Chapter 4 - The Third Day
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For two days, the Cross mansion ran on an illusion of total control.
Adrian strutted through his office at Cross Construction, boasting to his vice presidents that he had finally tamed his difficult wife. Celeste walked around the estate in my silk robes, ordering Mrs. Vale to rearrange the furniture and cook elaborate five-course meals.
"She hasn't made a sound in there," Celeste said on Sunday morning, sipping mimosa on the sun porch. "No crying? No banging on the door?"
"Evelyn is proud," Adrian said, slicing into his steak. "She thinks her stubborn silence will make me feel guilty. But by tomorrow morning, when she realizes her credit cards are frozen and she has no food, she will come out begging."
Monday morning arrived with a bright, crisp sun breaking through the autumn trees.
At 8:00 AM sharp, Adrian stood outside the heavy study doors, wearing his finest tailored suit. Celeste stood beside him, clutching his arm, ready to enjoy the spectacle of my humiliation.
Mrs. Vale stood behind them with a silver tray containing a single glass of water and a piece of dry toast. Her hands were shaking so violently that the glass rattled against the porcelain.
"Alright, Evelyn," Adrian called out, knocking loudly on the heavy mahogany paneling. "Three days are up. Hand over Celeste's ring, apologize to both of us, and we can discuss your monthly allowance."
There was no answer.
Adrian frowned. "Don't play games with me, Evelyn. Unlock the door from your side or I'll have the guards kick it in."
Silence.
Adrian scoffed, taking the heavy brass master key from his pocket and sliding it into the lock. He turned it with a sharp click, pushed the heavy doors wide open, and stepped inside with his chin held high.
"It's over, Evelyn—"
The words froze in his throat.
The study was immaculately clean. The bed was unmade because no one had slept in it. The dust on the desk was undisturbed. The silver tray of food from Friday morning sat untouched on the side table.
The room was completely empty.
"Where is she?" Celeste gasped, stepping into the room and looking under the desk. "Did she climb out the window? Is she hiding?!"
Adrian rushed over to the French doors. They were locked tightly from the inside.
"Mrs. Vale!" Adrian roared, turning around with his face turning red with rage. "Where did you put my wife?! Did you let her out?!"
Mrs. Vale stepped into the doorway, her face pale as a sheet, her knees trembling so badly she had to hold onto the doorframe.
"Sir..." Mrs. Vale whispered, her voice cracking with pure terror. "She... she didn't climb out a window..."
"Then where is she?!" Adrian screamed.
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Mrs. Vale held up a trembling tablet screen that had just received an international news alert.
"Sir... your wife left on a private jet three days ago," Mrs. Vale stuttered, tears welling in her eyes. "She just landed in New York... to take over her family's hundred-billion-dollar global empire!"
