Chapter 56

Lillian

This was odd. I stared at my screen, at the text I sent Zayden over four hours ago.

He still hadn't replied and he wasn't answering my calls.

Zayden doesn't stay out late. It was already 3 pm and he wasn't back. I called the office and the security said he hadn't returned to the office.

A company dinner shouldn't last till overnight, right? What kind of dinner was that anyway?

I sighed, I baked cake and some cookies to surprise him. I wanted him to try it, and that was why I stayed up late waiting for him.

I tried calling again but still no answer. Finally giving up, I lay under the covers and went to sleep.

The next morning i called him again but still no answer.

Should I be worried? Maybe.

He's a grown-ass man but also a married man,and knowing Zayden; he has never stayed out past 11.

I got dressed and had breakfast while hoping I'll hear him drive in.

The clock ticked, and it was already 10, but still no sign of him. I got tired and decided to go to the office.

Maybe I'll have a clue as to where he was.

I got in the passenger seat as one of the bodyguards drove me. I'm going to get driving lessons soon. Then I'm going to get a car once the jewelry shop is completed.

Everything was going as planned. I already bought a house. A four-bedroom duplex. It's perfect and exactly my taste.

I bought it under Jade's maiden name just in case some issues arise. And I've been transferring some money into a separate account with another name under the pretence of going shopping.

I'm going to make it big before this remaining three months elapse.

I felt guilty every single day, but reminding myself that we had a deal, and he agreed to let me do what I wanted lessen the guilt I felt, but still hurdling money and buying a house behind his back felt cruel.

I knew that if I told him I wanted to buy a house, he wouldn't hesitate but it was better this way.

I was no better than a gold digger. At least I only dug gold from a man willing to give it.

He got what he wanted, he kept the company and I'm going to get what I wan,a lot of his money.

We arrived at the office half an hour later.

The first thing I did was approach the new receptionist." Has my husband arrived, yet?"

She gave me a small smile. She was a nice bubbly fellow,far better than Helena." Yes, he came in a few minutes ago."

I checked my watch surprised. It was almost 12." Thank you."

I took the elevator to his office, my blood boiling. He didn't come home last night, he didn't return my calls, he didn't reply to my texts, and here he was, already at the office.

I clenched my fist as the elevator door opened. Taking slow steps I made my way to the office.

He wasn't there, just his suitcase. Placing my bag on the desk, I made my way out of the office to find him.

My nerves were acting up. I want to squeeze his neck and maybe bite off his flesh.

I ended up at the board room, contemplating whether to enter or not. The room was quiet, so maybe it meant there was no one in it.

Taking a deep breath, I twisted the door knob and stepped in.

I was wrong.

The room wasn't empty.

Zayden's father and Aiden were in the room,and it looked like they were in a hushed discussion before I interrupted.

" I'm sorry, I was just looking for Zayden," I spoke awkwardly.

Aiden's eyes narrowed. I hadn't seen him in a while. He stopped texting me or speaking to me after the wedding.

I thought he said he liked me.

"Oh, no come in." Mr Kent spoke, his voice friendly.

Mr Kent was not a friendly man so his kind tone meant two things.

Either he was going to ask something of me or he was about to tell me how miserable I was.

I walked in, my heels echoing in the room.

" Please sit, You came just in time. I was about to send for you." He spoke, relaxing into his chair.

Aiden was staring at me weirdly, his eyes running over my body in a way that gave me goosebumps.

"Can I do anything for you?" I asked politely, flashing my father-in-law a cool smile.

He leaned in on the desk." You know Helena right?"

I nodded, creasing my brows.

He sighed, adjusting his glasses." Helena has gone missing."

I blinked, and silence followed.

I tuned in to look at Aiden, his gaze calculating.

I cleared my throat." I ..I wasn't aware."

" She has been missing for three months, Lillian."

I tensed. Three months!

First I don't get what that has to do with me. I don't even know if she was kidnapped or something.

" She's missing?" I asked, surprise written all over my face.

He nodded." Her relatives have reported it to the cops, and since she was our employee, we got involved, especially since she went missing the day after she got fired."

Goosebumps rose on my skin." Was she kidnapped?" I asked, my voice broke.

I didn't like Helen, but I didn't hate her, plus three months is a long time.

" No one knows but what we do know was that you were the last person she spoke to before leaving The building the day she was fired." He continued.

I stared at both of them alternatively , completely lost for words." I was the last person she spoke to, so how does that relate to her disappearance?"

