Damian looked up at Lina, his eyes narrowing. There was something about her demeanor that felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. She was standing a little too close, her smile a little too wide.
“I’m fine,” he said, his voice cold. “Just… wondering where Aurora is.”
Lina’s smile didn’t falter. “Oh, she’ll be fine. You know, sometimes people just need a little time to themselves.”
Damian’s brows furrowed in suspicion. “She’s been gone too long for that. Where is she?”
Lina’s expression softened, and she stepped closer to him, her hand lightly brushing his arm. “Damian, you worry too much. It’s just an errand. You’ve been overprotective of her from the start. Let her handle things on her own.”
Damian didn’t respond immediately, his mind racing. The nagging feeling in his chest was growing stronger by the second. Something was wrong. He had trusted Lina’s words, but the emptiness in his gut told him to act, to do something, anything, before it was too late.
Meanwhile, Aurora sat in the van, her heart pounding in her chest. The journey had felt endless, and now she was being taken somewhere she didn’t recognize. The men had been silent for the most part, only speaking when they needed to give orders to each other. Aurora’s thoughts were a chaotic mess. She had been taken, but what did it mean? Why was she being kidnapped?
Her mind kept returning to Damian. What would he think of her? Would he believe she had run away? Was he even looking for her?
The van finally stopped, and the men pulled her out and shoved her into a dark building. The air was thick with tension as they led her through the cold corridors. Her heart raced, and every step felt like a weight dragging her down. She was terrified. The thought of never seeing Damian again, of being lost in a place she didn’t understand, made her feel small and helpless.
When they finally stopped, the men pushed her into a room with a single, dim light hanging overhead. Aurora barely had a moment to look around before the door slammed shut behind her, locking her in.
She sank to the floor, her hands still bound behind her back. Tears streamed down her face as she realized the full extent of her situation. She had no idea where she was or who was behind all of this. All she could do was pray that Damian would come for her, that he would come to find her.
Back at the mansion, Damian stood by the window, his fists clenched at his sides. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was happening. Aurora had been gone too long. His attempts to reach her had failed, and his mind was starting to piece together the puzzle.
His thoughts went to Lina, and the coldness in his gut intensified. She had been acting strangely ever since Aurora left. Damian’s instincts told him that Lina had something to do with Aurora’s disappearance.
He stormed out of his study and headed down the hall, determination in his stride. He needed answers.
Lina, meanwhile, sat in her private quarters, a wicked grin spreading across her face as she stared at her phone. She had seen the look in Damian’s eyes earlier, and it filled her with satisfaction. Damian was too attached to Aurora, and it was time to end that. The plan was set in motion. The buyer was waiting for Aurora. There would be no turning back now.
But as Lina sat there, she felt a shiver run down her spine. The door creaked open, and Damian stepped into the room. His eyes locked onto her, intense with anger and suspicion.
“What did you do to her?” Damian’s voice was low, dangerous.
Lina tried to maintain her composure, but a flicker of nervousness crossed her face. “Do to who?” she asked innocently, though her tone lacked sincerity.
“Don’t play games with me, Lina,” Damian said, stepping closer. “Where is she?”
Lina swallowed hard, but she quickly regained her composure. “I sent her out on an errand. What else could she be doing?”
Damian’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lying. I know something’s wrong. Tell me where she is, or I’ll make you.”
Lina’s grin returned, but this time, it was darker. “You’re too late, Damian. She’s already been… taken care of.”
Damian’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean ‘taken care of’?”
“I mean she’s out of your life for good,” Lina replied, her voice dripping with malice.