The next day, Chase and Petal were on their way home, the tension in the car palpable. Chase's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes frequently darting toward her. Petal sat silently in the passenger seat, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her expression unreadable.

Chase's mind raced, wondering if she believed him or if doubt still lingered in her heart. He wanted to say something, anything, to break the silence, but the weight of the unspoken words hung heavy between them.

When they finally pulled into the driveway, Chase took a deep breath, preparing to speak. "Petal, I-" he began, his voice hesitant.

But before he could finish, Petal abruptly unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car. Without looking back, she rushed inside the house, leaving Chase sitting there, stunned and frustrated.

He leaned back against the seat, running a hand through his hair. Watching her retreating figure, his chest tightened with a mix of worry and regret. What is she thinking? he wondered, feeling the ache of her distance more keenly than ever.

Chase eventually stepped out of the car, his steps slow as he followed her inside. He knew he couldn't let the silence continue-it was suffocating him

.......

As they entered the house, Maya was waiting for them in the living room, her arms crossed, and her expression laced with concern.

"Where were you two?" she asked sharply, her gaze darting between Chase and Petal.

Petal hesitated, her eyes dropping to the floor. Chase noticed her discomfort immediately and stepped forward.

"I'll explain," he said gently, glancing at Petal. "Go ahead and rest."

Petal nodded silently and walked toward her room, avoiding Maya's gaze.

Maya turned her attention back to Chase, her voice firmer now. "Tell me where you both were."

Chase exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. "At our farmhouse," he said calmly.

"Farmhouse?" Maya's brow furrowed. "But why?"

"Actually," Chase began, his tone softening, "last night, when I went to the kitchen to get water, I saw Petal was still awake. When I checked on her in her room, her face said it all-she'd had another nightmare. I thought some fresh air would help clear her mind, so I took her out for a drive. We ended up getting late, and since the farmhouse was nearby, I decided to take her there to rest."

Maya's posture relaxed slightly, though her concern didn't fade entirely. "Oh, I see," she said. "But you should have called. I've been awake since 3 a.m., trying to reach you both. I was about to call William to look for you!"

Chase offered an apologetic smile. "Petal forgot her phone at home, and my battery was drained. I didn't realize until it was too late."

Maya sighed, shaking her head. "Fine, but next time, let me know if something like this happens. I was worried sick!"

Chase nodded sincerely. "Understood. I'll make sure to keep you in the loop next time."

"Good." Maya's tone softened as a small smile appeared on her face.

"Okay, ma'am," Chase teased with a mock salute, earning a chuckle from her.

......

Chase sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, I'll rest for a while, then head to the office," he said, heading toward the stairs.

As he passed the hall, his eyes caught an envelope sitting on the light table. He stopped abruptly and picked it up, frowning. "What's this?" he asked aloud.

Maya turned from the kitchen, drying her hands with a towel. "Oh, that's a wedding invitation. It came a few days ago. I forgot to tell you," she said casually.

Chase's jaw tightened as he opened the envelope. His eyes scanned the names, and his expression darkened. "Oh, shit," he muttered, gripping the invitation.

"What?" Maya asked, sensing his irritation.

"It's my business partner's wedding invitation, Maya!" His voice rose. "How could you forget something so important?"

Maya flinched at his tone. "I'm sorry, Chase. I've just been busy with the housework-"

"Busy?" he interrupted sharply. "It was two days ago, Maya. Two days! Where is your mind?"

She lowered her head, guilt washing over her. "I'm really sorry, Chase. I didn't mean-"

"Give me your phone," he snapped, cutting her off.

Maya hesitated, but before she could respond, Chase grabbed her phone from the coffee table and walked away to make the call.

---

When he returned, he found Maya sitting silently on the sofa, her head bowed, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her dress. Her sadness was palpable, and it hit him .

He sighed, his anger melting away. He sat beside her, his voice softer now. "Maya," he called gently.

She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I'm sorry," he said, his tone filled with regret. "I shouldn't have talked to you like that. I overreacted."

She shook her head. "No, Chase, you were right. It was my fault. I should have been more aware. I'll make sure nothing like this happens again."

"Relax, Maya. It's okay," he said, placing a reassuring hand on hers.

After a moment of silence, she looked at him hesitantly. "Chase, can I say something?"

"Of course," he replied, leaning closer.

"Don't ever get mad at me like that again," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I thought you wouldn't talk to me for days. I was so scared."

His heart ached at her words. Without a second thought, he pulled her into a tight hug. "Okay, I won't," he promised, his voice firm yet gentle.

As he held her, he felt her relax in his arms, her sadness slowly dissipating. He pulled back slightly and smiled at her. "Get ready," he said.

"For what?" she asked, wiping her eyes.

"We're going to the reception party for my partner's wedding," he announced.

"But we're late, aren't we?" she asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Not as late as we were for the wedding," he teased, earning a laugh from her.

She stood up, her mood much lighter now. "Okay, I'll get ready."

As she walked away, she paused and turned to him. "Chase?"

"Hmm?" he responded, looking up.