He sighed." She got fired because she framed you for sabotaging Hales's contract, and then the next day, she got kidnapped, coupled with the fact that a dozen employees testified that you were not on good terms with her."

I chuckled." So you're saying I kidnapped her because I disliked her. It's funny, you know."

Aiden suddenly spoke." We are simply saying her disappearance is not a coincidence and her relatives are raising concerns. It's creating a bad name for us."

I stared at him, unable to comprehend the whole issue.

"You know what, we'll handle this ourselves. You don't have to bother yourselves about it anymore." Mr Kent said dismissing me.

I stood on my feet, still in a daze.

Helena has been missing for three months and no one knew about it till now.

Aiden followed me out of the room and when he shut the door, he grabbed my wrists.

" Lillain."

Our eyes met." It's not a coincidence, think carefully about this."

I shook my head." I don't understand what you're saying."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair." She framed you, Zayden got furious and fired her, and then she went missing the next day. Doesn't it add up? Zayden doesn't just fires his employees,he punishes them equally."

I blinked, sweating forming on my temple." Maybe she got kidnapped by a stalker or something."

Aiden sighed heavily." We both know the truth ,lillain.This is just the beginning of what he can do. I'm trying to save you."

My heart raced, and my pupils dilated as it all started falling into pieces.

Helena framed me, Zayden got Mad and then she got fired,only to find out months later that she's been missing.

Tyrell sent people after me. Zayden murdered them in front of my eyes and then burned the bodies.

" You don't have proof; besides, he has no reason to do something like that." My voice cracked, and my whole mind refused to process the obvious facts.

" If it's for you, I'm a hundred per cent sure he'll do worse." He phrased.

He already did worse, he killed three people and I'm still married to him.

Aren't I one hell of a gold digger?

"We can't keep covering up for him. We've been doing so for a long time. If he can't control his psychopathic behaviour, then I'm sorry, Lillian, but you're going to have to be the wife of an inmate."

He gave me one last look before walking away.

I stood there, my heels rooted to the ground My thoughts and emotions were a mess. I had only three months left and I'll be free of this bullshit of a family.

Three months is all that's left then I'll disappear from their lives to start my own.

Forcing myself to move, I went back to the office to find Zayden and Sage.

They were standing close to each other, with Zayden holding her by the elbow.

They drifted apart immediately as soon as I walked in, Zayden's eyes widened as he saw me.

My chest tightened at the sight of them so close to each other,Jealousy clogging my windpipe.

" Mind telling your wife where you've been all night?" I asked, taking slow steps toward him.

His eyes lingered on Sage for a few seconds before returning to me.

He was wearing different clothes from yesterday.

" The dinner took longer than expected." He spoke clearing his throat.

I scoffed." I've never heard of a company dinner that lasted the whole night. And where did you change since you did not come home last night?"

I felt him tense, his eyes landing on sage again. I looked between them suspiciously.

" Does it matter? we only attend dinner." Sage shrugged ,flipping her hair over her shoulders.

I looked over at Zayden." we? you went with her?"

Something was wrong here. He told me he was going alone after I turned him down.

He sighed." I'm sorry, I couldn't make it home."

He just ignored my question.

I looked over at Sage." You can leave."

She barred her teeth. She doesn't like taking others from me, but unfortunately, I love giving orders.

When the door shut, I turned to face him. A low rumbling feeling growing in my chest.

I raised a brow." Care to explain why you went with sage?"

He swallowed." She's my secretary."

I gritted my teeth,my stomach was roiling." You went with her ,huh?"

it's none of my business,our contract doesn't restrict who we spend time with but right now I wanted it to. I don't want to see him as close as three feet with any woman that's not me.

He sighed." I said I'm sorry for not coming home last night and not answering your calls."

"So you saw them and purposely ignored them," I questioned my voice calm but deep down I was boiling.

He fell silent.

I shouldn't be affected this much but I couldn't help it. He was with Sage the whole night. Just the thought of itt made me sick." I stayed up till three Waiting and worrying."

He ran a hand through his hair, his facial expression looked distressed.

Something was wrong.

"I got drunk." He suddenly said and I just stared at him.

The only time Zayden had ever gotten drunk was during our engagement.

" And I stayed at the wilder's place. I got new clothes this morning." He explained. His theory sounded realistic but I could smell a lie.

I didn't say a word and just nodded, taking a seat.

" Helena has been missing. Did you know about that?"

He stared at me, a blank expression on his face ." she's not missing."

My eyes widened as I threw a confused glance at him.

"How do you know that?"

He collapsed on his chair, flexing his muscles." Because I have her."