The night was calm, Malric stood on the balcony, the cool wind brushing against his face as he swirled a glass of red wine in his hand. His phone had been ringing for several minutes on the table behind him,
but he ignored it. Not until the last sip burned its way down his throat did he finally turn back toward it.
The number was unfamiliar. He pressed receive without much thought only to be met with a sharp, piercing voice he knew too well.
"You brat! What on earth is keeping you so busy that you can't answer my call? Your wife's been missing for hours while you sit there doing nothing! Don't you dare get on my nerves or I'll—"
"Oh, hell no, Grandma," Malric interrupted, his lips curving into a lazy smirk. "Is that how you welcome your grandson home? With lectures and threats?"
"You know I missed you, right? Tell me how you've been. Let's have lunch tomorrow I'll treat you to one of your favorite dishes."
"Stop pretending as if you care, young man!" Mrs. Calista snapped. "And don't you dare change the subject. We're talking about my granddaughter-in-law. Go find her. Now."
Malric's expression shifted. The teasing in his eyes vanished, replaced by cold indifference.
" what granddaughter-in-law?" he said dryly. "Grandma, I don't know what you're plotting, but let me make one thing clear I never approved of this so called marriage,
and I'm certain Grandpa wouldn't either. You expect me to accept a high-school girl as my wife? Not my type at all. So, please, spare me the drama, Grandma Calis."
On the other end, a low, knowing laugh came through.
"Don't test my patience, Malric," she warned, her tone both loving and threatening. "Don't make my affection turn into wrath because once it does, not even you will survive it. When dawn breaks, I'll be at your door, and I expect to see her there. If you dare chase her out of your room…"
"We'll talk when I get there."
The line went dead.
Malric sighed, tossing his phone onto the bed before redialing another number.
"Nick, look into my so called wife," he ordered coolly. "I want everything her background, where she's been, who she's with. Report anything suspicious."
Okay, boss, but that means I'll have to break into your family's—"
permit it. Just get it done."
ended the call, stripped off his shirt, and stepped into the bathroom.
The mirror fogged with steam, and for a moment, he stared at his own reflection. The resemblance to his father made his chest tighten in disgust. The same jawline. The same cold eyes. The same man he had sworn never to become. Memories he'd buried deep clawed at the edges of his mind, and he shut them away with a deep breath.
When he emerged, a towel slung around his waist, a soft knock echoed through the door.
"old man," he called, sighing. "You don't have to knock every time."
The old man stepped in, bowing slightly.
"My apologies, sir. But Mr. Zarek called it's urgent. You should take the call."
Malric grabbed his phone, scrolling through a flood of missed calls before returning one.
"What did you find?" he asked curtly.
"Boss…" Nick's voice crackled with tension. "This is big. The woman you married she's the same girl we've been looking for. The same girl we're holding captive right now."
There was a pause.
"In other words, boss, you've already hit the jackpot. We've not only got her but she's your wife."
Malric froze.
"Where is she?"
Without waiting for a reply, he was already pulling on his clothes and heading out the door.
He drove through the night like a storm, tires screeching, GPS guiding him toward a sleek penthouse one owned by Zarek. If Nick had involved Zarek, that meant trouble. Zarek was cold, ruthless, and his methods often left scars that never healed. Since the mission involved a woman, Malric had trusted Nick to handle it delicately.
But as he entered the penthouse, unease settled in his chest. The air was too quiet.
He climbed the stairs and pushed open the door. The bed was empty only a lesso lay tossed carelessly over the sheets. The girl was gone.
He stepped forward cautiously, the dim light flickering then froze as a presence moved behind him.
He turned and a vase shattered against his head.
Glass exploded in all directions, and pain shot through his skull. Warm blood trickled down his temple, staining his white shirt crimson.
The girl stood trembling, eyes wide with horror.
Malric straightened, wiping the blood from his face. He took a slow step toward her. She stumbled backward, clutching the edge of the table.
"I-I'm so… sorry—"
"We'll talk about that later," he said coldly. In a swift motion, he lifted her off her feet, slinging her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.
"Put me down! Let me go!...." she screamed, pounding against his back. Her voice trembled with fear and exhaustion. All elysia wanted was to be home ,to crawl into her bed and pretend this nightmare had never happened.
Malric's jaw tightened. Her screaming grated on his nerves. She had hit him, and now she was the one crying for help.
Outside, he threw her gently yet firmly into the back seat of his car. She tried to push the door open, but one look at his face stopped her. The icy glare in his silver eyes told her that one wrong move could end badly.
Elysia shrank back into the corner of the seat, hugging her knees, trembling like a leaf.
Malric slammed the door and started the engine. The silence that followed was deafening. She could hear the rhythm of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears as the city lights blurred past the window.
When the car finally stopped at the mansion, Mr. Storm was waiting at the entrance. Inside, Nick and Zarek were seated calmly on the couch, their expressions unreadable.
"Mr. Leander, take care of her," Malric said, his tone sharp. "I have business to handle.", his eyes never leaving the two men.
He turned toward his study.
"No!" blurted suddenly. "I don't need any care."
Everyone froze.
"You take care of him," she added quietly, her eyes darting toward Malric with a look he couldn't quite decipher.
Then she turned and walked away, leaving a stunned silence behind her.
For once, Malric had no words. His eyes followed her as she disappeared down the
hallway her fragile frame, and her quiet defiance.
And for the first time that night, Malric felt something unfamiliar stirring inside his chest.