Chapter 15

The villa district wasn't packed with cars, but the streets split off in every direction.

Verena pressed harder on the accelerator and guided the wheel through turn after turn.

Bobby kept his eyes on her car as it slipped smoothly through each curve. He could tell she'd already spotted him.

She was almost gone from view. His foot hovered over the gas, but he hesitated. That severe crash had scarred their family, and he couldn't risk repeating the past. Still, if he stayed cautious,the perfect woman for his brother would get away.

That tug-of-war in his head cost him precious seconds. By the time he realized it, her car had vanished, and he'd steered straight onto a blocked-off road under construction.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed.

Over at Willis Villa, the party buzzed with chatter.

"Kaia, the clock's ticking. Shouldn't you already be up there kicking off the party?"

"Yeah, didn't you promise you'd choose a partner for the opening dance once things got started? We're dying to find out who the mystery man is."

Kaia's friends' voices carried a playful urgency.

She knew she should be on stage, but Bobby still hadn't shown up. She wanted everyone to see that he'd made the effort to come for her birthday.

Keeping her tone light, she said, "Just a little longer. There's one guest I'm still waiting for."

Her friends exchanged curious glances. "Who could possibly be that important?"

A warm flush spread across Kaia's cheeks. One of them grinned knowingly. "Oh, I see that blush. Don't tell me this 'guest' is more than just a casual acquaintance?"

Inside, Kaia's heart agreed, but she kept her smile composed.

She leaned closer to the young woman who just spoke and deliberately said in a hushed but teasing voice,"Don't spread such rumors. That guest is Bobby Bennett."

The words hung in the air for a beat before gasps and raised brows broke the quiet.

"Seriously? Bobby's actually coming?"

"Wait,did I hear you right? Bobby never shows up to birthday parties unless it's for Slater."

"Kaia, just spill it. What's going on between you two?"

The cluster of women watched her with eager eyes, their curiosity as obvious as their envy.

In her mind, Kaia heard Bobby's voice again, praising her for her kindness. She had never been certain about his feelings, but the way her friends were talking planted a hopeful thought.

Men liked gentle, genuine women. Bobby wasn't one to fake his words. That had to mean something...right?

Her face warmed, the heat creeping into her cheeks.

Thirty minutes had slipped by, yet there was still no sign of Bobby anywhere.

The same women who had envied her earlier now leaned close to whisper.

"Strange. She was so sure Bobby wouuld be here, but it's been forever."

"Do you think he ditched her?"

"Shh, lower your voice before she hears."

Kaia was standing close enough to catch every word. The anticipation she'd carried all evening curled into embarrassment.

Her fingers tightened around her glass. Pushing down the sting, she moved gracefully from guest to guest, raising her glass with the same practiced smile.

One gulp drained her wine. With her smile stilI fixed, she slipped onto the balcony and pulled out her phone.

Meanwhile, Bobby remained stranded on that half-finished road.

The place was nearly deserted, and the darkness only made it harder to find his way.

Bobby finally called for someone to pick him up. But before he could even pocket his phone, it lit up with another call.

Before Bobby could even say hello, an urgent voice rushed through the line. "Mr. Bennett, the party's starting any minute. When can we expect you?"

Getting the chance to meet the woman he thought could be the perfect sister-in-law should have been a win, yet he'd ended up chasing her straight onto a road closed for repairs. Losing sight of her and winding up lost had already soured his mood, and now Kaia's call pressed him for answers.

"I won't be making it," he said sharply. "If you still want to move ahead with the plan against Verena,have Slater take over. Call him yourself."

To anyone looking in from the outside, Bobby and Slater were nearly inseparable. So when Bobby had agreed to show up for Kaia's birthday, Slater had casually decided to go too.

Her stomach dropped at his words. Was he really bailing? After she'd told everyone he was coming? The thought of facing the guests now made her skin prickle.

Kaia fought to keep her temper in check and spoke in a calm tone. "Mr. Bennett, is there something pressing that's holding you up? We made an agreement to work side by side, yet the plan hasn't even begun and now you're pulling away?"

Rather than explain, Bobby ended the call without another word, unwilling to waste more time.

The flat tone on the line made Kaia's grip on her phone tighten. Heat rose to her face and her breathing grew uneven, the sting of frustration sharp in her chest.

But she forced herself to remember the bigger picture-Verena's wedding to Isaac needed to be stopped, and that mattered more than her pride right now.

Pushing the anger down, she pulled up Slater's contact and hit call.

The call went through without delay, and Kaia spoke without preamble. "Hi, Slater, this is Kaia. Are you around?"

In truth, his familiarity with her was minimal. Most of what he knew came from Bobby, and nothing in those accounts made her seem like someone he could fully trust.

Slater had never approved of Kaia, yet politeness kept his tone steady as he said, "I'm sorry, Miss Willis.My grandfather suddenly fell ill, and I need to stay with himn. I can't leave right now, but I'll make sure someone delivers a gift on my behalf."

Normally, receiving a gift from someone of Slater's influence would have been enough to make Kaia's evening. Tonight, however, was about more than her birthday-it was the perfect chance to deal with Verena, and his absence was a blow.

"Alright, I understand," she replied, though the stiffness in her voice betrayed her disappointment.

The call ended, and her jaw tightened. So muchfor help-at the moment she needed allies the most, they all had somewhere else to be. Looked like she'd have to handle this herself.

Taking the stairs two at a time, she headed for the last room at the far end of the third-floor hall.

Her knuckles rapped against the door, and her voice carried through it. "Verena, it's me. The party's started -come downstairs."

Not a single word came back to her.

A twinge of unease crept in. She twisted the handle and stepped inside.

The quiet inside the room felt heavy. She called Verena's name again as she crossed the space, but the silence stayed unbroken.

Though part of her already suspected the truth, she moved methodically, unwilling to overlook even the smallest hiding place. The bathroom was empty. So was the wardrobe. Not a single sign of anyone.

Hands curling into fists, she turned to leave, spotting a servant walking past in the corridor.

"Have you seen Verena?" she asked sharply.

The servant shook her head. "No, Miss.I haven't."

Kaia's temper flared. Not seen Verena? As if she could simply vanish without notice.

Kaia wondered when Verena had left and how she had missed it.