“Don’t be sorry. I’m happy to have you in my life. I think I’ll hit the bed now. I’m not hungry.” Skylar released him, realizing his need for privacy. He got up and went inside to sleep while she sat thinking about what he had told her.
His admission tonight cleared a lot of doubts she had about him. It answered most of her questions, too. She felt a little foolish for fighting him unnecessarily when he always cared for her. All along, he was there right before her, yet she couldn’t recognize the depth of his feelings for her.
Did he love her? Or was it just an obsession to snatch what was forbidden for him?
That was a question she didn’t have an answer to.
The flight attendant arrived to seek her permission to serve dinner, but she declined. With Christian skipping dinner, her appetite too left her.
After a few minutes, she got up with a sigh. There wasn’t anything she could do until they reached Cleveland and received an update on Sebastian. However, in her heart, she was glad that she was marrying Christian and not his brother. Sebastian seemed too disturbed, and she didn’t like him much. He was the stark opposite of what Christian was in every sphere.
Skylar entered the dimly lit room and her glance went to the bed. She saw Christian lying on his chest with his face in the pillow. Was he crying? She tiptoed to the washroom without disturbing him. Maybe he wouldn’t want her to witness his moment of weakness.
Later, when she emerged, she noticed he had turned his back towards her to sleep. Skylar lay down on her side as a warm feeling washed over her. The wish to pull him into her arms was so strong that she had a tough time controlling herself. What if he rejected her advances? Sighing, she closed her eyes at last wondering what lay ahead of them.
They reached Cleveland early in the morning, but it was still dark since Ohio was almost 6 hours behind. Christian collected their luggage and led her outside. They saw Caleb waiting outside the terminal for them.
He hugged Skylar and Christian briefly, helping them with the luggage. The grim look on his face was enough to tell them that Sebastian wasn’t found yet.
“Any news of Seb?” asked Christian with a sigh as they walked down to the parking area.
“No. The cops have located Uncle Sylvester’s car near a hospital, 25 miles away from the church.” Christian’s heart constricted with fear at the news. Was his brother admitted there?
“Who’s Uncle Sylvester?” asked Skylar, hearing the name for the first time.
“He’s Erica’s uncle.”
“Have they searched the hospital? Seb could be admitted there under a fake name.”
“No, Sebastian isn’t admitted there.”
“Maybe Uncle Sylvester dumped his car and escaped with Sebastian somewhere,” suggested Skylar.
“It’s not so easy. Seb knows self defense. It’s impossible for one man to abduct him,” said Christian, deep in thought. They reached Caleb’s car and loaded the luggage. Everything led to a dead-end.
“Let’s see what the cops can come up with tomorrow morning,” said Caleb and they drove towards his house.
“Erica is shattered. She couldn’t cope with it.”
“It is quite natural. I just hope we rescue Sebastian soon.”
They reached Caleb’s house, and Lillian opened the door for them. Christian hugged her close while she wept like a baby in his arms. Grandpa Ben, too, had tears in his eyes. Skylar’s grandparents hugged her and ushered her inside.
“Do you want coffee?” asked Lillian, wiping her tears away.
“Yes. I need it badly,” said Christian.
“Me too,” said Skylar.
They sat down at the table to discuss the case. Erica didn’t emerge from her room and they didn’t disturb her.
“I wish I could get hold of Uncle Sylvester. I could have killed him for harming Seb,” swore Christian, but Grandpa Ben shook his head.
“I don’t think Sylvester is involved in this. Looks maybe deceiving, Chris. Lillian received a distressed message from Seb on his wedding day.”
“If not Uncle Sylvester, then who?” asked Christian. Lillian came into the room with coffee and breakfast.
“I don’t know, but Sylvester isn’t that shrewd to capture Seb. He can easily outwit Sylvester. I think a more powerful criminal is involved here. Lillian, show him the message you received.” Lillian showed him the message that Sebastian had sent her last on his wedding day.
Someone is following me.
