Chapter 79

AIDEN

Leaving Gia at the house was harder than it should have been. She seemed oblivious to my unease, which was steadily increasing. As she ran inside to greet the dogs, I hesitated at the door, watching her small frame disappear into the house. Carlos stood nearby, his typically placid expression a small comfort. "Take care of her," I said firmly. "Keep her busy with the dogs and make sure she doesn't suspect anything is wrong."

"Of course, Mr. Knight," he replied, nodding.

I returned to the car, my mind racing as Chris pulled away from the driveway and headed toward Meringue. Freya loved her café; it was her sanctuary, her dream realized. If she had left suddenly, something was wrong. Freya wasn't careless—she wouldn't vanish without telling someone her whereabouts.

The café appeared, its soft golden lights spilling onto the sidewalk. It looked exactly the same—bustling and full of life—a stark contrast to the knot tightening in my chest. I entered with determination.

Avery was wiping down the counter when I arrived. She looked as surprised as I felt.

"Aiden—" she began, but I interrupted.

"Where is Freya?"

Confused, she furrowed her brow. "Well, that's what I was going to ask you. Her phone goes straight to voicemail."

My jaw clenched. "When did she leave?"

"Around noon?" Avery replied hesitantly. "She was working one minute, and the next, when I came back from the kitchen, she was gone."

I leaned closer, my voice low but insistent. "Why? Did she tell you anything?"

"No," she said, furrowing her brow further. She paused, then added hesitantly, "She received a phone call."

My pulse quickened. "A phone call?"

Avery nodded. "Yes. An unknown number. She didn't seem to know who it was."

"And she left after that?"

"I'm not sure. They were talking when I went to the kitchen, and when I returned, she was gone."

The pit in my stomach deepened. Freya wouldn't just leave Gia waiting at school. Something wasn't right.

"What's happening? Is it something bad?" Avery asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"I don't know yet," I muttered, though I had a sinking feeling I wouldn't like the answer.

Leaving the café, I immediately called Reyna. If anyone knew Freya's whereabouts, it would be her best friend and confidante—the person Freya always turned to for advice.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Reyna began, her tone teasing.

"Is Freya with you?" I cut her off, my words sharp and direct.

There was a pause. "No. Why would she be with me?"

"Did she tell you anything? About needing to be somewhere today?"

"No," Reyna replied, her tone shifting to concern.

"When was the last time you talked to her?"

"Yesterday morning," she answered. "Is something wrong?"

(Page break)

7:01 AM

Chapter 79 (continued)

I pushed back my hair. "I can't reach her. She hasn't picked Gia up from school. Avery says she left without warning after getting a call."

"What?" Reyna began, then trailed off. "Okay. Call the police. They'll only take a complaint after twenty-four hours."

"They will if I insist," I snapped, hanging up.

There was only one other person I could think of: Connor. He might know where she was.

"Knight," he said, sounding surprised.

"Is Freya with you?" I asked coldly.

"No, man," Connor snapped, annoyed. "I told you, I don't sleep with your girlfriend. I thought that was clear."

I ignored his jab. "Is everything okay?"

I closed my eyes, trying to remain calm. I clung to the hope that she had gone to him on some urgent business matter. But deep down, I knew better. Freya would have told me.

"I don't know where she is," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly.

Connor was quiet for a moment. Then, his tone shifted. "I'll be at your place," he said firmly before hanging up.

I lowered the phone, staring at the screen before trying Freya's number again. Still nothing. Voicemail.

She wasn't the type to turn off her phone, let alone leave Gia stranded. Freya was responsible, thoughtful, and fiercely protective of our daughter. Whatever had happened was not normal.

The fear I'd suppressed finally overwhelmed me, a cold grip tightening around my chest. My mind raced, conjuring up increasingly worse possibilities: accident? Kidnapping? Threats?

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. But the fear remained.

Freya wasn't just my partner; she was my anchor, the person who had brought light into my life. She was the mother of my child, the woman I planned to marry, the one person I couldn't imagine living without.

And now, she was gone.

I got back into the car, moving mechanically as Chris checked me in the rearview mirror. "Where to, sir?"

"Home," I replied, my voice flat.

As we left Meringue, I stared blankly ahead, my thoughts a turbulent mess of anger, fear, and desperation.

Freya had to be alright. She had to be. But until I found her, this uncertainty would consume me.