Diana couldn’t hold back her frustration. “You have the nerve to ask that? Didn’t she leave with you last night? Maybe you should be the one answering that question.”
Bianca gently tugged Diana’s sleeve, signaling her to stop.
Her eyes turned cold as she looked at Michael. “I called my agency and her contacts. No one has heard from her. I’m heading to her place to check. You’re in my way. Step aside and stop wasting my time.”
Michael hesitated for a moment before quickly offering, “I’ll come with you.”
Before Bianca could refuse, Dave approached. His expression remained calm.
“I’ve sent my men to investigate. They should have updates soon. I need to leave now for business,” he said smoothly.
Bianca’s tone was sharp. “Then you should stay and wait for their report instead of following me. There’s no need for you to come.”
She gave Dave a quick glance before brushing past Michael without another word.
Dave’s brows furrowed slightly as he watched her walk away.
Once outside the club, Bianca and Diana parted ways.
Bianca headed to Sophia’s residence to check if she was home.
While Diana had work waiting for her at the agency.
After Diana left, Bianca stood by the roadside, waiting for a taxi.
Just then, a sleek black sports car pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing Michael.
“Get in,” he said.
Bianca ignored him and walked away, continuing to wave for a taxi.
Michael sighed and reversed to where she moved. “Stop wasting time. I’ll drive fast. Just get in.”
Bianca tried to hold back her anger, but Michael refused to back down.
Realizing that finding Sophia was the priority, she sighed and opened the car door, slipping in without another word.
Michael didn’t waste a second. The moment she buckled her seatbelt, he hit the gas and sped off.
From the passenger seat, Bianca glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
She hesitated, then gathered her courage. “Mr. Hayes,” she asked in a firm tone. “I have a few questions. I hope you’ll be honest with me.”
Michael kept his eyes on the road. “Okay, what do you want to know?” he asked casually.
“When you left last night, where did you take Sophia? Did anything happen between you two? And when did you realize she was missing?”
Michael’s expression darkened. He was nervous at her questions.
“Are you seriously interrogating me now?” he asked firmly.
“Of course, I am,” Bianca shot back. “Why wouldn’t I? She disappeared right after leaving with you. And as her agent, I have every right to be concerned.”
Michael’s grip tightened on the steering wheel.
Regret gnawed at him. He hated himself for what had happened last night.
He had lost control. He had forced himself on Sophia.
That wasn’t who he was. But now, it was too late.
It wasn’t like him. But when he confronted Sophia, he lost control, as if all logic had disappeared.
Afterward, when he held her, he realized her body was cold.
He had apologized over and over as he cleaned her up in the bath.
But Sophia never responded. She just stared blankly into space.
Looking back, her silence had been strange.
Yet, at the time, he had convinced himself she was just angry and didn’t want to talk to him.
After the bath, he carried Sophia to the bed and tucked her in. Strangely, she closed her eyes the moment she lay down.
He had climbed in beside her and soon fell asleep.
By morning, she was gone. He had no idea when she left or where she had gone.
“Watch out! Red light!”
Bianca’s sharp voice yanked Michael out of his thoughts.
He had been so lost in his thoughts that he forgot he was driving.
At the sight of a motorcycle in front of them, he suddenly slammed the brakes.
The sudden stop jerked Bianca forward. Luckily her seatbelt held her back before she was thrown back hard against the seat.
“Can’t you drive properly? Did you steal your driver’s license?!” the motorcyclist shouted before speeding off.
Michael gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. Cold sweat dotted his forehead as he panted heavily.
“Are you okay?” Bianca’s voice shook. She was badly shaken. Her heart pounded, and she placed a hand on her chest, trying to steady her breath. Michael even looked so distressed that she couldn’t help but ask.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he muttered, taking a deep breath. When the light turned green, he drove off, this time much more carefully.
Bianca was so rattled that she remained silent for the rest of the ride.
Before long, they arrived at an apartment building. Michael skillfully pulled into a parking spot and turned off the engine.
Bianca stepped out of the car immediately and headed straight to Sophia’s apartment.
Michael followed, his heartbeat so loud it echoed in his ears.
Bianca reached the door and pressed the doorbell.
After a moment, the door opened.
Sophia’s babysitter looked surprised. “Miss Scott, what brings you here?”
“Is Sophia home?” Bianca asked urgently.
The babysitter shook her head. “She hasn’t come home. She called last night to say she wouldn’t be back.”
Sophia hadn’t gone home or to the company. She hadn’t contacted anyone, and her phone was still off.
Where could she be?
A troubling thought crept into Bianca’s mind. Had something happened to her?
The babysitter’s eyes shifted to the man standing behind Bianca. She gave him a quick glance, sensing something familiar about him.
“I see. Thank you,” Bianca said.
Just as Bianca turned to leave, a young girl’s voice called out.
“Aunt Bianca!”
Elaine ran out of the room and threw herself into Bianca’s arms.
Michael was caught off guard, and instinctively took two steps back. His eyes widened as he stared at the little girl in shock.
It was his first time seeing her.
She was his-his biological daughter.
He stood frozen for a while, unable to process the reality before him.
Elaine was happy to see Bianca but couldn’t hide her frustration. “I haven’t seen you for so long. Did you forget about me?”
Bianca’s heart softened with guilt. “No, honey, I haven’t,” she said gently, tapping the tip of Elaine’s nose. “Work has kept me busy, and I haven’t had time to visit. I’m so sorry.”
“Then play with me today if you really mean that!” Elaine beamed. “Let’s go to the amusement park!”
“Today?” Bianca hesitated. She couldn’t tell Elaine that Sophia was missing.