“Who could it be?” asked Skylar, frowning at the message. “If Uncle Sylvester was with him in the car, then maybe someone else is involved in the kidnapping.”
“We have no enmity against anyone. Why would someone be after Seb?” asked Christian.
“You never know what people can do for money,” said Grandpa Phil.
“Then I’m at an equal risk, maybe,” said Christian while Skylar’s heart constricted with fear. She just hoped things weren’t so complex.
“You should be careful too, Chris,” said granny Miriam.
“Yes, in fact, all of us should exercise caution. We don’t know the motive behind the kidnapping. There has been no ransom call so far,” said Grandpa Ben.
“Maybe this isn’t for money,” said Lillian with a sigh. “Anyway, let’s get on with our breakfast before it turns cold. I have to prepare breakfast for the kids before they wake up.”
The delicious smell of scrambled eggs made everyone’s mouth water. Skylar noticed Christian already tucking into the food and smiled with relief. He was too upset to have his dinner last night, but after uniting with his family, it was good to see him calm down. She tucked into the food and asked Lilian about the children.
“They’re still sleeping. When they wake up, they’ll be so thrilled to see you both here,” said Lillian.
Erica came out of the room and smiled at them awkwardly. “Sorry, I slept late last night.”
“That’s okay, Erica. Meet my brother Christian and his fiancee, Skylar. She is Caleb’s sister,” said Lillian.
“Hello! I’ve heard so much about you both from Sebastian,” she said with a sad smile.
“Hello, Erica! We’ve talked on the phone, but we’re meeting one another for the first time,” said Christian.
“Yes.”
“Hi! Please join us,” said Skylar. Erica nodded and joined them at the table.
They finished breakfast while discussing the plans for the day. Christian wanted to talk to the cops and take an update on the case. Caleb had to report to the hospital after a leave of three days.
“I will come along too, Grandpa Ben, please,” said Erica.
“Fine, but brace yourself for the worst, dear.” It brought tears to Erica’s eyes as she tried to look normal. She nodded and stuck to her decision of going to the police station.
After breakfast, Christian went to their room to shower and get ready to go out. Skylar helped Lillian with the kids, who were thrilled to see her. Lillian had taken leave from the hospital and they both handled the household chores. After two hours, Grandpa Ben, Christian, and Erica left for the police station.
“I wish they find Seb soon. This time I know he hasn’t gone into hiding. Else he wouldn’t have messaged me. It was actually an SOS. If I had contacted the cops then, he would have been safe and with us.”
“You didn’t know it then, right? If he would have asked you to seek police help, it would have been a different matter. His message wasn’t clear either,” consoled Skylar.
“Yes, you’re right.”
For the next few days, the investigation continued, yet the cops didn’t find a breakthrough. It seemed Sebastian and Erica’s uncle had vanished overnight into thin air. Christian was too upset and went into a shell. He hardly connected with Skylar like the way they used to. They still slept in the same room, but a huge invisible wall had built up between them. It seemed the beautiful moments they shared earlier were just a figment of her imagination.
The circumstances were grim, and no one asked them about their wedding plans. In fact, Christian too hardly acknowledged her presence most of the time. It hurt Skylar, although she knew his behavior shouldn’t affect her. She didn’t love him after all. Then why did his behavior break her heart?
Erica stopped visiting the police station and stayed locked up in her room. With both her uncle and Sebastian missing, she had no one else in the world but them. Lillian took a longer break since she was too disturbed to work.
A fortnight passed by and yet they had no clue about Sebastian and Erica’s uncle.
“I’ll sleep early, Lillian. I’m not feeling well,” said Grandpa Ben, getting up from the dining table to retire to his room.
“What happened, grandpa? I’ll come over to check you up,” said Lilian. However, Grandpa Ben seemed to be in a hurry to leave and hardly heard her. Lillian tucked the children to bed and went over to his room to check him up. She could hear hushed whispers from his room. Grandpa Ben was talking to someone over the phone.
“I know you have Sebastian with you, Steele. Let him go. This is between you and me.”