Chapter 6

DAVE’S POV

I wrapped up the meeting as quickly as I could. Glancing at the time, I knew I could still make it to mine and Neah’s anniversary celebration. I was about to leave when Monica, my secretary, suddenly blocked my way.

“Sir, you can’t leave yet. Your car tire blew out.”

“What?” I asked in disbelief. I ran a hand down my face in frustration. Why now? Why did this have to happen when I was in such a hurry?

“How did that even happen? I just had my car checked last week. The tires were replaced too,” I asked, confused, even though I knew Monica couldn’t possibly have the answer when we had both been inside the conference room the entire time.

“I don’t know either, sir.” I let out a deep sigh.

“Book a car,” I ordered. I reached into my suit and pants pockets for my phone, but it wasn’t there. “Where’s my phone?” I asked, turning to Monica. She immediately pulled my phone out of her bag and handed it to me. I checked to see if Neah had sent a message or called, but there was nothing. She was probably still waiting for me at the restaurant.

I knew the restaurant closed at 10:00 PM, so I could still make it. There was still an hour left before closing. I was about to call Neah when my phone suddenly died. I frowned immediately because I was certain it had battery before we left the house.

“Why is my phone dead? What happened?” I asked Monica. She usually handled my phone whenever I was in meetings.

“I don’t know, sir. Maybe you forgot to charge it?”

“No. That’s impossible because I charged it before my wife and I left the house.” I shook my head. There was no way my phone could have died that quickly. “Give me your phone. I’ll call my wife.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but my phone’s dead too.”

“What?” I snapped, my brows furrowing. I couldn’t stop the irritation building inside me anymore. Why did everything have to go wrong tonight of all nights?

“How are you supposed to book me a car then?” The annoyance in my voice was obvious now.

“Please stay here, sir. I’ll try to find one outside. Don’t leave, okay?” I sighed heavily again. There was barely anyone left in the company building since the employees had gone home hours ago. And finding transportation around this area was difficult because most rides needed to be booked beforehand.

I wanted to call Neah. I promised her I would come back, and I knew she would wait for me. But I had no phone to use. Why did bad luck keep hitting me one after another tonight?

I waited for Monica to return, but several minutes had already passed and she still wasn’t back. Eventually, I walked outside the building myself to wait for a taxi along the highway.

“Sir, why did you follow me out here?” Monica asked when she saw me approach her. “I was already looking for a taxi for you.”

Cars kept passing by, but none of them were available.

“Still nothing?” I asked.

“None yet, sir.”

Why were there no available taxis when so many were driving past us? A few seconds later, a taxi finally pulled over in front of us. I quickly climbed inside, only to frown when Monica got into the front passenger seat as well.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll take you there myself, sir. It’s hard to find a ride around here, so I’ll just take this taxi later as well.” I decided to let her do what she wanted. Right now, the only thing that mattered to me was getting back to the restaurant and making it back to Neah.

I didn’t want to break the trust she had finally given me again. I was exhausted from the entire day. Sleepiness was starting to creep in too because I’d only gotten two hours of sleep since last night. I stared out the window, feeling like the taxi was moving unbearably slow. Why was it taking us so long to get there?

“Sir, are you still going to the restaurant?” Monica suddenly asked. “Ma’am Neah already left. Someone I know who works there said she left a while ago.” I turned toward Monica at what she said. She left? She told me she would wait for me. I checked the time. 9:15 PM. More than an hour had already passed since I left. Was it possible she left shortly after I did? Did she really not trust me anymore when I said I’d come back? I tried to finish the meeting as quickly as possible just to return to her. But I couldn’t blame her for not believing me anymore. Because of me. Because of my greed. Because of my ambitions. I neglected both her and our unborn child.

If I hadn’t been so consumed by work, maybe our baby would still be with us right now. I was only doing all of this for our future. To give them a good life. To buy Neah anything she wanted without even needing to look at the price tag because I could afford it for her.

“Sir? Sir!” I snapped back to reality when Monica called me repeatedly. “Are we still going to the restaurant, or are we heading home?” she asked.

What was the point of going to the restaurant if Neah wasn’t there anymore?

“Let’s go home,” I answered tiredly. I already knew this was my fault again. I gave her hope again. I broke another simple promise I made to her—that I would come back. I leaned my head against the window, wondering how I was supposed to explain myself to her this time.

When I arrived home, my heart was pounding hard against my chest. I scanned the living room, but she wasn’t there. Was she already in our room? Was she asleep? How was I supposed to make it up to her again? I dragged a hand down my face in frustration.

I headed straight to our bedroom and slowly opened the door, but the moment I stepped inside, my brows knitted together. Neah wasn’t there.

“Neah? Where are you?” I called out. I knocked on the bathroom door and opened it, but it was empty too. I searched the entire house, but I couldn’t find her anywhere.

Had she still not come home? Monica said Neah had already left the restaurant. Was it possible she got stuck in traffic? I searched for my phone so I could charge it, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath as I realized I had probably left it with Monica again. I rubbed my forehead tiredly. With so many things on my mind, I’d started forgetting things easily. I often left my phone with Monica. I trusted my secretary, so I was never really worried whenever my things ended up with her. Most of the time, it was my own fault anyway.

And now, when I desperately needed my phone…That was exactly when I forgot to take it back.

I waited for Neah in the living room. I kept telling myself she would arrive any minute now. But the entire night passed—

And she never came home.