Mag-log inSelene’s POV. "M…u…m," I sniffled into her shoulder. She guided me into the living room, and we sat on a long sofa. She walked into the kitchen and handed me a napkin and a glass of water. "Here, honey,” she said, her brows furrowed. I took it from her and wiped my face, then took a sip of water and placed the glass carefully on the table. Mother stared at me wide-eyed. “What’s the problem, Selene? Talk to me.” My lips parted to speak, but then I remembered. And the tears came spilling out again. Mother leaned backward, alarmed. “Selene, you are scaring me now. What’s wrong?” I reached into my bag and brought out the piece of paper the doctor had given to me earlier. Her eye narrowed as she slowly took it from me. I watched her unfold it like it was a bomb that might explode. She raised the piece of paper to her eye level and squinted. Her eyes slowly widened even more. Her lips hung agape. “Selene!” She muttered, "This is good news.” I shook my head. “No, Mother, you wo
Selene’s POV. I sat in the waiting room, clutching my bag a little too tightly. I just had to be sure. Waves of emotions surged through me on that seat. To my left, a pregnant woman sat calmly with her husband next to her. Her palm was carefully folded into his. I looked away. To the side a little boy sat moving an action figure in the air. My leg bobbed. I wiped away a drop of sweat from my forehead. "Ma'am," the rose-cheeked nurse said, pointing to me. “You may come in now." I wiped my palm over my gown and walked into the small room. I closed the door quietly behind me. I hadn’t been to one of these rooms in a long time. My nose tingled from the smell. White walls.A desk.An examination bed tucked neatly into one corner.The nurse offered me a reassuring smile.“Have a seat, please.”I did.She asked me a few routine questions. The date of my last period. Whether I had been feeling nauseous. Dizzy. More tired than usual.I answered each one softly, my voice sounding st
Rowland’s POV. I sat watching the building. My fingers tightened around the wheel. What business could Tom possibly have in a place like this? I wasn’t meant to be doing this. I should tell the police. But they seemed to be taking their time. My secretary had walked in this morning to inform me that a delivery driver had walked into my office that morning insisting he’d seen Tom near this abandoned block.What I came here for, I don’t know. I leaned forward and squinted when a teenager walked out of the building. He glanced around before placing his hoody over his head and walking away. He kept one hand buried in the pocket of his hoodie as if protecting something.I shook my head. “Maybe I should go back. Call the police.” ‘No!’ I glanced at my phone, still no text from Selene. I wasn’t going to text her. I didn’t want to be where I wasn’t needed. My hand hovered over my phone.One call.That’s all it would take.The investigators would tell me to wait.Secure the area.Sta
Selene’s POV. “Ma’am!”I froze. “Maam?” Closer this time. I spun around. A teenage grocery employee stops a few feet from me. Holding a note, smiling awkwardly. “You forgot your change, ma'am." “Oh?” I laughed. How embarrassing. “My change?” I blinked.The tension left my body all at once.He nodded. “Yes, ma'am." “Oh.”Heat crept up my neck.“Thank you. I’m… sorry.” I took it from him and fumbled for my actual keys. The young boy turned around and half jogged back into the building. I unlocked the car door, stuffed the bags into the back seat, and slid into the driver's seat. I allowed myself to lean into the chair. I rubbed my forehead softly. “Gracious, what am I turning into?" What’s the time?” I reached into my bag for my phone. “The batteries are out." It must have died a long time ago. I shoved it back in and eased out of the parking lot, checking the rearview mirror more times than I cared to admit.*******I pulled into my street. The light illuminated the da
Rowland’s POV I walked straight to the investigator's office without knocking. She looked up from the file on her desk, a surprised expression on her face before she quickly masked it. “Mr Brooke’s…” “Have you found him?” She blinked. “We are still following several…” “No!” I shook my head. "Don't give me that.” She leaned back. Her expression was stern now. “I saw him yesterday.” Silence. “I saw the man you’ve been telling me you’re trying to find.” I planted both palms on her desk and leaned forward. “He was so close; not even a single thread of fear was in him.” She remained calm. Which pissed me off even more. “And then?” she asked. “And then he disappeared.” I laughed once, a dry chuckle. "He vanished," I said, with the snap of my finger, "into thin air, Inspector." My jaw tightened. “So explain something to me.” She waited. “How does a man who’s supposedly being investigated simply disappear “We’re doing everything within our—” “E
Selene’s POV. I watched Rowland’s car glide out from my patio. I blew him an air kiss just before he wound up fully, and he pretended to catch it and place it over his chest. I giggled. I shut the door behind me and scrambled for the card. I relaxed into the sofa and threw my head back. I'm slightly hopeful that I might learn something tangible and this entire search could be over. I dialed in the number. It rang for a few minutes but no one answered. I dialed again. A voice came through in the fifth ring. Low, masculine, and tired. “Hello.” “Good morning, Mr. Frank Thomas.” “Good morning. Who is this?” “I am Selene. Calling relating to my friend Sophie.” Silence. “What about her?” “I was told you and Sophie were seeing each other.” I breathed, waiting for that to sink in first. “I haven't heard from her in a while now, and I decided to reach out to you. You might know her whereabouts.” “What?” He exclaimed, sounding genuinely surpri
Selene's POV.I followed her outside, and she sat down on the rocking chair that faced the garden. While I sat on the chair beside hers.She rocked back and forth for a few minutes.The wind moved over the garden, slowly and peacefully – a good contrast to my life at the moment.Mother folded her h
Selene's POV.I stopped by the grocery store to get some supplies for Amira.She was going back to school the next day, and she needed to be prepared.I had gone back to get my car, which I parked a good distance from the house the day after I left, when I was sure Tom had left for work. If he ever
I gasped, taking a step back.Tom's gaze moved from me to the suitcases, then back."I leave you for some hours, and I get a call that my house is burning down, Selene."His eyes moved to the suitcases again."And where do you think you are going?"The door opened, and Sophie stepped in with Amira
Sophie came back after a few minutes and sat on the chair next to me.The oxygen mask had been replaced over my nose. I really didn't want to talk about any of it, but Sophie was not having it. She shoved it right over."Girl, who was that?""He's no one, Sophie, just an old friend." I flashed a fa







