The employee offered an uncomfortable smile before hastily inventing a reason to depart.
Alayna gazed softly at Sebastian, her tone gentle. "Is everything alright, Sebastian?"
He couldn't even articulate what was wrong. The only thought consuming him was escape. He needed to get away from there. He needed to see her.
He rose abruptly, dismissing her concern. "It's nothing. Let's leave."
For the first time ever, he didn't wait for Alayna to follow. She hurried after him, struggling to match his pace.
Inside the car, she continuously snapped selfies flaunting the ring, inundating her social media with images and status updates. Each shutter sound grated on his nerves.
She used to do that too. Whenever he gave her a dress, she'd spend excessive time perfecting her appearance, capturing countless photos to share online for days. If he presented her with a simple trinket, she'd immediately attach it to her handbag, proudly displaying it everywhere, overwhelming her friends with constant posts.
He used to find it irritating. Yet he never blocked her.
Automatically, he unlocked his phone and began scrolling through her feed.
Blank.
Not a single update.
Frowning, he tapped into her full profile. The familiar lavender background had vanished, replaced by a stark, black night sky. Her activity history was completely empty. But what truly seized his attention was the prominent icon in the center – a broken connection.
She had removed him.
No. That couldn't be.
He switched to their chat and attempted to send a message:
[Alayna, you actually deleted me? Have you completely lost your senses?!]
The message failed to deliver. A glaring red exclamation point stared back at him.
His fingers froze mid-air. The unease he believed he'd controlled came surging back violently.
Alayna leaned closer. "Sebastian, we're home. What's troubling you?"
He looked up. The house stood dark. Only the faint illumination from exterior street lamps provided any light.
Where was she?
He exited the vehicle.
Alayna rushed after him, but he turned sharply, his tone cutting. "Go to The Grandview." The Grandview – one of the upscale residential complexes under his ownership.
Alayna stiffened, staring at him in bewilderment. "But it's so late... why—?"
Sebastian didn't allow her to finish. With a swift gesture, he directed the driver to take her away.
Tears instantly brimmed in her eyes. "Sebastian... did I do something to upset you?"
No. She hadn't. He simply couldn't let her see Alayna.
His gaze fell to the antique ring still sparkling on her finger. "Remove it."
Alayna gasped, protectively clutching her hand. "But you just purchased this for me!"
"Don't force me to repeat myself," he stated, his voice dangerously low and icy.
She bit her lip, fighting back tears as she unwillingly slid the ring off and returned it to its case.
He took it without another word and strode into the house.
The living room was unnervingly silent. Even the nightlight she always kept illuminated for him was extinguished.
His stomach clenched. He snapped the light switch on with a sharp click.
Vacant.
She always waited up for him, regardless of the hour. If exhaustion overcame her, she'd doze off on the sofa. His chest constricted tightly.
"Alayna!" he called out.
No response.
This was unprecedented. Normally, the instant he crossed the threshold, she came rushing to greet him.
Heart hammering, he dashed upstairs, gripping the ring box like it was his only anchor.
Perhaps she was merely fatigued and had retired to bed. But the master suite stood empty.
—
Not only that, every indication of her presence had been erased.
He suddenly recalled how, at Alayna's insistence, he'd relocated her from the master bedroom. So perhaps... she had transferred all her belongings to the guest room.
Yes. That must be it.
He nearly sprinted across the hallway, throwing open the guest room door.
Empty. The bed remained completely untouched.
He jerked the closet open. Nothing.
Her luggage was gone. Even that whimsical little decoration she cherished had disappeared.
His breathing grew ragged. In the dead of night, he summoned all the household staff back to the residence.