Chapter 175: Claire Missing
After they finished their meal, Zeke could no longer hold back his curiosity. The question had been pressing on his mind all evening.
"So, what’s your relationship status now?"
Gianna, who had just lifted her glass of wine to her lips, slowly lowered it again. Her brows arched slightly.
"You want to know?" she asked, her tone light, almost teasing.
Gianna turned to Xavier with a small smirk.
"Zeke wanted to know what our relationship status is now," she said lightly. "So, do you want to say it, or should I?"
Xavier looked at her with clear affection in his eyes. "It’s up to you," he answered softly.
Seeing the way they looked at each other, Zeke felt regret. He should not have asked. From their behavior alone, it was already obvious—they were together.
Gianna finally answered Zeke’s question with a calm smile. "We’re dating."
Zeke gave a small nod, showing he understood, while Cassidy’s lips curved into a genuine, warm smile.
"You two look perfect together," Cassidy said sincerely.
"Thank you," Gianna replied with gratitude.
She knew how deep Xavier’s feelings for Cassidy used to be. Even so, she had never felt jealous—only a little envious at times. But who would have thought Cassidy was Zeke’s ex-wife? When Cassidy and Zeke found their way back together, Xavier’s heart quietly broke. And yet, fate in its strange kindness led Gianna and Xavier to each other.
They kept talking about little things before finally saying goodbye and heading back to their own places.
Inside the car, Cassidy couldn’t stop smiling.
"Are you really that happy?" Zeke asked.
"Yeah. I’m so happy. I was right, Xavier and Gianna are more than just friends."
Zeke felt happy too, for Gianna. He knew how quietly deep her feelings for Xavier had always been. Before he found out that the man Gianna liked was Xavier, he had often wondered who could make a woman like her hide her feelings for so long. And when he finally learned it was Xavier, he was surprised by the twist of fate.
Who would have thought that his rival in love turned out to be the man Gianna loved all along?
"So, do you feel relieved now?" Zeke asked, glancing at Cassidy with a tender smile.
Cassidy nodded.
After that, the car was filled with calm silence until they reached home. Claire had already fallen asleep earlier.
The rest of their days in Switzerland were spent between Cassidy working with her Cy. Noire team on the upcoming store in the States, visiting Nico as Claire wished, and enjoying little trips around the city.
When they returned, life fell back into its usual rhythm. Zeke was busy with work, Claire with preschool, and Cassidy with designing her new collections for Cy. Noire and Little Noire.
***
Zeke was busy reviewing the monthly financial reports on his iPad when his phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the screen, saw Blake’s name, and picked up right away.
"Sir, we lost the young miss."
Zeke shot up from his chair. "What do you mean you lost Claire?" His voice rose sharply.
"When school was over, the young miss wanted to go to the restroom. A teacher took her there. But suddenly someone hit me from behind and I blacked out. When I woke up and searched for her, the young miss was already gone from the school," Blake explained, guilt and anger heavy in his voice.
"So, Claire was kidnapped?" Zeke clenched his jaw, forcing down panic and rage. "Does Cassidy know?"
"Not yet, sir. But madam keeps calling. She’s worried because school is already over and we haven’t brought the young miss home."
"Don’t tell her yet—I’ll do it myself. Check every CCTV in that school," Zeke ordered, his tone low and calm. Blake knew all too well: the calmer Zeke sounded, the angrier he truly was.
"And if anything happens to my daughter, you will face the consequences."
"Yes, sir."
After ended the call, Zeke rushed out of his office, running so fast he didn’t even bother to grab the suit jacket hanging on his chair. His panic was clear. Andrew, who saw him bolting down the hall, quickly ran after him.
"Where are you going? What happened?" Andrew called out.
Zeke didn’t respond, his steps only quickening as they entered the elevator.
"Hey, Zeke—what’s going on? Why are you this panicked? Did something happen?" Andrew pressed, his voice low but tense. "Did something happen to Claire?"
