MASSILO P.O.V
FEW DAYS LATER
My belongings were taken into the airport by my maids while i alighted from the car with Xavier at the door, bowing with utmost respect.There was a long lane of GLE cars of the same model parked behind mine which seemed to be own by my bodyguards, showing off a more affluent VVIP arrival.
"Mr Massilo! Leaving Ontario makes you look like a loser,i'm sorry to say this,but the people might think you are only being a coward" Xavier exud-icated, shutting the door behind me as i stood to get rid of every memories of the things that had happened.I lost my opportunity and gave it up to my younger sister,i own nothing order than vanity striving deep into a long time regret that had forced me to travel somewhere far just to clear my head for some while before gaining back what i lost.
"I'd rather be a coward now and get what i want than staying to receive more humiliation and drown in my own regret" I replied,taking in a sharp deep breath.
"What about Mrs Agnes?"
"Our marriage has been registered,so there's nothing to worry about,Mrs Agnes is on my side"
"She holds a grudge against you"
"i have to leave for the earliest flight to Kentucky" I left for the building ahead,making him to do most of the arrangement of my luggages and I later came to a sudden stop at the check-in area.
Mr Denice appeared at a distance,so smart in a black Laurel designer suit,and the tie had the fasco logo over its knot which showed his type of motive.Secretive and adventurous as if he wanted to know the end of the world.
"Mr Denice!" I called for his presence and waited patiently for him to approach me before saying, "Do you intend to come along just for a proper investigation.You shouldn't think much of the situation,I'd make sure I take good care of everything.Besides,keep a close watch on Briann,don't let anyone lay a finger on her till I'm back"
"But sir..."
"I know what you think.Don't get so worked up,I need her safe in order to find out about those true faces she managed to hide for so long" I chimed in before he could complete his statement.
"What do you mean? She was only a fake cook at your house for a few days and there was no evidence that told any other side of her" He cornered cautiously.
"I hope so.My mind kept telling me a different truth,it would be so much better if she doesn't turn out to be someone else" A deep sigh escaped me so drastically which drove me into regret and took me back to the beginning.
FLASHBACK
In the dark,i was busy with so many guests that i didn't notice Mrs Mason
by my side,she kept drinking and drinking from a goblet until i turned to leave while trying as much as possible not to bump into any other guest.
"You must be tired" She finally soothe,following me behind when i dawdled down to the resort close to the hall.
"You know how much i disapprove this wedding,but your dad still went ahead and made the wedding possible"
"Mom !! you should know you are
really bad at beating around the
bush" I snatched the goblet from her tight grip and dropped it over a table just to stop her from drinking.
"What's wrong today?"
"Nothing,I well..." She paused,sniffing back her tears and looked away from my worried gaze. "why am I crying" Her eyes could tell how lonely she was feeling.She cleared her throat,about to walk away but I held her back,giving her a close-fitted hug. "I feel so unhappy seeing you marry Adrienno's daughter.What if you find out about her flaws later in the future"
"what do you mean.Sua is the best I can ever have.Though dad made the right choice"
"She might not love you the way you expected.If you eventually realize she's gay,will you still accept her?"
"What are you trying to say? gay!!! That's ridiculous.Sua isn't the type of girl,she's only into..."
"I know,metaphor!" She chuckled nervously while trying so much to hide her fears.
"Oh mom...you almost scared the life out of me,don't make such ridicule anymore" I bursted into laughter, disengaged from the hug so I could see the expression on her face before leaving in order to meet prosecutor Nicole.I stretched my hand forward for an handshake.
"Long time no see,Mr Massilo.It's good to see you again.I won't be offended at the way you stop picking up my calls"
"Well...During those days,I went to Germany for a case and I've been busy traveling places.Don't be too offended.I didn't mean to..." He began to stutter.
My gaze immediately went to mom who was busy trying to sneak someone into a white car. "I couldn't just decline your wedding invitation,so I decided to attend"
"You are in Ontario for the main time?" I asked,still staring at mom while wondering who she could have taken away.The dimmed moon light revealed a lady's side view inside the car,but i was unable to detect the exact person and the car zoomed off.
