The nanny sent to wake Locke and the servant assigned to Elissa burst from their respective rooms, their faces drained of color.
“Locke is gone!”
“Miss Holland has vanished!”
Their eyes met, dread mirrored in their gazes, before they cried out in unison,
“We’re in deep trouble!”
“Hurry, alert Mr. Flynn! Get Mr. Miles!”
“Right away!”
Thirty minutes later, Ernest stormed into the living room, his typically stoic demeanor replaced by a storm of fury. His presence was a chilling force, his voice laced with venom as he turned on Quentin. “Useless! Elissa is pregnant, and Locke is just a child. How could you let them slip through your fingers?”
Quentin bowed his head, silenced by shame, unable to muster a defense.
“Where could they have gone?” Ernest’s brow furrowed, his mind racing.
“Search the Holland estate and the Torres family, now!”
“Yes, sir!” Quentin nodded. “We’ve dispatched teams already, but there is no word yet.”
He hesitated, then added, “When Mr. Holland heard the news, his condition worsened. He has been rushed to the hospital.”
Ernest’s eyes snapped shut for a fleeting moment, his jaw tightening.
“Which fool handled this so carelessly? Don’t you know his health was fragile?” Gritting his teeth, he issued a sharp command. “Summon the finest doctors. We cannot, will not, let anything happen to Elissa’s grandfather. Not even the slightest risk!”
“Understood!”
“Robin must know something,” Ernest growled, his voice rising. “Bring him to me. I’ll question him myself!”
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“Right away, Mr. Flynn!”
Elissa couldn’t have orchestrated such a seamless escape alone, not with Locke in tow.
Who had the means to pull this off?
Ernest’s mind locked onto Robin.
It had to be him, working in secret to spirit her away so flawlessly.
No wonder Elissa had been so compliant lately. It was all a ruse to keep him from suspecting her plan.
“Yes, sir!” Quentin replied crisply and hurried out.
It wasn’t long before he returned.
“Mr. Flynn! Robin isn’t in Srixby. He left for Tidebourne last night.”
A cold gleam lit up Ernest’s eyes, his jaw tightening as a bitter smile curled on his lips. “So it is him.”
He didn’t need more proof—he was certain now. Robin had taken Elissa and Locke.
.
.
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