Chapter 251

Chapter 251
Jasmine's POV

The next morning, I drove Louis to the medical facility, promising to wait at home. He looked both determined and somewhat troubled, which was understandable. The final meeting with Eva wouldn't be easy, but it was something he needed to complete.

I returned home, finding some household tasks to distract myself. Hours later, my phone vibrated. A text from an unknown number.

"This is Wayne. Boss wanted me to let you know he and Eva have safely arrived in Florida. He'll be back after getting her settled."

I stared at the screen, surprise and worry churning in my chest. Louis hadn't mentioned personally escorting Eva to Florida. Why didn't he tell me first? Why text through Wayne instead of directly?

I immediately called Louis, but went straight to voicemail. I tried several more times with the same result. Fear began to spread.

I dialed Marcus immediately. "Louis went to Florida with Eva," I said, not even bothering with hello. "I just got a text from Wayne."

"What?" Marcus sounded as surprised as I felt. "I wasn't aware of this plan. Let me check into it right away."

Half an hour later, Marcus called back confirming Louis had indeed taken a private plane to Florida with Eva and two security personnel. The plane had landed safely, but they hadn't yet left the airport.

"This is unusual," I said, trying to stay calm. "Louis wouldn't leave without telling me, especially with Eva."

"Agreed," Marcus said, his voice turning serious. "I'm sending Daniel on the next flight to Florida. Meanwhile, I'll have local people head to the airport."

The wait was excruciating. I kept checking my phone, pacing around the house, imagining various scenarios, many of them not good. Daisy came to keep me company, but her presence only partially eased my anxiety.

Finally, nearly six hours later, my phone rang. Louis's name appeared on the screen.

"Louis!" I almost shouted. "What's happening? Where are you?"

"Jasmine," his voice sounded exhausted. "I'm sorry. Everything got complicated."

"What happened?" I repeated, my chest tight.

"Heinrich found us," he said, his voice low. "At the airport. He had people watching the medical facility, followed us."

Fear rushed through my veins like ice water. "Are you hurt?"

"No, we're both fine. But there are... complications. Eva and Heinrich had a confrontation. Things got intense."

"Louis," I said firmly, "tell me exactly what happened. Now."

He took a deep breath. "Heinrich had a gun. He threatened to kill me, called Eva a traitor. She... she stood between me and the gun. Told him if he wanted to kill me, he'd have to kill her first."

"Then what?" I urged, my heart in my throat.

"Security intervened. There was a commotion. Heinrich was detained by airport police. FBI is on their way. But Eva... she begged me not to leave her. At least until this is resolved."

I knew what he was going to say, and my stomach sank. "So you stayed."

"Just for tonight," he hurriedly added. "Just to make sure she's safe, that Heinrich is detained. Daniel's on his way. I swear, Jasmine, I'll be home as soon as I can."

I wanted to be angry, to demand why he hadn't told me his plans beforehand, why he'd let me worry. But the exhaustion and sincerity in his voice made me calm down.

"Okay," I finally said. "But you update me every hour. And as soon as Daniel arrives, you come home."

"I promise," he said, relief in his voice. "I love you, Jasmine. Only you. Remember that."

After hanging up, I felt both relieved and uneasy. Louis wasn't hurt, which was most important. But knowing he was still with Eva, in another state, facing danger from her father—it all made me uncomfortable.

"Is he okay?" Daisy asked, who had been waiting.

"For now," I answered. "But it's complicated. Heinrich showed up."

Daisy gasped. "That's dangerous. Richard needs to know."

She reached for her phone, but I stopped her. "Wait. Louis says he and Daniel are handling it. Let them resolve it. We don't want Richard acting impulsively."

She hesitated, then nodded. "But if they haven't resolved it by tomorrow, we tell Richard."

"Agreed," I said, though I hoped it wouldn't come to that.

That night, I barely slept, checking my phone hourly for Louis's updates. Each time he texted on schedule, telling me how things were going: FBI had arrived, Heinrich was transferred to federal custody, Eva was being questioned, Daniel had arrived safely.

At seven in the morning, I was in the kitchen making coffee when the doorbell rang. I rushed to answer it, expecting to see Louis.

But standing there was Daniel, his expression making my heart sink.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "Where's Louis?"

"There's a problem, Jasmine," Daniel said, stepping inside. "Louis and Eva are gone."