and reporters shouted questions about the new resort project. I gave the rehearsed answers, speaking about progress, investment confidence, and timelines, but my head was elsewhere the entire time, because no matter what words left my mouth, all I could see in my mind was Aurora standing in that office doorway, her eyes full of hurt.

After the press conference ended, Rachel caught up to me again, walking briskly beside me. “Your lunch is with Mr. Chen at one. Do you want me to confirm?”

“Yes. And move the three o’clock board review to tomorrow morning. I don’t want to see anyone after lunch,” I told her.

She gave me a careful look but didn’t ask questions. She knew me well enough to read my mood.

By evening, after forcing myself through the day, I returned to the villa, rehearsing in my head all the ways I would beg Aurora, how I would tell her I made a mistake letting Vanessa anywhere near me, how I would tell her she was the only woman I wanted, that I needed her to stay, that I was ready to throw away every deal, every dollar, just to keep her.

But when I opened the door, the villa was silent, too silent.

“Aurora?” I called out, walking quickly through the living room. No answer. I checked the kitchen, the bedroom, and the balcony. Nothing. The wardrobe doors were wide open and her clothes were gone.

Panic shot through me instantly as I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. It rang and rang but she didn’t answer. I tried again and again, my hand tightening on the phone each time the call dropped to voicemail.

I stormed into the security room and pulled up the villa’s camera feed. There she was on the screen, dragging her suitcase outside, and then a car pulled up. The same damn car from yesterday.

Ceaser Lawson.

He had the nerve to come into my home and take my wife away from me.

In less than an hour, I had him tracked down through one of his usual hangouts. My blood was boiling as I walked into the bar, spotting him casually sipping a drink like he had nothing to fear.

“Lawson,” I barked, striding straight up to him.

He smirked, turning lazily in his chair. “Conan. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I didn’t waste another second. My fist connected with his jaw, and he stumbled back, crashing against the bar counter.

“Where is she?” I shouted, grabbing him by the collar.

He spat blood to the side and smiled wickedly. “Shouldn’t you know where your wife is? Why ask me?”

I slammed him against the counter again, my voice low and deadly. “Stay away from her. If you so much as breath near her again, I’ll destroy you. I’ll take everything you hold dear and burn it to the ground.”

He just chuckled, shaking his head. “Touchy, aren’t we?”

I released him with a shove, breathing hard, my hands still shaking from rage. “Consider this your only warning.”

I turned and walked out before I lost control completely. Outside, I called Alexandros immediately.

“Find Aurora,” I ordered.

Within minutes he called back. “She’s on a flight back to New York. Already landed.”

My stomach dropped, but my decision was instant. “Book me the next flight out. Get the jet ready in twenty minutes.”

“Yes, boss,” he replied.

I hung up and called Mia. “Cancel every meeting. Clear my schedule for the week. I’m flying to New York tonight.”

“Understood,” she said quickly.

I sat in the car, staring out the window, my mind racing with one thought. I had to find her. I had to show her that she was the only one I wanted, that no deal, no money, no rivalry mattered compared to her. I wasn’t going to lose her, not to Ceaser, not to anyone.

This time I was going to fight for her, beg if I had to, because she was my wife and I wasn’t letting her slip away.