77
Frank, feeling the weight of the silence on the other end of the line, realized that something was amiss. He called Shadow once again, but there was still no answer. A sense of unease washed over him, causing his senses to heighten.
Just as he was about to reach out to Alpha Kilian for answers, the Alpha himself took the initiative to make contact. The tone in his voice grew noticeably colder as he inquired about the situation.
“Why hasn’t she returned? Did you not receive her?” Alpha Kilian’s words carried a chilling undertone.
“No. I called Young Madame, but she did not answer. I suspect she may have left long ago… Otherwise, she would have answered by now,” Frank hesitated as he spoke, sensing that something had gone awry.
He couldn’t bring himself to say the last three words that hung heavily in the air.
Silence lingered on the line for a moment before Alpha Kilian’s suppressed anger broke through. “Then why don’t you go and find her?”
“Yes,” Frank responded, his voice laced with a mix of fear and determination.
As soon as the call ended, Alpha Kilian grabbed his coat and headed towards the door. He spotted a car in the garage and wasted no time in jumping behind the wheel. Finally, he had a moment to reflect on the situation.
Lisa’s visit today must have deeply affected Shadow, he realized. Though she appeared fierce on the surface, she was nothing more than a paper tiger. Alpha Kilian could easily crush her with a few well-placed moves.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
The possibility of her having an accident was slim at best. It was more likely that she had secluded herself to wallow in her sorrow.
Just as these thoughts occupied his mind, his phone suddenly rang. He glanced down and saw Xavier’s name on the screen.
“What is it?” he gruffly answered.
Xavier, always nonchalant, responded in a casual tone, “Did you eat gunpowder? You sound quite angry.”
Alpha Kilian had no patience for small talk. He ended the call abruptly.
Meanwhile, Xavier, sitting in a corner of the bar, observed his call being abruptly ended. Clicking his tongue in response, he discreetly snapped a picture of Shadow, who was sitting not far away, and swiftly sent it to Alpha Kilian.
He hung up? Alpha Kilian will call back immediately!
Sure enough, Alpha Kilian wasted no time in calling back. The coldness in his voice was palpable: “Give me the address.”
“Are you seeking my help?” Xavier relished the rare opportunity to taunt Alpha Kilian and decided to prolong the reveal.
“There’s still room for expansion in Africa’s business,” he added, making sure Alpha Kilian knew how dire the situation was.
“F*ck!” Alpha Kilian cursed under his breath as Xavier finally disclosed the address of the bar.
Alpha Kilian had always used the threat of sending Xavier to Africa as leverage, and it worked every time. He had sent Xavier to Africa before when he made a significant mistake. Alpha Kilian was a man of his word, and Xavier knew it all too well.
…
Inside the bar, Shadow finished her glass of wine without feeling the slightest bit intoxicated. She ordered another dozen bottles, her alcohol tolerance impressive. While this was usually a good quality to have, tonight she purposely sought refuge in getting drunk.
Shadow, with her extraordinary beauty, sat alone at the table with a dozen bottles of beer in front of her. It was clear to anyone that she was in a somber mood, seeking solace in alcohol. Many men in the bar couldn’t help but take notice and began to make their moves.
Finally, two men approached her, attempting to strike up a conversation.
“Beauty, are you here alone?” they asked, hoping to catch her attention.
Shadow cast a fleeting glance at them. Both men were well-dressed and exuded a sense of sophistication. It was evident that they held higher positions within their respective companies.
Ignoring their presence, Shadow continued to drink, her mind occupied with her own thoughts.
She didn’t reject their advances, but she didn’t encourage them either.
The two men interpreted her silence as an invitation and took a seat beside her.
Shadow had already removed her coat, wearing a tight-fitting shirt that accentuated her curves and drew attention. The two men couldn’t help but ogle at her.
“Beauty, what’s the point of drinking alone? Let’s drink together!” one of them suggested.
Shadow observed their intentions and smiled. “Sure, let’s drink and have some fun.”
The men grew excited at her response and asked, “What do you want to play?”
Shadow tilted her head and lifted her chin, emanating both charm and innocence. “Let’s play dice.”
The two men exchanged glances, grinning confidently. “Sounds good.”
Did this woman really think she could play dice with them? Once she got drunk, they would have her wrapped around their finger.
Full of confidence, the two men quickly realized their mistake after a few rounds. Shadow’s own drink remained untouched while they had already consumed several bottles. Their words became slurred, revealing their drunken state.
Shadow smiled innocently. “You guys can really hold your liquor.”
Pouring them more wine, she continued, certain of her own sobriety.
Meanwhile, Xavier, who had been observing from afar, intended to intervene when the two men approached Shadow. However, her composed demeanor made him hesitate, choosing instead to wait and assess the situation.
As the two men teetered on the brink of intoxication, the untouched bottles of wine before Shadow hinted at her unyielding sobriety. Itching to join in on the game, Xavier watched intently.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted by the entrance of the bar.
Xavier looked up and spotted Alpha Kilian striding towards them.
Alpha Kilian, tall and exuding an air of extraordinary dominance, scanned the crowd as though he possessed a sixth sense that could detect every pair of eyes upon him.
The dim lighting in the bar obscured Xavier’s view of Alpha Kilian’s face, but he could sense the Alpha’s bitter mood.
Xavier knew things were about to go south. He rushed towards Shadow, hoping to make amends before Alpha Kilian arrived.
But he wasn’t as quick as the Alpha himself.
As soon as Alpha Kilian entered the bar, his eyes fell upon Shadow, who sat there, smiling and playing dice with another man. It appeared she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
The Alpha had rushed to her side, his heart nearly flying out of his chest. And yet, here she was, seemingly having the time of her life with another man.
Shadow was facing away from the entrance, completely unaware of Alpha Kilian’s presence. As he drew closer, she felt a chilly gust of air approaching from behind. The familiar aura inched closer, causing her to turn her head in surprise.
Alpha Kilian happened to be standing right behind her. Shadow, momentarily taken aback, asked, “Why are you here?”
The two men, now halfway inebriated, noticed Alpha Kilian’s arrival and inquired, “Who’s this?”
Shadow turned to the men and, with utmost seriousness, responded, “My cousin. Isn’t he handsome? Many girls are after him.”
Alpha Kilian’s face darkened, his gaze shifting to the empty bottles in front of her, calculating just how much she had consumed.
Feeling a sudden surge of emotions, she reached out and tugged at Alpha Kilian’s arm. “Come, take a seat!”
“Shadow, let’s go home!” Alpha Kilian’s voice carried a coldness, like ice forming over his every word. His face grew tense, a clear sign of his anger.
“I don’t want to go back. I don’t have a home,” Shadow’s voice wavered as she lowered her head, downing the remaining wine in her glass. In that moment, her smile vanished, replaced by disappointment and frustration.
Ever since she was young, her parents had never shown her love. She had grown up with great difficulty, yearning for a true love to form a happy and fulfilling family. But her mother had forced her into a loveless marriage with Alpha Kilian for the sake of Jessica.
What kind of family did she truly have?
She had no place she could truly call home.