Chapter 323

The airport was deserted at 3 AM. Ethan Roscente strode briskly through the terminal, dragging his suitcase behind him. The night wind carried a biting chill as he tightened the collar of his trench coat, his bloodshot eyes scanning the empty arrivals hall.

The doorknob of Sophia's apartment felt icy against his skin. He pressed the doorbell repeatedly, met only with silence.

The roar of an engine shattered the stillness. A black Maybach sped through the vacant streets. Ethan's knuckles whitened around the steering wheel as his gaze darted between every passing silhouette. Neon lights flickered across his sharp profile.

Sebastian Valdemar's apartment was equally dark. The security guard confirmed no one had been home for three days.

An ashtray overflowed with cigarette butts. Ethan stared at the flight details on his phone screen. New York was just a layover—where had they really gone?

"Vivian Ashcroft, you'd better know something." He crushed his last cigarette and dialed.

A groggy voice answered. "Do you know what time it is, Ethan?"

"Sophia's missing." His voice was raw. "With Sebastian."

A glass shattered in the background. Vivian's tone turned razor-sharp. "What do you mean missing? Weren't you taking her to Hong Kong?"

"She never boarded." He massaged his temples. "They've vanished without a trace."

"Ethan Roscente!" Vivian's scream nearly shattered the receiver. "If anything happens to her, I'll bury you with my bare hands!"

The line went dead. Ethan stared at the darkened screen, his mouth twisting into a bitter smile. Outside, dawn crept across the horizon.

Vivian kicked off the blankets and grabbed her jacket. Jason Roscente blocked her path, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "It's the middle of the night—"

"We're finding Sophia!" She shoved past him. "This has Ethan's fingerprints all over it."

Jason snatched his car keys. "Where?"

"Seattle." Vivian buckled her seatbelt, eyes glinting. "There's only one place she'd go."

Highway signs gleamed in the morning light. Jason glanced at Vivian's clenched fists. "You think she and Professor Valdemar—"

"Drive!" she snapped.

The Maybach and sports car raced toward the breaking dawn, unaware of the sunrise tearing through the night behind them.