"I would be leaving for Poland tomorrow noon,we only get to meet eachother few times,i wish you a happy marriage life"
"I hope we meet again somewhere better,i'm sorry but i'd have to leave" I ran back to the hall,thinking about sua's whereabout.And then a great crash was heard,it was like a great metal speed had collided with one of the trees in the woods which grabbed the guests attention with terrors into their instinct as i ran out and shuffled inside my Limo,driving away all alone,my guts kept telling me Sua was in danger so i increased the level of my speed.Oh my god.
The driver,a brave soul was thrown from the car and was nowhere to be seen,screeching tires and the shattering of glass shattered the serenity of the night.With a heavy heart,I alighted,rushing to the accident that left an incredible mark on I who witnessed it.
The fragility of life had been laid bare with a stark stigma that in a blink of an eye everything can be lost.And i looked into the dark ahead which seemed convincing, but it could also hold unforeseen dangers,lurking around every turn while light slowly peeked over some strange bloody footprints leading down to a valley of anxiety and i found Briann's phone buried in the sand,laying patiently for its owner's arrival.
I picked it up,traced the foot-prints closely until it came to a stop by a lake, leading me in total confusion.She would be somewhere nearby, but where! i don't get it.My gaze flickered around in case I find her anywhere but there was nothing to see than darkness and I heard my phone ringing endlessly in my pocket,cleared my throat before picking up.
"Hello??"
"Sua has gone missing,we need your attention right now" I heard mom spoke on the phone.
"I thought you knew about this,you are the reason she got into an accident"
"What do you mean?"
"Come alone to the woods" The call ended and i leaned against a pine tree just to go through Briann's phone.
END OF FLASHBACK.
I got to Kentucky so late, at dawn, every passenger in the plane alighted as my entrance was so much enlightened.
Workers bowed in long lanes,watching me walk amidst them and headed into the airport,not so different from the way i was treated at ontario,the walkway was already freed for my entering,making my presence like a president ground entrance.
I didn't bother to stop by any place rather than the garage while Xavier left to bring my luggages along from the baggage checkpoint except Mr Denice who followed me close with my bodyguards waiting at the exit.
I ignored how my appearance grabbed everyone's attention and felt highly recognized when the staff attendants came bowing so low with utmost respect till I was out of their sight.
"Finding Sua was my only priority and I'm not losing such opportunity"
"You should have left it all for me to handle" Mr Denice responded.
"I can't let anything to get complicated.Sua can't hide from me forever" We shuffled into a car and Xavier was busy putting all luggages into the car trunk before the driver drove away in great speed and later came to a stop at the kentucky chicken restaurant and bar, it was different from those at ontario.
There was a dangling sculpture of a vodka over the rooftop with the name crested as light on the double-bandlow,exposing the gigantic blue chandelier from the inside.I could feel the vibe of the party going on and i wanted to attend.
Though,i couldn't because i own greater possessions and mustn't be seen throwing away my dignity at a low-class bar filled with incompetent people.My gaze suddenly caught a young lady just like whom we seek,she had her hair red,looking so much retched than i expected,her dressing showed the kind of life she chose to live and i saw how men called for her attention at lots of tables,they treated her as a slut while most of them kept paying money just to have her for their sexual pleasures which gave me anger and i decided to go inside with my men following closely.
"Do you think it's right for you to just walk in and create a fuss,.These men are nothing compared to us" Xavier said,trying to stay behind while i approached one of those men at the fifth table and threw a punch at him before pulling her away from their grip.
"Who the hell are you? And how dare you touch my toy" He stammered with fury,getting up to face me.
"Why don't you wait till it reaches you and you shall be able to play with it"
"It? She isn't a toy!" My words brought surprise on her face when she noticed i was defending her rights. "I shall...i'm a detective and y'all would be charged to court for harassment.I'm pretty sure that this is an illegal site" Mr Denice chimed in before i could say another word.