Zeke’s head snapped toward him, his sharp gaze locking onto Andrew. "How do you know?" he demanded, suspicion flashing in his eyes without him realizing it.
Andrew held his stare. "Because I’ve only ever seen you lose control like this over Claire... or Cassidy."
Zeke let out a shaky breath, still out of breath from running.
"Claire was taken."
"What? Taken? How?" Andrew asked in shock. No wonder Zeke was so panicked.
"I don’t know. Blake just told me," Zeke said, running a hand through his hair.
"What can I do? Should I call the police?"
"Not yet. I need to figure this out first."
Zeke climbed into the car with Andrew and told his driver to head straight to Claire’s school.
On the way there, he tried to calm himself, but it was useless. Panic twisted in his chest, fear pressing down on him at the thought of something happening to Claire. And how was he supposed to tell Cassidy? He had promised both of them that he would protect and keep them safe. And now look at him—he couldn’t even keep that promise.
Zeke cursed under his breath, blaming himself for everything.
One name came to his mind as he tried to figure out who would dare take Claire.
"Abigail," he muttered.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and called Blake.
"What did you find from the CCTV?" he asked as soon as Blake answered.
"Sir, from the CCTV we found that the female teacher who took young Miss Claire to the restroom came out carrying her. And young Miss looked like she was asleep," Blake reported, describing the footage from a few hours earlier.
"After that, she was seen putting a suitcase in her trunk. We suspect young Miss Claire might be inside that suitcase, sir," Blake added.
Zeke’s fist tightened, holding back his anger when he heard that.
"What did you get from that teacher? Have you searched her address?"
"From the teachers we interviewed, it turns out that woman is new. She only started a few weeks ago. Markus and a few bodyguards are on their way there now, sir."
"What about the eyes watching Abigail’s moves?" Zeke pressed.
"Mrs. Perez? Do you suspect her too, sir? I checked the spies we planted near her, and apparently, Mrs. Perez was seen happy today, smiling all the time. Very different from her usual short-tempered nature."
Zeke clenched his teeth when he heard that.
"It seems we should suspect Mrs. Perez, sir. What are your orders?"
"I want Abigail now. Get her—fast. We’ll find out if she’s behind this or not."
"Yes, sir."
Blake immediately called his spies and passed on Zeke’s orders.
After ending the call, his phone suddenly vibrated.
Cassidy was calling.
Zeke’s face went pale. He tried to steady his voice, forcing himself to control his emotions before answering.
"Hey, baby..."
"Hey, can you call Blake and ask where they are right now? It’s already past Claire’s school hours, and she still isn’t home. I tried calling Blake, but he didn’t pick up..." Cassidy’s voice carried a trace of panic.
Zeke rubbed his temple, debating whether he should tell Cassidy the truth. The last thing he wanted was to send her into fear and panic.
So Zeke decided not to tell Cassidy just yet.
"Okay, I’ll call Blake. Maybe they’re stuck in traffic or stopped somewhere on the way," he said, giving her an excuse.
"If you hear anything from Blake, call me right away."
"Alright, baby."
Just as they were about to reach Claire’s school, Zeke’s phone buzzed again. It was Blake calling.
"Sir, Markus has arrived at the teacher’s apartment, but it’s empty. According to the landlord, she hasn’t returned for almost a week. And the spies already carried out your order. Mrs. Perez is on her way to the usual place, sir."
"Good. I’m going there now."
Zeke ended the call and told his driver to change course and head to their usual warehouse.
The driver immediately followed his orders.
Andrew, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke when the car changed direction. "Has Claire been found?"
"No..." Zeke muttered.
"Then where are we going? We’re not heading to her school anymore?"
Zeke didn’t answer. He just stared out the window, lost in his own thoughts. Andrew didn’t push him for a reply and chose to stay quiet, simply following Zeke’s lead.
When they arrived, Andrew frowned, surprised they had stopped at a warehouse.
"What are we doing here?" he asked.
"To meet the one we think took Claire."
***