A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter Matteo

51

"That would be all, thank you." I ended the press conference and flashes of cameras began to blind me as I walked down, away from the crowd. Angelo was following behind me closely along with my other business associates, ignoring the photographers. Once we had reached my car, all of the sounds were drowned out. I began to do my usual routine, staring out the window or occasionally checking out my phone for any important texts: specifically from Alena. However, there were none. "Going home, Mr, Lerclerc?" My chauffeur asked, glancing up from the rear-view mirror. "Yes, the usual."

He knew what I meant without needing to ask anything further. He knew to take the long way home so that I could have more time for a distraction-being out instead of being alone at home felt better now. I used to be eager to go home but now I dreaded that place. Memories of Alena were all over the place, along with the hopes of what could have been. When

Alena came into my life, I could never be alone anymore. The thought of being alone and having my own personal space was too overwhelming. Sometimes, I had drowned myself in the shower, hoping that I could forget but she was too real, too vivid. I knew the moment I stepped inside my own house, I was bound to suffer.

The bed was starting to smell different, not her usual scent anymore and I hated that. It had only been two weeks but she was starting to disappear which made me anxious.

Angelo hadn't provided me with any good updates and despite my good efforts of meeting Alena's family, they seemed to not know as well. Although, I did suspect Alexei to know about her whereabouts but he didn't have the time to lie.

I remembered back to when I went to his office:

Alexei

safety.

i and

II were sitting across from each other, without breaking the eye contact. I had came in defenseless and weak into the Bratva's territory. I knew better than to ask for their help but I married their Bratva princess, they wanted nothing more than to prioritise her

He seemed surprised the moment he heard the news, about Alena leaving.

"What

"She

t do you mean she left?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

left. I don't know where she went," I replied. "What did you do to her?"

Of course, the first question was to attack me. I had always been the enemy to the Russians and there was no way for them to consider me a friend if anything happened to her. My relationship with Alena's family had gotten better ever since she got pregnant. They came to visit us frequently and from all the time spent bonding, we had managed to talk about a lot of things other than business. However, I could see it all fall apart the moment I told him, she was gone. So, I explained myself. Chapter 51

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I explained what happened that day, when Alena returned home from the hospital. When I had pointed out my concern regarding her whereabouts, only expecting her to comply.

! I I also told Alexei that ever since the tragedy with Sofia, I had gotten more strict in knowing where she went; only for her to let me know. I never wanted to hold her back or stop her from going anywhere. She deserved all of the freedom in the world as long as she told me. Alexei sighed deeply, leaning back on his seat. "Any clue on where she might be?" He asked.

Truth be told, if I had any clue, I wouldn't be here. Being here was the last resort, pushing away all of my ego just to prioritise my wife's safety-she was first in everything. She was always going to be my top priority.

"No, that's why I came here to ask for your help. I really, really, need to know where she is."

makes you think I know where

I'm hitting

than me but the way he was treating me with disrespect, anyone could have mistaken him for being older. If we

Alena and Alexei's relationship, they were close since they were kids. They had a great bond with each other throughout their phase of growing up so I knew he was going to be worried about his

I can do,

his eyes, if not straight into his soul

That wasn't

his office a few times more after that, hoping there gave me the same answer over and over again-almost making me lose hope. Where was Alena?

Was she safe?

any

was going to respect that. All I wanted for now was to know her location and

Att

heal but it didn't exactly gave her what she wanted. I thought by leaving her alone, by giving her time, she was going to suffer alone and I didn't understand what

away but instead, reached out

her that I had lost my son, too. I wish she could understand how much I wanted to be there for her as much as I wanted her to

couldn't she let me in? Like

were the same. I began to stop expecting anything

her yet but I'm still

+5

Chapter 51

my men out looking for

'We'll find her, Matteo.'

words were just hopes. I had wanted a

chauffeur said,

Do you have somewhere to

his head, "No,

to stay in the car for

all the time you

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they never went to cross the line. They knew about boundaries and they respected that. "Do you have children,

had been with me for years

Mr. Lerclerc. A daughter,"

"She is she?"

four last month," he smiled as he talked about his

A feeling

like for me to have children of my own-if they asked me, I wished I could smile when I talked about them. I knew my little Marco was in a better place now but I had never stopped wishing for

to be different.

only it could

So

"Yes,

must be