Chapter 171

Alex’s POV

The clock on my dashboard read 11:47 p.m., but it felt like time ad stopped entirely. My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as I glanced at my phone lying on the passenger seat. Chistiana’s name was on the screen, her line still ringing, but there was no answer. It had been the same for the past hour. Ring after ring, and nothing.

“Pick up, damn it,” I muttered under my breath, slamming my palm against the steering wheel. The harsh sound echoed in the car, but it did nothing to calm me down. My chest felt tight, ke f’ couldn’t get enough air in. I’d only left her for a few hours…just a few…to push harder on the leads about the kids. And now, she was gone. No calls. No texts. Nothing.

I rubbed my face with one hand, trying to focus. “Where the hell are you, Christiana?” My voice cracked, and the frustration came boiling over. “You don’t just vanish like this! Not now, not tonight.”

I pushed the accelerator harder, weaving through the near–empty streets as I made my way back to her suite. She couldn’t have gone far. She had to be there. Maybe her phone was on silent. Maybe she’d fallen asleep and didn’t hear the calls. The excuses I kept making for her only fueled my anxiety. Deep down, I knew Christiana wouldn’t just ignore my calls…. especially not with everything going on.

The tires screeched as I pulled into the hotel driveway. The valet tried to approach me, but I waved him off and parked haphazardly by the entrance. I didn’t care if I got a ticket or pissed someone off. I had more important things to deal with.

My phone buzzed in my pocket as I stepped out of the car. For a second, I hoped it was her, but no….it was one of the private investigators I’d hired. I ignored it. Right now, finding Christiana was all that mattered.

The elevator ride up to her floor felt like an eternity. I tapped my foot, ran my fingers through my hair, paced in the small space. When the doors finally dinged open, I shot out like a bullet. Two of her bodyguards were stationed outside her suite, standing rigid and professional as always.

“Where’s Christiana?” I demanded as I approached. My voice was sharp, clipped, and I didn’t care if they noticed how shaken I was.

The taller one exchanged a glance with his partner before answering. “Sir, she left about an hour ago.”

My stomach dropped. “What do you mean she left? Where did she go?”

“We’re not sure,” the shorter guard replied, his expression neutral. “She said she needed to step out and that she would call us if she required assistance.”

I stared at them, disbelief and anger warring in my chest. “And you let her go? Without following her? Without asking questions?”

“She insisted, sir. Said it was a private matter.”

I cursed under my breath and turned away, pacing back and forth in the hallway. My hands were shaking, and I clenched them into fists to stop it. “This is unbelievable,” I muttered to myself. “She’s out there, God knows where, in the middle of the damn night, and no one thought to stop her?”

I turned back to the guards, my voice rising. “Did she say anything? Did she seem upset? Was anyone with her?”

The taller guard shook his head. “She was alone, sir. She didn’t give any details.”

“Useless,” I spat, running a hand through my hair again. My mind was racing. Where could she have gone? Why wouldn’t she tell me? My chest tightened as the worst possibilities flashed through my head.

I pulled my phone out again, dialing her number for what felt like the hundredth time. Still no answer. The silence on the other end was deafening. “Damn it, Christiana,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Where are you?”

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Chapter 171

Every second that ticked by felt like a lifetime. The thought of her being out there, vulnerable, with our kids still missing…it was too much. I felt like I was

make sense,” I muttered, trying to piece it together “She wouldn’t just

For years, I’d prided myself on being able to handle anything, no matter how chaotic.

voice firm. “Start checking the security footage. Find out if anyone

left alone.”

replied in unison, moving to carry out

calm the storm inside me. But it was no use. My thoughts kept spiraling back to Christiana…. her face, her voice, the way she’d been barely holding it together the last time I saw

moment. “You

Now. I grabbed my phone again, dialing another number of one of the men I had paid to keep a watchful eye on Christiana ever since Bianca was out of jail and walked free. If Christiana was out there, I’d

hovered over the call button. My instincts were screaming that something was wrong… terribly wrong. My thumb was just about to press the button when the screen lit up. It was him. The same

is it?” I demanded, my voice sharp and cold.

“we’ve been following her since she left the hotel. There’s something you need to

spine. “What are

the conversation, but her body language… it was off. She seemed tense, sir. Very tense. After the call,

secluded spot near an industrial area. Deserted. No lights, no movement. A masked man showed another car and approached

up in

like a caged animal. The man’s words were hitting me like

guilt in his voice. “Sir, it looked… consensual. She

fist so tight my knuckles ached. “Willingly?” I repeated, my voice dropping

added quickly. “The man blindfolded her before putting her in his car. They drove off together. We followed at a

My vision blurred for a moment as the weight of his words settled on

than the last. Was she in

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Chapter 171

controlled fury. “And you just stood there and let this happen?” I growled, pacing back and forth like a man possessed What

77%

not to intervene

palm against the wall, trying to steady myself. My head was spinning, my chest heaving with every breath.

feel my world crumbling around me. First the kids, now Christiana. Everything was unraveling, and I couldn’t stop it. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it

consume me.

happening,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my

looked consensual or not. You’re calling the police. Now. Give them the location of the warehouse I’m on

sir,” the man replied

the phone into my pocket, my hands shaking. My mind was racing. There was no time to waste, no room for doubt or hesitation. I had to

as I sprinted toward the elevator. “I’m coming for

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