Chapter 24: The Search for Answers
Terrence’s mind raced as he stood in Valerie’s empty room. His heart pounded in his chest, a familiar unease creeping over him.
“Where is Valerie?” His voice was sharp, filled with an edge of urgency that surprised even himself.
The servant, clearly startled, stammered in response:
“Ms. Schwartz… seems to have gone for several days… I… I don’t know where she went.”
Terrence’s pulse quickened. Valerie, the woman he had grown so accustomed to, the one who had always been there for him, was suddenly missing without a trace. His mind flashed to the messages he had sent her, the lack of responses, and the hollow silence that had hung between them. It was as though she had vanished into thin air.
Without another word, Terrence turned on his heel and rushed out of the room, his mind racing with questions. Where could she have gone? Why hadn’t she told him?
He had been so consumed with the business trip and everything happening with Ricky, but had that caused him to neglect Valerie? Had he taken her for granted? The thought gnawed at him.
As he made his way back to the SUV, his phone buzzed with an incoming message. Theodore had texted:
“Mr. Crawford, I’ve confirmed that you’ll be meeting with Ricky in Washington D.C. tonight, correct? Should I make the necessary arrangements?”
Terrence’s fingers hovered over the screen, but instead of replying, his mind wandered back to the problem at hand. Valerie had always been there for him, and yet now, when he most needed her—where was she?
In the meantime, Valerie was on her way to the Scarlet Hotel, the place where she and Ricky had arranged to meet. Her mind was filled with conflicting emotions—anger, confusion, and a growing sense of discomfort about the entire situation. She had agreed to meet Ricky, but every step felt forced. She had no real connection with him, and yet she found herself drawn into this strange dance, with her family and the weight of her father’s legacy pressing down on her shoulders.
She had to protect those antiques, the only tangible remnants of her father. They were more than just valuable possessions; they were a symbol of her father’s love, his sacrifice, and his unfulfilled dreams.
But in her quest to secure them, she was being pulled into something much bigger, something she wasn’t sure she was ready for.
Back at Foliage Villa, Terrence’s mind was still racing. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. After a few moments, he finally responded to Theodore’s message:
“Forget Ricky. Find out where Valerie is. I need to know where she went.”
He had to find her—no matter what. Terrence didn’t know if it was pride or love, but he couldn’t stand the thought of losing her, especially when he hadn’t truly appreciated what he had until it was almost too late.
As he sank back into the SUV, a new sense of urgency washed over him. Valerie was always so dependable, always there to take care of him. But now, with her missing, he couldn’t help but feel that he had let her down.
Valerie reached the Scarlet Hotel and parked her car in the underground lot. She made her way up to the lobby, her footsteps echoing softly on the marble floors. As she entered the elevator and pressed the button to the top floor, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off—about Ricky, about the marriage, and about everything that had led her here.
The elevator doors opened to a lavish suite, and she was greeted by a calm and composed Ricky, sitting in a chair by the window. His wheelchair, though a reminder of his past accident, didn’t seem to detract from his commanding presence.
He smiled warmly as she entered.
“I’m glad you could make it,” he said smoothly. “Let’s talk. We need to make sure we’re ready for the public eye, don’t we?”
Valerie nodded, though her thoughts were far away. She sat down across from him, but her mind kept drifting back to the mystery of where Terrence was, and why he hadn’t been in contact with her.
Meanwhile, back in Washington D.C., Terrence’s frustrations mounted. He had to find Valerie—he could feel it in his gut. But she had become a puzzle he couldn’t solve, and every moment of uncertainty gnawed at him.
He glanced at his watch again, wondering if he had made a mistake in not reaching out to her sooner, wondering if it was too late.
His thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. It was Theodore.
“Mr. Crawford, I have some information on Valerie. She’s at the Scarlet Hotel.”
Terrence’s heart skipped a beat. Valerie was there. He couldn’t believe it—after all the time apart, and all the misunderstandings, she was there. Was she with Ricky? Was she meeting him, or had something else happened?
The situation had become more complicated than Terrence had ever anticipated, but now there was no turning back. He had to find out the truth, and he had to do it before it was too late.
