Chapter 7
He lingered in Lina’s piano room for quite some time, something he hadn’t done in years. The piano sat untouched, gathering dust, yet the shared memories with Lina seemed to wipe away that dust, growing ever more vivid.
When they she appeared with an umbrella, dressed in
life like an angel. Lina was just 18 back then, and he
white, enterised paths, did everything he could to “ure she stayed in his life.
Lina had been the singular escape in his oppressive and violent existence. Unlike everyone else, she was the sole source of tranquility for him.
He had once vowed to guard and cherish her for his entire life. But when did everything begin to change?
It happened as Lina gradually took over the responsibilities he once held. It happened when she started protecting him from half the world’s darkness. Her once pristine white dress was now smeared with blood. She was becoming more like him.
The long–buried emotions resurfaced. At that moment, Mateo had only one desire. To have her by his side again, whatever the cost.
He was, by nature, someone loyal to his desires,
After a brief pause, Mateo pulled out his phone and dialed his subordinate.
“Go and find my wife. Search every possible spot if necessary. Even if she’s no longer alive, her final moments must be with me.”
The subordinate hesitated on the line. “Mr. Craige, Mrs. Craige has been
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Chapter 7
gone for quite a while. I’m concerned it might be difficult to track her down.”
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Mateo’s eyebrows knitted together slightly. “If you can’t locate her, try finding her brother. He’s likely in a private care facility, likely a high–end private one overseas. She would never neglect him.”
He ended the call. Mandy appeared at the doorway of the piano room and asked, “Mateo, who are you searching for?”
Snapping back to reality, Mateo didn’t elaborate. “It’s just work–related.
There’s no need for you to worry.”
Though a hint of discomfort flashed across Mandy’s face, she still smiled and sat at the piano. “I haven’t played in a while. Is there something you’d like to hear?”
Mateo drifted into a trance, imagining Lina once more at the piano in the rose garden.
“I’d love to listen to Chopin’s Waltz.
“Sure, I’ll play it for you.”
Days passed without a single update, and even her disabled brother seemed to have vanished completely.
“Useless! All of you are useless! How can you not find a living person?” With a single motion, he swept everything off the desk. “Why are you still standing here? Go and find her!”
He had never been this agitated before. With each passing day without seeing Lina, the void inside him grew larger.
In the wine cellar, he drank himself into oblivion. Mandy entered the room hesitantly.
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Chapter 7
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Mateo was in a terrible state. Initially, she convinced herself it was just work stress. But that changed the day she overheard his conversation in the piano room.
Was his wife truly dead?
A
M
Mandy’s hand instinctively rested on her noticeably pregnant belly. After a brief pause, she crouched down to help Mateo up. “Mateo, let’s head back to the room. I made you some hangover soup.”
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my
Mateo remained silent, his misty gaze locked on her face for a long moment. He tenderly held her cheeks and planted a kiss filled with longing on her lips.
Mandy blushed, and just as a smile began to form, she heard Mateo whisper, “I miss you so much, Lina.”
At that moment, she felt all the warmth drain from her body.
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