Chapter 245
Arianna just stood there, stunned for a few seconds.
“You know about Steven and me?” she asked, tossing the question right back at him.
She could see why Isabella might have picked up on it-women’s intuition was usually spot on about these things. But Bruce asking so directly? That meant he already knew Steven was her boyfriend. How did he find that out?
Bruce realized he’d been a little too blunt. He’d forgotten Arianna still didn’t know what had gone down at the resort.
So he laid it all out for her, every detail about what happened at the resort and the video Natalie Watson had taken.
“Natalie didn’t mean to hide it from you,” he said. “My sister… she gets really possessive, and honestly, she’s jealous by nature. Plus, knowing you and Natalie are close, if Isabella ever found out you were dating Steven, she’d make your life hell. She wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted p>
As Arianna listened, she realized Steven hadn’t just been seeing Isabella-there was another woman, too. The shock only lasted a moment before she forced a half- smile.
“I get it. You were just trying to protect me. I’m not upset. And as for Steven, trust me, I’m not about to lose sleep over a guy like him p>
The truth was, she hadn’t been all that invested anyway. At this point, she felt like
she and Steven were even. No one owed anyone anything.
Suddenly, Bruce’s phone started ringing, the sound sharp and insistent.
“I need to take this,” he said.
Arianna nodded and stepped aside.
Bruce’s voice was tight with anger.
Arianna hadn’t been paying much attention, at least not until she caught those last words. Something felt off.
“Who’s missing?” she asked as soon as he hung up. “Don’t tell me it’s Natalie p>
Bruce’s face was all tension, his brow creased deep. “Before Alexander Ramirez left the country, he asked me to keep Natalie safe. But just now, my guys lost track of her p>
“Lost her?” Arianna’s voice shot up in shock.
She remembered texting Natalie earlier. At that time, Natalie should have still been with Samuel Thompson. How could she have vanished so suddenly?
Maybe Natalie had gotten worried and come looking for her. Maybe something happened on the way.
Arianna’s heart started pounding as she grabbed her phone to call Natalie. All she got was a robotic voice telling her the number wasn’t reachable. She tried again, and again, but got the same message.
“Don’t bother,” Bruce said quietly. “Her phone’s off. My guys said the same thing p>
“So what do we do now? It’s already so late. Where could she have gone? What if something’s happened to her?” Arianna was nearly in tears.
Bruce squeezed her shoulder gently. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to Natalie. Come with me. We’ll find her p>
After leaving the restaurant, Natalie headed straight for Arianna’s apartment complex. She knocked for ages, but nobody answered. Clearly, Arianna wasn’t home.
Natalie turned back to the elevator, thinking Arianna was probably out somewhere, trying to forget her
troubles with a drink or two. She net
pulled out her phone to call her but right then the screen went black-her phone was dead.
Annoyed, she figured she’d just go back to her car and charge it, but when she checked her bag, she realized she’d forgotten her charging cable There was a coffee shop
nearby that rented out chargers, she hurried over.
After plugging her phone in, she decided to use the restroom. She was washing her hands, head down, when she suddenly sensed someone behind her. She looked up and saw a tall man in dark clothes standing right there.
“You”
Before she could say anything else, the man pressed a handkerchief over her mouth and nose. Get full chapters from
Within seconds, Natalie slumped against his shoulder, unconscious. Her phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor.