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Chapter 19

The family dinner was strained, with everyone eating in uncomfortable silence.

Having nothing to say to her family. Thalia retreated to her room early. Spotting the gift box on her desk reminded her she still hadn’t given Asher his watch.

She called him.

“Asher? Remember that gift I mentioned? Are you at the estate? I could bring it over.”

“I am.”

“Perfect. I’ll be there shortly.”

Meanwhile, at Drake’s penthouse….

When Drake and Sienna entered, Rosa looked past them expectantly. “Mr. Ashcroft, isn’t Miss Winters with you?”

Drake frowned. “She’s not here?”

“She hasn’t been home for days, sir. I thought she was with you.”

Suddenly uneasy, Drake took the stairs two at a time.

In Thalia’s room, the transformation was stark. Her vanity was stripped bare–no cosmetics, no skincare products. The personal touches that had made the room hers were gone.

He yanked open the closet. Empty.

Every trace of Thalia had vanished, leaving the room as pristine as before she’d moved in.

Drake’s breathing quickened. He shouted down to Rosa: “When did she move her things out?”

The housekeeper flinched at his tone. “The room was empty when I came to clean the next day. I thought you knew…

Drake’s fists clenched as he pulled out his phone. The call wouldn’t connect–he’d been blocked.

He immediately called Celine. Thalia had few friends in New York: Celine had been closest to her.

Time Gold Cheer

seen her. Let me try

later: “She’s blocked

Drake froze.

it together. Her heart leaped–Thalia had actually left.

does this mean you’ve broken

stunned him.

Break up?

His words that night–about never wanting to see her again–had been

anger.

he’d assumed she was just sulking, waiting for him to

emptying her room of every possession? Was that

arm through his. “If you’ve broken up,

initial panic had transformed

could just

lasted. Ten days?

him. He’d let

show her that he was perfectly fine without her.

forced a smile. “A trip sounds good. Where

Montana–the fall colors at Glacier

Glacier National Park.

that sound so

18.6%

Chapter 19

he remembered–Thalia had mentioned wanting to

“Everything’s crowded during holidays.

fall break now. His instinct was to refuse, but thinking of

“Montana sounds perfect.”

unsettled despite watching TV with Sienna, he

didn’t press him. She understood he needed

graciously. “Of course. I’ll

called

tonight? Get Chase and

their usual private club, Chase greeted him: “Just you? Where’s

an odd look. “Why would she

“Uh…” Chase floundered.

“Thalia’s my girlfriend. Why aren’t you asking about her?”

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