Chapter 59

059 The Missing Case Sebastian’s POV “What do you mean she didn’t make it home?”

I barely made it to my office when I got a call from Jack, asking if Ava spent the night with me. Like, why would she? She has never spent the night at any place besides home, including mine. She was that fragile a doll.

“You picked her up, so why didn’t you take her back home?!” Jack instantly explodes, shouting at the top of his lungs, “How could you be so irresponsible?! Don’t you know how dangerous it is for her out there?!”

I want to tell him that Ava is her own person and a grown–up now, but this is not the right time.

“I’m on this,” I tell him instead, “I’ll get back to you.”

I put Alfred on the phone next, but he told me he put Ava down at the Fuller’s Villa, and he literally watched Ava go in. So either Jack Fuller lied about her returning home, or she came out on her own after Alfred left, for some reason.

Jack Fuller would never joke about Ava’s safety.

I tried Ava’s phone, and of course, nothing came up. If she’s reachable, Jack won’t be this frustrated. I tried Gabriel, but he was as stunned as I was. Apparently Jack called him right after the phone call with me.

“Miller, come in here,” I buzz my secretary, putting my suits back on, “call Jeremy Rogers and tell him that Ava Fuller is missing, and I need him to start a search.”

“Jeremy Rogers?” Miller hits on his tablet, asking with an uncertain tone, “...the chief of police...sir?”

“Yes, call HIM, don’t call the police. They won’t register it as a missing person’s case until 48 hours, but Ava can’t wait!” I instruct, can’t help but have my voice faster and louder as I go, “Then call Alfred and let him describe the whole process of driving Ava home last night in detail! Send me a copy when you have it, and send Jeremy one, too.”

“Yes, boss! Right away!” Miller has worked for me for years, and he knows me as much as he is able, “Anything else?”

“...no, just those two, ASAP.”

059 The Masing Case +25 BONUS He leaves as I say, ignoring my hesitance like a good secretary should. I hesitate last person to call – Scar.

because there is o Ava’s life is pretty simple. Jack made sure of that. Everything was too dangerous for her, so her childhood was at home, at school, and at school. Anywhere she goes, she’s accompanied by either Jack, Anna, or both. That means Ava’s life is revolving around only her family, and she barely has any friends, not anyone close to having a sleepover.

Scar is her family, too.

I’m not sure if Scar still considers this true. It doesn’t seem like she does, but she wouldn’t be so cold–blooded when it comes to Ava’s life, would she?

I could have asked Miller to confirm with Scar if she knew anything about this.

Unlikely that Ava would go to her, but...

But I found myself glad to have a legitimate reason to reach out to Scar.

Since when have I been so timid in front of her?! She’s my wife! She was...She was a good one, and I lost her. I never knew one day I would be nervous pulling up her number. I never called her, because she would already be calling me when I needed her.

Taking a deep breath, I push the button, listening to the dead flat ringing tone over and over until- it stops.

Getting frustrated, I tried again. And again it rang till the last second.

No one is answering.

I don’t think this has ever happened, in my whole life. Scar had always been there, for me at least. I don’t know about others, but so long as I needed her, she was there. She was there at my every game, even practice; she was there when I came to her to help Ava; she was always there, when I got home, when I was hungry, when I was tired. Even when she wasn’t right there in the room, I would find everything I needed when I needed them, in our home.

But she isn’t at our home anymore. And when I call, she wouldn’t even answer.

That concept annoys me, a lot.

Building up anger in my chest, I dial Aurora’s number instead. It took her a moment, but at least she picked up.

059 The Missing Case “Sebastian?” Aurora’s voice sounds tearful, “Ohh, thank God! Is Scar with you?”