Chapter 43
Adam tossed and turned in bed, unable to find sleep. His mind was racing a million miles an hour, and his body was too tense to relax.
The thought of Sophie missing bothered him.
The way she had disappeared without a trace, the feeling of helplessness gnawing at him, it was all too much. And now, Alex, the man who had once been a thorn in his side, was somehow involved. Adam could barely understand how everything had spiraled out of his control.
At exactly 5 AM, his phone buzzed, pulling him out of his restless haze. The text from the private investigator made his heart skip.
He rubbed his eyes, still groggy, but as soon as he read the message, his pulse quickened.
“Got the info. Alex’s address and details about him. He’s the CEO of Helios Energy, one of the biggest players in the oil industry. It’s no surprise the details came so fast. This guy’s well-known.”
Adam barely had time to process the information. Helios Energy. Of course, he had heard of it.
Alex had always been someone with connections and power, something Adam resented and envied. This new piece of information meant one thing to him: If he found Alex, he would find Sophie.
“Perfect,” Adam muttered to himself. He got dressed quickly, his hands shaking with impatience. As he was about to leave, he heard a knock at the door.
“Adam!” Brenda’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I need you to drive me to the hospital today for my first ante-natal appointment. It’s really important.”
Adam paused, frustration flickering in his chest, but he quickly masked it with a forced smile. “Of course,” he said, nodding. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Just… just wait for me here.”
Brenda frowned but didn’t argue. “You better not be late.”
Adam didn’t bother responding. His mind was already somewhere else—on Alex, on Sophie. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
Without another word, he stepped out of his apartment and into his car, his fingers gripped tightly around the steering wheel.
****
The drive felt like it took forever. Adam’s thoughts kept racing. What would he do when he found Alex? What could he possibly say to make Alex hand Sophie over to him?
When he arrived at the address the investigator had sent him, Adam’s heart skipped a beat.
This was it.
The place where Alex had been hiding Sophie. He stood in front of the gates, his mind calculating his next move. But when he approached, two large security guards stood in his path, arms crossed, blocking the entrance.
“I’m here to see Alex,” Adam said, his voice demanding. He pulled out the picture of him and Alex together, hoping it would do the trick. “I have business with him. I need to get inside.”
The guards exchanged a brief glance before one of them spoke. “Sorry, sir. No one gets in without clearance from Mr. Alex himself. You’ll have to leave.”
Adam’s frustration flared, and he gritted his teeth. “I’m not leaving until I talk to him. This is important.”
The guard remained unmoved, his eyes narrowing. “We have strict orders. No entry without clearance. You should leave now.”
Adam was about to snap at them when the sound of a car approaching caught his attention.
His eyes shifted, narrowing as the sleek black car came to a halt right in front of him. His breath hitched as the door opened and out stepped Alex.
But something was wrong. Adam’s eyes widened when he saw who was in the car with him.
Sophie.
She was slumped in the passenger seat, her face bruised and battered, her clothes disheveled.
Her hair was a mess, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Her condition made Adam’s stomach twist with a mix of anger and disbelief.
“Alex!” Adam shouted, stepping forward. His voice was filled with accusation and fury. “What the hell have you done to her?”
Alex’s face was calm, almost unreadable, as he stepped out of the car, carefully helping Sophie out of the passenger seat. He looked at Adam without a hint of fear, though there was a hardness in his gaze.
