Chapter 44
ROSE
Ifelt so at ease with Julius’s parents. We had an amazing lunch, and I enjoyed their company. Even his father’s, despite the fact he terrified me. It was probably because he was not unlike my own which I found strangely comforting.
Now we are home, and Julius is brooding on something, and as we head into the house, I’m surprised at how at home I am already.
“Come, I could use a drink.”
He grasps my hand and we head into the cinema room, and as he fixes the drinks, I gaze at him while perched on one of the bar stools.
“You’re quiet, baby.”
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“Does it involve me?” I’m nervous about that, and he nods, which doesn’t help.
“There is still no word on your sisters except for the youngest one.”
“Tiffany.”
My anxiety surfaces, and he nods. “Tiffany is refusing to leave the convent.”
If anything, that makes me laugh because it’s so typical of her and is actually not a bad thing. At least she is safe, but my thoughts turn to Alice and from the expression on Julius’s face, I’m not going to like what he tells me.
“I need to ask you a question, Rose, and I don’t want to alarm you, but if you were in danger, or troubled in any way, where would you head for outside of the convent?”
“She’s missing then.”
I’m not stupid and Julius confirms my fears with his expression alone.
My heart churns and my pulse spikes as I face the terrible realization that Alice may be in danger.
“Think Rose. Is there anything that may help locate her.”
“Outside of the convent, I don’t know.”
My mind is racing, frantic and desperate, and I swallow hard, accepting the champagne that Julius has poured into a glass.
I try so hard as the memories resurface, but I draw a blank. I don’t know where she would go and wish like crazy I could help.
“Tell me about Alice.”
Julius sits beside me and lays a comforting hand on my leg, and I smile.
“Alice is the eldest only by eighteen months because it wasn’t long after her mom died that mine was already wearing my father’s ring.”
“How did she die?”
“A car accident. She was on the mountain road and her car spun off down the gorge. The car exploded on impact and her body was only identified through her dental records.”
My mind is racing as Rose adds, “Alice grew up never accepting it. She always believed our father was lying to her. She liked to imagine her mother was alive and had merely staged the accident and nothing we said could convince her otherwise.”
“So, she may have gone in search of answers?”
“It’s possible, but why? She would need somebody to help her, surely.
I mean, we have no money to survive long-term on our own and Alice may be fearless in some ways, but not in others.
She might be in danger out there on her own, and yet, if you want my opinion, it’s that.
She has taken the opportunity to play detective. It can be the only explanation unless–”
I stare at Julius in horror, remembering my journey to the airport.
“What if she was taken like I was meant to be? She may be–”
Julius places his finger on my lips. “We’ll go with your first theory. Tell me who her mother was.”
He takes out his phone and brings up the notes app.
“Sarah Goldsworthy.”
“As in the banking giant, Goldsworthy Financial Enterprises.”
“The same.”
“Thank you. It’s a lead, and we won’t leave any trails unchecked.”
As we sip our drinks, Julius makes several texts, and my heart is racing as I consider Alice alone and vulnerable.
However, Alice is a force to be reckoned with, and I do rate her chances because the more I think about it, this is exactly what she would do.
It’s always been her top priority to solve the mystery of her mom’s death, and I’m guessing she seized the opportunity when she had it and has disappeared into the shadows.
If anything, I’m assured of that because nothing inside me tells me she is in danger right now, and so I sip my drink, putting all of my faith in my sister because if Alice puts her mind to something, she is usually successful.
We finish our drinks and as we head to our room, our arms wrapped around one another, I consider myself the lucky one. I found Julius, and I will never stop thanking God for sending a demon to rescue an angel and vow to dedicate the rest of my life to becoming exactly the kind of wife he deserves.