Semua Bab A Pulse And Betrayal : Bab 61 - Bab 70

Chapter 61: The Morning AfterDiane’s POVThe sunlight peeked through my curtains, soft and golden, warming the side of my face. I opened my eyes slowly and stretched with a long, satisfied sigh. My body still felt sore from yesterday’s long hours, but I didn’t mind. There was something comforting in that kind of tired….the kind that reminded me I had done something worthwhile.The grand opening was over.And it had gone even better than I imagined.I lay still for a moment, just letting myself enjoy the quiet morning. No rushing, no panic, no fear. Just gratitude and the sweet memory of smiling faces and empty pastry trays.When I finally got out of bed, I slipped on a robe and tied my hair back loosely. My phone was already buzzing on the nightstand. I picked it up and found new messages…:from my new online customer inquiries, congratulations, supplier updates, and so many notifications from the bakery’s new Instagram page.The post I had shared last night was already spreading.I s

Chapter 63: Xander’s ReactionXander’s POVI sat alone in my office, well past closing hours. The tall windows that once flooded the room with sunlight now reflected only darkness. The city lights twinkled in the distance, but none of them could reach the quiet storm building inside him.My phone screen glowed in my hand, and I hadn’t stopped staring at it for twenty minutes.There she was.Diana.Alive.Not just surviving, but smiling. Laughing. Flour was on her cheeks, her eyes focused and warm, and she was standing behind the counter of a small bakery in a town she had never heard of until today. She looked exactly how he remembered her, and yet… different. More grown. Wiser. Stronger.I blinked several times, trying to believe it wasn’t some cruel mistake.But it wasn’t.The private investigator had followed Diana’s mother two towns over, as instructed. He had taken the photos discreetly, just enough to confirm without raising an alarm. And the first picture in the batch had stopp

Chapter 65: No More WaitingChris’s POVThe morning sun streamed through the window, warm and golden, like it was rooting for me. I opened my eyes with a clarity I hadn’t felt in years.Today was the day.No second-guessing. No hiding behind meetings or excuses. No silence.I was going to see her.I swung my legs out of bed and sat still for a second, my heart pounding…not with fear, but with purpose. I had carried the truth too long in silence. Diana deserved to hear everything, from me, in person.After a quick shower and coffee, I picked up the small leather notebook from my bedside. The same one I’d scribbled in last night.I flipped to the page titled “The Night I Disappeared.” The ink looked shakier than I remembered. I hadn’t realized how hard it was to write those words.But I was ready to say them.I tucked the notebook into my pocket, grabbed my keys, and whispered to my reflection before leaving, “No more waiting.”As I drove through the quiet streets of the small town, a s

Chapter 67: Shadows on the RoadXander’s POVI stared at the row of glowing city lights below his corner office, the hum of late-afternoon traffic drifting up to my window. My phone lay face-down on the desk; the message from Akin still unread. Every second felt like an hour.I tapped my desk bell twice. When my manager, poked his head around the door, he forced a calm smile.I need you to postpone all my meetings for the next three days. Tell them I’m traveling on urgent personal business.”His eyebrows rose, but he didn’t question me . He had learned better than to pry. “Yes, sir. Should I notify marketing and legal as well?”“Everyone,” I said. He leaned forward, voice soft but firm: “And please make sure no one knows why. Just say it’s private. I’ll check in when I return.”“Understood,” he replied. He scribbled on her notepad and slipped away, closed the door .I exhaled, then reached for my phone. The message from Akin read:“All set. Investigator confirmed departure at 4

Chapter 69: When the Rain Slows DownXander’s POVThe rain had been roaring for hours, but finally… around midnight, it started to ease.I stood by the hotel room window, staring out at the dark sky. The storm clouds had begun to drift, letting a few stars peek through. Raindrops still tapped lightly against the glass, but the pounding had softened. The worst of it was over.But I couldn’t sleep.I leaned my forehead against the window and sighed. My chest was tight. My thoughts were stuck on one thing.Diana.What would she look like when I saw her again? Would her hair still be that soft brown shade, falling just over her eyes when she laughed? Would her smile still light up the space around her? Or had life made her harder, colder?I wondered how she’d react to seeing me.Would she yell? Cry? Walk away without a word?Or would she just stare at me in silence?I didn’t know. But I needed to find out.The rain had ruined our plans today, but tomorrow morning might give me another cha