Chapter 87: Hope

A part of him still couldn’t believe it. That all along, it hadn’t been Ivy beside him. It had been her. Ruby. And somehow, everything made sense now. Her warmth. Her hesitation. Her care.

His thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of his phone in his coat pocket.

He quickly pulled it out and answered, voice taut with anticipation when he saw who it was.

"Ethan?"

"I found something," his best friend said without preamble.

Stefan’s heart skipped a beat and he sat up straighter. "What is it? What did you find?"

"I’ve been checking travel counters like I told you," Ethan said, his voice calm but urgent. "And I got confirmation. Someone matching her description booked a flight. She left Zeden two days ago."

Stefan’s fingers tightened around the phone. "Where did she go?"

"Florittle."

Stefan’s brow furrowed. "Wait... isn’t that where you are now? For your new company?"

"Yes," Ethan confirmed.

A strange mix of relief and anxiety flooded Stefan.

"She’s in Florittle?" he repeated, trying to wrap his head around it.

"Looks like it," Ethan replied.

Do whatever you can. Talk to airport staff, check CCTV footage from when she landed. I need to know if she really arrived, who she met... anything. I need to know she’s safe.

do that," Ethan assured him. "Give me a little time,

a pause on the line, then Ethan’s tone softened. "How are you holding up,

like a blur right now. The woman I

quiet for a

continued, voice strained. "It wasn’t Ivy at all. It was Ruby who stayed.

sighed. "Damn. That’s

bitterly. "You’re telling me." fre.eweb novel\.c

to do

was no hesitation in Stefan’s reply. "I

the word

nodded. "Yes, them.

went quiet for a beat as the word

his voice unmistakable. Then his tone warmed, laced with a genuine

there

calm the wild beat of his heart. "But she left. And she’s alone. And I can’t stop thinking

father," Ethan said, almost in

need to find her. Not just for me... but

me, Stefan," Ethan said firmly. "I’m going to do everything I can to help find her. I

his eyes, deeply grateful. "Thank you. Just knowing there’s a lead... it’s the first hope I’ve had in

call you as soon as I find anything else. We’re

"Yeah," Stefan whispered. "Home."

a flood of emotions—relief, guilt, fear, longing. He leaned his head back against

out there, carrying his

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