"We are here for her and i know this place is illegally nested,so if you don't let her go this instant,i shall make sure this place get shut down and it won't be nice putting thirty men in jail"
"Fuck! You better don't try anything stupid next time" He relent on his chair immediately he gave those closeby the look that said:
Let them go.
"Are you alright,Sua!!?" I asked,pulling her into a close-fitted hug.I wasn't still satisfied by the way i found her so easy,there was something strange happening as i heard her heart racing fast and she was trembling,trying to disengage from the hug. " I could not stop thinking about you ever since you went missing on our wedding day,you made me go crazy to see you once more"
"What do you mean?" She stuttered, nervously.
"Don't leave me again please"
"I'm sorry,but i have to go" She
ran into a dark underground basement.
The basement reeked of dust and old stone, the kind of place where shadows clung stubbornly to the walls. My shoes struck the floor hard, each echo chased her just as I did. I could hear her.Her breath was sharp, desperate, her steps uneven as she ran from me.
Why?
My chest burned, but I didn't stop.I couldn't.Not with her slipping farther away with every turn she took.Mr Denice voice barked behind me, urging me forward,while Xavier's hurried steps trailed close,but I barely registered them.My eyes were fixed only on her silhouette,just beyond reach,fluttering like a ghost at the edge of the flickering light.
"Stop!" I called,though the word cracked with a force I hadn't meant.It wasn't command I wanted,it was her to just turn,to face me.But she didn't even falter.Her hand lifted the hem of her dress as she vanished down another passage, her hair kept whipping behind her like a streak of rebellion.
I pushed harder.The corridor narrowed.But then,there was a door, half-hidden behind crates.Something in me knew she had gone that way.I shoved it open,the hinges groaning in protest, and cold air rushed into my lungs. Stairs. An underground garage spread below, wide,hollow,and endless.
For a moment, hope surged. This was it. She couldn't have gone far.
But when my eyes swept the shadows, there was nothing. Only the fading echo of footsteps dissolving into the emptiness. She was gone, swallowed whole by the dark.
Xavier caught up,panting,his glasses slipping down his nose.Mr Denice cursed under his breath, frustration was thick in the air. I just stood there, one hand braced against the cold metal door, staring into that vast nothingness where she had been. My jaw locked, my throat tight.
She had escaped me again.
And for the first time, I wondered if I was meant to catch her at all.I lingered in the underground garage,my heart hammered,staring into shadows that refused to give her back. My chest felt hollow, my pulse was echoing in the silence. She was gone,i had lost her.
But then…a sound.
A faint hum,too smooth to belong in this dead, empty place.An engine, low and controlled.My head snapped toward the far exit ramp,where dim light filtered down from the street above.I moved, almost on instinct, my footsteps was quick and quiet now,not the frantic thunder they had been before.
I slipped out onto the street beyond the garage. The night air hit sharp against my skin, cool with the scent of rain that hadn't fallen yet. That was when I saw her just across from a quiet restaurant,tucked half in shadow.
A black van, sleek and tinted, the kind you'd pass by without thinking if you weren't looking for her.But I was.
The sliding door cracked open, and there she was. My heart stilled. She glanced over her shoulder once, as if checking if I had followed.Her face was pale in the glow of a streetlamp which was carved with determination, not fear. She stepped inside without hesitation, vanishing behind those darkened windows.
My feet froze, but my blood roared. She wasn't running blindly. She had somewhere to go. Someone waiting for her.
The engine's growl deepened. The tinted window nearest me lowered, just an inch enough.My breath caught.
Because I saw him.
My father.
Sitting in that van.Calm.And i couldn't stop watching with the kind of gaze that made the world tilt beneath my feet. His expression was unreadable,but his presence turned my stomach to ice.
The door shut. The engine purred louder. And before I could take a step, the van melted into the night, leaving me on the curb with questions that clawed at my ribs and the aching knowledge that she had been meeting him.
Or worse—that he met her.