Chapter 4 - Vanished Traces and Unanswered Questions

As the gentle banter faded, Eva's attention was drawn to her phone, which buzzed discreetly in her hand. Her fingers navigated through the notifications, and her brow furrowed slightly as she processed the information on the screen. A complicated expression, a mix of surprise and mild relief, settled on her face. She looked up at Aria, a new light dawning in her eyes. "Aria," she began, her voice tentative, "maybe whatever we saw yesterday online was a misunderstanding, you know?" She paused, allowing the implication to sink in before continuing, "All the articles have vanished from the internet." A spark of something akin to hope flickered in Aria's eyes. A small, almost imperceptible warmth spread through her chest. She didn't voice her thoughts, simply offering a slight nod, her hand instinctively reaching for her own phone. Her fingers quickly unlocked the screen, her gaze scanning for any new messages or missed calls. Her heart held a quiet, unspoken expectation – a call, a text, any form of communication from Julian. But the screen remained stubbornly blank. The silence from Julian's end was deafening, a stark contrast to the sudden disappearance of the online buzz. Meanwhile, at the grandpa's birthday banquet, the festive atmosphere seemed to dim for Julian. He sought out Dominic, his voice betraying a hint of frustration and concern. "Dom, where is Aria? Why didn't she come to Grandpa's birthday banquet?" Dominic, ever the professional, quickly checked his records and contacts. "Sir," he replied, his tone formal and regretful, "I have no idea. She hasn't contacted me since she left her apartment to attend the banquet." The news only deepened Julian's growing unease. The missing articles, Aria's puzzling absence – a disquieting puzzle was beginning to form, leaving Julian with more questions than answers.