Semua Bab My First Ex: The Billionaire's Home Coming: Bab 21 - Bab 25

“It's just me,” a voice called out from the building. At first, Vanessa couldn't discern the speaker's identity, but as a figure clad in a bathrobe emerged from the shadows, she recognized the familiar gait of her best friend, Emma. Her initial instinct was to flee, but she willed herself to remain composed.“It's just me,” Emma repeated, a hint of laughter bubbling beneath her words.“Emma?” Vanessa gasped with relief as she approached her friend. “What are you doing here?”“Well, you canceled on me, so I thought I'd surprise you at home. But when I arrived and found you missing, I let myself in,” Emma replied casually as they made their way back to Vanessa's apartment.“Is everything okay?” Emma inquired, noting the tension in Vanessa's voice.“Yeah, why?” Vanessa replied, her voice betraying a fear she sought to conceal. She knew that voicing her worries could jeopardize her Rose's well-being, so she masked her emotions behind a facade of composure which she knew Emma could see thr

Vanessa pounded the pavement, her jogging shoes rhythmically hitting the ground as she made her way home. For two months, she'd woken up every morning before dawn to clear her mind with a run. The routine had become her sanity, a reminder that life was still good, even if it hadn't turned out exactly as she'd wished. The threats had stopped, and the eerie feeling of being watched had dissipated, likely due to Alex's absence. Yet, Vanessa felt a sense of happiness she couldn't shake, and it wasn't just the endorphins talking. Today was different; a newfound spring in her step hinted at a fresh reason for her upbeat mood.The last threat still haunted her. A chilling video had arrived, showing Rose asleep in her bedroom at Vanessa's grandma's house. A figure clad in black, face obscured, sat on the edge of the bed, a Swiss Army knife glinting in their hand. The caption seared itself into her mind: "Stay away from him" for her, and "Stay away from her" for Alex. Vanessa's vision had blur

Alex followed her in what to him seemed like a minute after she stormed out of the building. He knew what he had said was so below the belt, but in his defense, he wanted her to feel the extent of his anger. Now, he feels less angry and more stupid, so stupid. He stood under the night sky just outside the building, and she was nowhere to be found. It's like she had disappeared into the night, and he would be lying if he said he doesn't feel sick to his stomach at the prospect of her being kidnapped. He called and called, but she didn't pick up, and in his mind, he could imagine her phone just lying somewhere, probably in a ditch, lighting up whenever he called. Frantically firing a text to his driver , he proceeded to search for any clue of her being kidnapped. The area was almost deserted except for the occasional hunk of far-away cars, cries of animals, and the drunken wanderers he stumbled across every few steps, which did nothing but amplify his fear. He walked for thirty minute