Chapter 4

Ethan's POV:

"Are you absolutely sure no one’s found anything at all about Sophie?"

Seated in the passenger seat beside the driver, Xavier didn’t look back at me. “I’m sure, Ethan. There’s still no update. The team’s checked the ocean more than fifty times and her body still hasn't been found, just her belongings.”

I clenched my jaw, the pressure threatening to crack my teeth. "Then she's not dead."

“Ethan…” Xavier sighed, finally turning his head just slightly in my direction. “Her parents buried an empty casket, and they mourn her every day. You think she’d really fake her death and let them go through all that pain just to get away from you?”

I scoffed, shifting slightly in my seat, fingers drumming aggressively against the armrest. “They never wanted her with me in the first place.”

“You’re losing your mind.” He muttered. “And dragging me into it.”

“No!” I replied coldly. “I’m just the only one who refuses to be played like a fool.”

The convoy of blacked-out SUVs pulled into the underground parking of Langford CORP. The moment the engine stopped, a bodyguard snapped my door open. I stepped out, Xavier trailing quietly behind me. 

We bypassed the first-floor reception, where the staff bowed as we strode past then we took the presidential elevator straight to the top floor. Just as I reached for my office door, my secretary looked up with a strained smile. “Good morning, sir. Mr. and Mrs. Beckham are waiting inside.”

I paused for a second, then stormed in to see Sophie’s parents seated on the leather couch, looking entirely hollowed out by grief.

Mrs. Beckham stood immediately, her fists clenched white. “We came to tell you that we’re moving to Thailand, somewhere that doesn’t choke us with the memory of our daughter’s death.”

I didn’t blink. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Mr. Beckham frowned, rising to his feet. “Excuse me?”

“You’ll stay right here in New York until I see definitive proof that she’s actually dead.”

Mrs. Beckham’s mouth dropped open in sheer disbelief. “You psychopath. You still think we’re hiding her?”

“She’s dead, Ethan!” Mr. Beckham’s voice rose. “Move on.”

“She’s not dead!” I replied calmly, walking around my desk as if they weren't screaming directly in my face. “Do you really expect me to believe a master swimmer just conveniently drowned?”

Mrs. Beckham lunged forward, pointing a shaking finger at me. “Why do you care so much now? When the only thing you did was destroy her, isolate her, and manipulate her while she was still alive!”

“I loved her!”

“Loved her?” She laughed. “If you loved her, you wouldn't have caged her like an animal and sucked the life out of her.”

“I told her to stay away from you.” Mr. Beckham added, stepping in front of his wife. “But she was blinded, trapped in whatever hellish version of love you convinced her was normal.”

“This.” I pointed a finger at him. “This exact hatred is why I know you’re hiding her from me and if I find out you’ve been helping her play me..."

“You’ll do what?” Mr. Beckham challenged, stepping directly into my personal space. “You’ll kill us?”

I didn’t blink. “If necessary.”

Mrs. Beckham tried to step between us, her hands trembling. “How dare…”

“No, you listen to me.” I cut her off. “Until I see a corpse, no one leaves. If it turns out she’s alive and you helped her disappear… you’ll both die by my hands.”

Mrs. Beckham clutched her purse to her chest as if it could shield her from the monster in front of her. “You’re insane.”

“That’s old news.” I muttered as she turned and stormed toward the door and Mr. Beckham followed closely behind, but I wasn't finished.

“Oh, and one more thing.” I called out casually. “If you do try to cross state lines, your corpses will be the ones I bury instead.”

The heavy oak door slammed shut behind them then I made my way to my desk, opened the top drawer, and pulled out a matte-black lighter and a silver cigarette case. I clicked the case open, but before I could strike a flame, Xavier, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange, cleared his throat.

“I’ve got good news and bad news.”

“Good first.” I muttered, not looking up as I placed a cigarette between my lips. “I just got a text from Hilda.” I raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue. “She said your mother visited Emily with the contract, exactly as you predicted.”

I frowned, the lighter hovering near my face. “And that’s the good news?” Xavier rolled his eyes. “The good news is that Emily rejected the offer.”

My hand paused mid-air. “Fool.” I muttered, snapping the lighter shut. “What’s the bad news?”

Xavier hesitated, his fingers tightening around his phone. He swallowed hard before looking up to meet my gaze. “I just got a text from our lead detective in Florida. He says he just saw Sophie.”

‘She's alive.’My heart thudded against my ribs so hard it was deafening but then, the high faded and I froze, my eyes locking onto Xavier's tense face.

“Wait.” I paused, lowering the cigarette from my mouth. “You said that was the bad news. How the hell does my fiancee being alive count as bad news, Xavier?”