Chapter 49 The Search

Chapter 49 The Search
Alexander

The moment the door slammed shut and Elena disappeared behind the door, I felt the loud bang of the door split straight through my damned chest. 

For a few seconds, I just stood there, frozen and staring at the space where she had occupied seconds ago. My hands were still balled into fists while my pulse kept hammering too hard for comfort. 

I had said too much. And I had spoken to her too harshly; it was too cruel.

And she looked confused. Genuinely confused. I furrowed my brows at that. 

The memory of her face, those wide eyes, and the tremor in her voice played over in my mind like a loop. It hadn’t been the expression of someone caught in a lie. It had been… hurt. And more hurt.

I cursed under my breath and raked a hand through my unruly hair.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath again. 

It didn’t make sense.

I mean, I knew she was Richard Knight's daughter. So why? Why the hell was she pretending like she didn’t know who I was? Why not confront me, accuse me, demand revenge? Even point a fucking gun at me? 

Unless… she didn’t know. Unless she didn't know who I was —the one who betrayed her father. 

Or she was just so damn good at acting that she had fooled even me.

Well, then, if she was going to keep up the charade, I guess two could play that game.

I exhaled sharply and turned towards the window. 

Outside, I saw that tiny flakes of snow had begun to drift down again, and I let out another curse. 

Of course. The one time she decides to run off, the weather decides to play executioner.

I instinctively tightened my jaw and marched out of the room. 

When I reached the front door, the guards straightened immediately.

“Sir, Miss Carter—” one of the guards was reporting. 

“Did she leave the property?” I cut in.

“Yes, sir. She said you—” he was still saying, but my nostrils flared in annoyance. 

“I know what she said.” I snapped and brushed past them, stepping out into the icy air.

The weather had turned cold, and it bit into my skin instantly, despite the thick shirt I wore. And she wasn't even putting on protective clothing. Just a piece of a cardigan over her nightwear. Fucking pathetic. 

I looked towards the open gates and the endless stretch of road beyond them.

“She’s insane,” I muttered, while scanning the trail of faint footprints leading down the drive. “She’s completely lost it.”

She has gone out there, in the snow, barefoot just minutes ago, with no coat, no car, and pregnant. 

Pregnant.

“Damn it, Elena!” I growled and stomped back towards the garage.

I didn’t even think twice before snatching the keys to the black Audi off the rack. I slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and sped down the long drive. 

The windshield fogged slightly, and for a moment, I saw her face again, stained with tears in her eyes and that defiant tilt of her chin.

She must have thought I was a monster.

Maybe I was.

Heck! Of course I was!

The thought tightened something in my chest, something I wasn’t ready to name.

I drove faster, my hands gripping the wheel harder than necessary, turning my knuckles white. Every few seconds, I caught myself glancing left and right through the white blur of snow in search of her.

The road was long and deserted. No way in hell could she have gotten a ride.

“Where the hell are you?” I muttered under my breath.

And then, before I could register it, I saw a small figure in the distance stumbling slightly with one hand wrapped around her stomach and the other holding a phone to her ear.

My heart lurched.

For a moment, I thought she was talking to someone. Then she froze completely, standing motionless in the middle of the road.

Something about the way she stood there so rigid and the way her head turned sharply to the side made alarm shoot through me.

I pressed harder on the accelerator, and the Audi surged forward.

As I neared her, I could see her face clearly now. She looked pale and frightened, with her eyes darting around as if she was expecting someone to jump right out of the trees.

My gut twisted.

I slowed the car and stopped right beside her.

The way she looked at the Audi at first, like it was a predator, and she had turned defensive, told me she wasn’t expecting me. Her lips parted slightly, and I could see the tremor in her fingers as she clutched her phone.

“Elena.”

She didn’t move. Probably didn't hear me. 

I rolled the window halfway down, and the cold air rushed in. 

“Get in the car.” I bit out in a low voice. 

She blinked. Her face was a mess of both relief and disbelief.

“Alexander….” she stammered. 

“Don’t argue,” I said curtly. “Get in.”

She hesitated for a moment longer before finally, silently, walking to the passenger side and slipping inside. Her movements were stiff, slow. She was fucking shivering. Her cardigan was damp, with her hair sticking to her neck.

I tried not to look at her. Tried not to think about how stupidly vulnerable she looked right now.

“Seatbelt,” I muttered.

She didn’t respond, just reached shakily for it. Her hands were trembling too much. With a small sigh, I leaned over and pulled it across her myself, clicking it into place.

She flinched at the closeness, but I pretended not to notice.

As soon as the belt clicked, I leaned back and drove off. Neither of us said a word. The only sound was the low hum of the car heater and the faint rustle of her breathing beside me.

Her head was turned toward the window, and I could hardly see her reflection in the glass. She looked lost and distant. 

I glanced at her once. Just once. And that was enough to completely unsettle me.

There was no trace of deceit there. No sign of someone hiding an agenda. Only exhaustion. And… something else. Fear. What had scared her just now. 

Maybe she really didn’t know.

Or maybe she was simply better at this game than I gave her credit for.

My fingers tightened around the wheels.

When we reached the estate gates, the guards quickly opened them without a word. I didn’t bother stopping until we were back inside.

As soon as the car halted, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out without waiting for me.

I watched her go. 

Without a word, she walked back into the house with her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

I followed her inside, keeping a distance.

She didn’t even look at me as she went upstairs. Not one glance.

By the time she reached her room, she had disappeared behind the door. 

I stood there for a while, staring at the closed door with a million and one thoughts clawing for attention in my head.

Was she really Richard Knight’s daughter? If yes, how could she look so utterly clueless? And if no, then what the hell had I just done?

My phone buzzed suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Victoria.

I exhaled sharply and answered. 

“What?” I snapped. 

“Well, good morning to you too,” her voice drawled on the other end. “You sound charming as ever, Alexander.”

“I’m not in the mood, Victoria.” I sighed. 

“Too bad,” she replied sweetly. “Your mother invited me over for dinner. She insists you come too.”

I rubbed my temple. 

“Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight,” she said. 

“Tell her you can't come. I won't either." I said immediately. 

“But why should I? She seems to enjoy my company so much.” Victoria's smug voice said. 

I clenched my jaw, already dreading what that meant.

What was she playing at?

“Victoria…” I was saying, but she cut me short. 

"Be there. Don't keep your own mother waiting.” She said in a clipped tone and ended the call. 

I let out another curse under my breath.