"Shall we take Petal with us?" she asked hesitantly.

Chase tried to act indifferent, but a flicker of excitement crossed his face. "Why not?" he said casually, though his heart leaped at the thought of spending time with Petal.

Maya smiled brightly and disappeared upstairs to get ready, leaving Chase behind with a lingering smile on his face. He had a way of wrapping her emotions around his fingers, but it was moments like this that reminded him of the power of his own words.

.......

After getting ready, Chase walked toward Petal's room. He knocked lightly before pushing the door open.

"Are you guys ready?" he asked, stepping inside.

To his surprise, he saw Petal sitting on the bed, still in her casual clothes. Maya, however, was dressed and ready to leave.

"See, Chase," Maya said with a sigh, gesturing toward Petal. "She's saying she doesn't want to go anywhere."

Chase frowned and turned his attention to Petal. "Why not, Petal?" he asked gently.

Petal looked down at her hands, avoiding his gaze. "I'm not feeling like going anywhere," she mumbled.

Chase walked closer and stood by the bed, his tone soft but firm. "If you stay here, you'll be left alone in the house. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

Maya joined in, her voice tinged with concern. "Yeah, so you better come with us. It'll be good for you to get out for a while."

Petal shook her head slightly. "You guys go, Mom. I can manage. I always did... back in Dad's house."

The words hung in the air like a heavy weight. Chase immediately noticed the way Maya's expression faltered. The unintended sting of Petal's words hit her hard.

Petal realized it too, her face falling with regret. "I didn't mean it like that, Mom. I just-"

"I know," Maya interrupted, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's okay if you don't want to go. But if you need anything, don't forget to call me, alright? I'll come back right away."

Petal's heart ached at her mother's attempt to hide her hurt. "Just go and enjoy, Mom," she said softly, looking up at her.

Maya leaned down and hugged her tightly, stroking her hair. "Take care, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice laced with unspoken love and worry.

---

Chase watched the interaction quietly, his jaw tightening as he saw the pain flicker in Maya's eyes. Once they stepped out of the room, he turned to her, his voice low and steady.

"She didn't mean it, Maya. Don't take it to heart."

Maya nodded, though her expression remained conflicted. "I know she didn't."

"shall we go?" Chase said, offering his arm with a light smirk, hoping to lift her mood.

Maya looped her arm through his, letting out a soft laugh. "Yes, let's go."

As they left, the quiet of the house settled over Petal. She glanced toward the door, guilt nibbling at her heart. She wanted to run after them, but something inside held her back. She sighed, laying back on her bed, staring at the ceiling as the echoes of her words replayed in her mind.

......

Chase and Maya thought Petal was alone at home, but she wasn't entirely alone. Someone was watching her closely, keeping eye on her every move.

"It's time to officially meet you, Petal, isn't it?" he murmured with a smirk, his voice laced with sinister intent.

......

Petal stood in the kitchen, lost in her thoughts, her mind replaying the strange and unsettling scene she had witnessed the day before. Her fingers absently traced the edge of the counter as she stared at nothing in particular.

Suddenly, a cold hand clamped over her mouth, and a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back. She froze, her heart hammering in her chest as fear surged through her.

"Hello, darling," a deep voice whispered in her ear, dripping with mockery.

Her eyes widened, and she struggled against the grip, twisting and pushing until she managed to pull away. She turned quickly, and her gaze landed on a man wearing a thief mask. He stood there, leaning casually against the counter, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement as he watched her every move.

"You look so pretty when you're scared," he said with a sly smirk, his gaze trailing over her trembling form.

Petal's eyes darted to the slab where her phone rested, just within arm's reach. She made a desperate move toward it, but he was faster.

Before she could grab it, he snatched the phone and held it out of her reach. "Ah, ah, don't ruin the mood, darling," he teased, his smile widening as he waved the phone mockingly.

"What do you want?" she demanded, her voice shaky but determined.

His smirk deepened as he stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "What if I say... you?" he murmured, his voice low and dangerous, his face inching closer to hers.

.......

The party was in full swing. The room buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. Chase stood near the bar, sipping his drink, his eyes scanning the crowd aimlessly. Maya was seated with a group of ladies, engaged in conversation, while Chase's mind drifted elsewhere.

His frien approached him and asked "Why didn't Petal come?"

Chase shrugged, taking another sip of his drink. "She said she was tired. Didn't feel like coming."

"If it were up to me, I'd be home with her right now. This party's boring without her." He paused, then added under his breath, "How good it would've been if she came. I might've even gotten the chance to dance with her."

Just as he finished speaking, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He casually pulled it out, expecting a mundane message, but his heart dropped when he saw the notification. A picture was attached.

The image showed Petal tied to a chair, her head slumped to the side as though she were unconscious.

Chase's hand tightened around his phone, his knuckles turning white. His heart pounded as rage and panic surged through him. Before he could react, his phone rang. The unknown number sent a chill down his spine. He answered immediately.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" Chase snarled, his voice low but brimming with fury.

A cold, mocking voice on the other end responded, "Stop me if you can."