In the lavish halls of a botanical garden, a party is being held where a large exchange of smuggled goods is happening in the guise of a charity party.
Devon, for the first time since she became Daemon’s wife, came into the party with her husband by her side. It’s her first public appearance since she disappeared.
Everybody is looking at them weirdly as they emerged from the Porsche and gave the valet their key. They entered the venue with all the eyes on them as the guests are whispering to each other.
“Gosh, are they the people I think they are?”
“Daemon Druft and Devon Farrows? I thought she’s dead?!”
“Right, so what really happened to them?”
“So the rumors are true that both of them is still married?!”
“She’s alive all along?!”
“In fairness, they look good together!”
“Do they already have a child already?”
Devon stopped walking and looked at the woman who said that. Daemon noticed that and gently tugged at her forward. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “Eyes on the front. You’re too pretty tonight to get affected.”
Devon composed herself and smiled at him. “Thank you for reminding me.”
He playfully bit her ear. “My pleasure, wife.”
They were welcomed excitedly by the energetic tall man with spectacles in his mid-seventies who organized the event.
“Daemon Druft, it’s good to see you again.”
“My pleasure, Hendricks.”‘
Both men shake hands, the old man clearly happy to see Daemon. Devon wonders how the friend of her father got acquainted with Daemon.
“Thank you, ambassador.” Daemon snaked his hand across her waist possessively to show everyone that he is already committed and that she is already his. “Meet my lovely wife, Devon Druft.”
All his attention went into her. A hint of recognition crossed his eyes but he still stared at her just to make sure that who he’s seeing is not just a beautiful apparition.
“Darling, you look familiar.” He took a closer look at her. “Have I seen you before?”
She smiled at the most respected man of her father that she now realized is also someone Daemon looked up to. “We already met, Mr. Henderson. You visited my father frequently years ago.”
“Don’t tell me…” Henderson stole a glance at Daemon before going back at her.
“Yes, she’s Devon Farrows,” Daemon confirmed proudly.
“So it seems the years-old rumor is really true. The Farrows really married a Druft. What a twist of fate. I didn’t know this welcome development because I was abroad for half a decade already and I didn’t really realize that a time like this would actually happen.”
There is no malice in his voice, just pure fascination.
“I did and it happened. I chose him over my family,” she answered feeling so liberated by saying that.
Even though their love was really unconventional, something inside her made me stay with Daemon and chose him over her family.
His hand gripped her waist tighter, obviously touched by her words. “And I’ll always be grateful for her for taking a chance on us.”
Henderson threw out a big hearty smile for them after patting Daemon’s shoulder.
“I’m glad to hear that, kids. May you stay strong and loyal to each other because that is a rare thing in our world, children.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, sir. Come on, Devon.”
They tried to enjoy the night while keeping an eye to the man they came here for. There is a reason why we came to this specific party and that is to ask Henderson for information they badly needed.
Daemon obtained a flight log years ago about the Farrows visiting Henderson in Europe and they went cruising. They suspect that the visit is something related to Emily since Daemon learned that some of the Farrows tried to cover it up and delete the logs.
When she got the chance, Devon gestured to Daemon to take the cue to infiltrate the car of Henderson while she went to talk to the man who just got back from the inside of his gigantic house.
“Devon,” he acknowledged her when he saw the determined look on her eyes. “What’s the matter?”
“Mr. Henderson, do you know if mom and dad ever brought a child on one of your cruises with them?”
The man paused, clearly shocked by her sudden asking of that question. “Hmmm… They did one time. Why? Is she your child?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat when tears lined her ducts. That must have been Emily! She’s really alive!
“Does she look like me? Does she have eyes? Small lips?” She clenched her hands together while waiting for his answer.
And when he confirmed it, Devon could only thank god the heavens above. Her Emily is really alive!
“Hmm, I can’t remember much but looking at you now, she does look a lot like you.”
“R-Really?” She can’t help herself but to vibrate in both anticipation and relief. “Mr. Henderson, do you have any idea where she is now? Does my father mention anything to you? Where is the child you saw that time?”
Is this what she and Daemon are finally hoping for? Countless of false hopes and alarms but now, they might be on the road to seeing their daughter.
But that hope instantly vanished when the old man sighed and shook his head.
The old man stared at her in pity that Devon felt like puking at the emotion that she was able to read in his eyes. It’s the first time that a stranger like him ever gave her such sympathy.
“Is she your daughter, Devon? Come on. Tell me, child.”
It took her a few seconds to answer. His eyes were really saying something pessimistic, something that she will not be able to accept.
“Yes, she is my daughter. She is our Emily. Why?” she whispered while choking in fear.
“Then I suggest you start letting her go. Your parents won’t ever give her to you.”
“Just what do you mean by that, sir?”
Henderson shook his head again and looked at her apologetically. “You’ll find out soon, child. I won’t say enjoy your night because I know what I said will certainly not make you appreciate a second being here. excuse me, Devon.”
The old man left her minutes ago but Devon is still frozen in her feet asking herself what could he really mean by that. Something is sticking in her head but her whole system is too fast to reject it.
“No, it’s not the truth. No, no…” She looked around the cozy place and suddenly, the whole garden seemed to be closing in on her.
She frantically looked for a comfort room when the urge to throw up was really strong. She went inside the house and ran to the powder room when the tipsy sexy Maddy blocked her way.
“You had the gall to come here of all places. Why? To be flaunted by Daemon that the Farrows princess baited the Druft and has been making him run across your palms?”
But she doesn’t have the time to exchange banter with her. She needed to let out this food clogging her airway.
“Not now, Maddy. Don’t talk to me.”
She pushed her away and entered the bathroom to release all of what she’s eaten this afternoon but Maddy followed her to provoke her.
“Why? Are you that triggered?”
She looked at her from head to toe and grinned, a glow of mock on her eyes.
“You’re such a lousy mother, Devon. Remember how you lost your baby and how you were trying to find her but couldn’t?”
She gazed hard at her face. How evil is this woman to try to mock the mother of the child she’s taken away from her?!
For sure Maddy has a reason why she didn’t tell her parents that they are both already aware that they were in conspiracy of Emily’s kidnapping. This woman is cooking something but despite wanting to really tear her face, she needs first to take care of her ventilating emotion.
“Stop talking already! Get out of my way!”
“I won’t! You have to be always reminded every day of every night of your negligence!”
“I said stop talking already if you don’t want me to kill you!” she burst out angrily.