All Chapters of Beneath the Surface : Chapter 161 - Chapter 167

Drew's POV The next morning crawled in grey and heavy. I hadn’t slept, it felt like sleep and peace had eluded me. Every sound in that hospital corridor scraped against my nerves, the low hum of the lights, the shuffle of nurses’ shoes, the faint beep of the monitors down the hall. Lila was still in surgery then, and the only thing keeping me upright was rage. Cold, sharp and unrelenting rage. When my phone buzzed, I didn’t hesitate to answer. It was one of my men, his voice sounded rough, like he had not slept either. “Sir, we have located Kimberley’s last known location, but when we got there we couldn't find her. No credit card activity, no phone signal. It looks like she has gone into hiding.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling that old, dangerous stillness spread through me again. “And her family?” “Her parents were detained early this morning,” he said. “The warrants were executed at their estate. They are being held pending cooperation and Kimberley’s surrend

Lila's POV The ride home was supposed to feel like peace. Like the closing of a dark chapter. But it didn’t. I sat quietly in the passenger seat, Isabelle sleeping soundly in her carrier beside me. The soft rhythm of her breathing was the only thing steady in a world that suddenly felt fragile. Drew drove in silence, his hand resting lightly on the steering wheel. Every few seconds, his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror not because he liked to drive cautiously, but because he was watching. Always watching and of course I noticed. And the truth was, I was watching, too. Every sound outside the window made my heart jump. Every passing car felt like a shadow trailing us. I knew it was irrational, that we were supposed to be safe now, but the thought would not leave me. Kimberley was still out there and so was Max. The police had not found either of them, and the idea of two people, both tied to my pain somewhere out there, breathing the same air as my daughter, made m

Drew’s POV The warehouse was too quiet. That was the first thing that set every nerve in my body on edge. The second was the faint sound I thought I heard; a whimper, so soft it could have been my imagination. But I knew that sound. I would know it anywhere. It was Isabelle my daughter. I moved faster, heart pounding hard against my ribs. My shoes scuffed against the concrete floor as I called out into the darkness. “Lila?” No answer. My voice echoed, swallowed by the emptiness around me. The smell of rust and dust filled my lungs as I stepped deeper into the shadows, every muscle in my body coiled tight. “Lila, answer me!” That was when I heard it. A click. Sharp and distinct and then a voice, one I had not heard in months, but some how still managed to crawl beneath my skin like poison. “Don’t move, Sinclair.” The sound came from the corner of the room. Max stepped forward slowly, the faint light catching on the gun in his hand. His hair was unkempt, his e

Lila's POV If someone had told me a year ago that a one night stand with my boss would lead to this moment, I would have laughed in disbelief. But here I am, standing in front of a mirror, wearing a white dress that feels far too beautiful to belong to me, about to walk down the aisle to marry the man I once thought I could never have. The soft hum of music fills the air, gentle and warm, wrapping around me like a familiar memory. The room smells faintly of roses white and blush pink and as I take a slow breath, I catch my reflection again. My hair is pinned perfectly, a few curls left loose to frame my face, and my veil sits delicately over my shoulders. For a second, I almost don’t recognize the woman staring back. I could see someone who has fought battles she never thought she would win.Someone who loved, lost, and somehow found her way back to love again. I see traces of the scared, uncertain girl who once walked into Drew Sinclair’s office, nervous, inexperienced, and