Chapter 218

Adrian moved across the room to Serena's side with deliberate gentleness. His fingers brushed through her silken hair before settling the cashmere coat around her shoulders. "Don't torture yourself with those thoughts," he murmured, his voice like warm honey. "I'll move heaven and earth to keep you safe and happy."

The tender moment shattered when Ethan's phone buzzed violently against the marble side table. He exchanged a loaded glance with Adrian before slipping into the shadowed hallway.

Alone in the dim passage, Ethan pressed the phone to his ear. "Mr. Sinclair." The name tasted bitter after Adrian's explosive argument with Dominic earlier. What fresh chaos had that man unleashed now?

Dominic's voice crackled through the line, ragged with panic. "It's bad—Vivian's disappeared! You need to get Adrian now. We can't waste another second!"

The words tumbled out in a breathless rush. "We've searched everywhere for hours. The damn police won't file a report until morning." A frustrated growl. "I even reached out to Margaret, but she pawned me off to the Dawsons. Those vultures wouldn't lift a finger to help."

A weighted pause. "Had to call in favors from old contacts." He omitted how the Sinclairs had coldly refused assistance, deeming Vivian unworthy of their resources. For the first time, Dominic saw his glittering social circle for what it truly was—a gilded cage of indifference.

"Five hours searching every place she might be. Her phone's dead, and now Adrian's not answering. You have to—"

"Mr. Sinclair," Ethan cut in sharply, already pivoting toward the sitting room.

He burst through the double doors, phone clutched like a lifeline. "Mr. Blackwood! Mrs. Hartley is missing!"

Adrian's head snapped up, dark brows knitting together. "What do you mean missing?" His irritation gave way to dawning alarm. Across from him, Serena's eyes glittered with barely concealed triumph. The fans had acted faster than she'd dared hope.

"Let me speak to him!" Dominic's voice crackled from the phone. Ethan passed it over, watching as the color drained from Adrian's face.

Serena blinked up innocently, her voice a delicate whisper. "I just checked the trending tags. It's all harmless chatter, really." She let her fingers trail along Adrian's sleeve. "And Vivian's always been terrible about answering her phone. Reporting her missing every time would be ridiculous, wouldn't it?"

Adrian remained frozen, his expression stormy. Serena tugged gently at his arm. "Adrian, we still have those tests... and the bloodwork. I'm terrified to go alone."

With deliberate care, Adrian disentangled himself. "Ethan, call Miranda. Both of you stay with Serena for her appointments." His jaw tightened as he strode toward the door, phone still pressed to his ear. "Dominic, start from the beginning."

The heavy oak door clicked shut behind him, leaving Serena standing alone, her manicured nails digging crescent moons into her palms. Across the room, Ethan already had his phone out, dialing with tense fingers.

Outside, the city lights blurred past the tinted windows of Adrian's waiting car, each bright point a possible clue in Vivian's disappearance. Somewhere in the glittering maze of Crestwood, time was running out.