Chapter 138 The Unexpected Guest
Chapter 138 The Unexpected Guest
The Unexpected Guest
Liam’s POV
I was sitting in my car when my phone buzzed. It was a message from Rosalie.
‘Ethan had moved Dylan again. I don’t know the exact location yet, but I’m working on it.’
A wave of frustration hit me so hard that I almost slammed my fist into the steering wheel. Every time we got close, Ethan found another way to stay one step ahead of us.
For a moment, I wanted to forget the plan and go after him myself. I wanted to find Ethan, make him tell me where Dylan was, and end this once and for all. But I knew that was exactly what Ethan wanted. If I acted out of anger, I could destroy everything Rosalie and I had spent days putting together. As much as it hurt, I had to stay patient.
I drove back to my apartment to pack a few things. The place was quiet, but it didn’t feel empty. Dylan was everywhere. His favorite mug was still in the kitchen. A jacket he’d forgotten lay across the couch. Every room held a reminder of him, making it harder to breathe.
I packed some clothes into a bag as quickly as I could. When I was done, I looked around the apartment one last time before heading for the door.
Then I saw it.
His hockey stick was still leaning against the wall, exactly where he’d left it weeks ago.
My feet refused to move.
I walked over to it slowly and wrapped my hand around the handle. The memories came rushing back all at once. I remembered the first time we met, when I couldn’t stand him. I remembered every argument, laugh, and quiet moment that slowly changed everything between us.
Somewhere along the way, the man I thought I hated had become the person I couldn’t imagine living without.
Tears started rolling down my cheeks before I could stop them. They rolled down my face as I held onto the hockey stick, wishing with everything in me that I could bring him home.
After a long moment, I wiped my eyes and took a deep breath. I couldn’t fall apart now. Dylan was still out there, and he needed me to keep going.
I picked up my bag, walked out of the apartment, and locked the door behind me.
The drive to Rosalie’s house felt longer than usual. My mind was so full that I barely noticed the traffic around me. Every few minutes, I caught myself wondering where Dylan was, whether he was hurt, and if he knew I was still searching for him.
When I finally arrived, Rosalie’s maids welcomed me with kind smiles. They carried my bag upstairs, showed me to a guest room, and asked if there was anything I needed before quietly leaving me alone to settle in.
I took a quick bath, hoping the hot water would wash away some of the exhaustion weighing me down. It helped a little, but not enough. My body felt cleaner, yet my mind was still restless.
I changed into fresh clothes, lay down on the bed, and reached for my phone. I opened Instagram and started scrolling without really paying attention. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I just needed something to take my mind off Dylan, even if it was only for a few minutes.
Then one photo made my thumb stop.
It was Ethan.
He was smiling at the camera, standing in the middle of a group of young people. They all looked happy, and the caption said it was part of his youth empowerment program.
I stared at the screen, unable to believe what I was seeing.
The image didn’t match the man I knew. The Ethan in that picture looked kind, approachable, and respected. But I knew another version of him. I knew the man who had kidnapped Dylan and was hiding him somewhere no one could find. Seeing those two versions of him side by side made my stomach twist.
Without thinking, I jumped off the bed and hurried out of the room. Rosalie needed to see this. Maybe she would notice something I had missed.
I found her in the sitting room, but she wasn’t alone.
Vivian was there with her, and the two of them were deep in conversation. They were sitting close together with serious expressions, so focused on what they were discussing that neither of them noticed me standing in the doorway.