BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 47: Mystery of the Missing Morning

Chapter 47: Mystery of the Missing Morning

The stillness of the early morning was unsettling. At around 4:20 AM, I woke up with a start, needing to use the restroom. But as I returned, a sinking feeling hit me – the bed was empty. Luke wasn't there. After the restless night he'd had, plagued by nightmares, it seemed unusual for him to be up so early. My heart raced with concern as I wandered through the quiet house, checking his office, but found no sign of him. I tried calling his phone, but each attempt went straight to voicemail, amplifying my worry.

Luke never worked on Saturdays, not since I had moved in. He had promised that weekends were our sacred time together. As the hours passed with no call or text from him, my anxiety spiraled. By 5 PM, with still no word, panic gripped me. The previous night's unsettling encounter with the mysterious man kept replaying in my mind, fueling my fears.

I reached out to the office security, a desperate attempt for any clue, but they confirmed Luke hadn't been in today. Feeling increasingly desperate, I dialed Max, Luke's best friend, hoping for any information.

Max picked up after a few rings. "Max, it's Emily," I said, my voice shaking. "Luke's missing. He's not been home since early this morning, and I can't reach him. I'm really worried."

Hearing the distress in my voice, Max's tone was instantly soothing. "Hey, Emily, calm down. Let's not jump to conclusions. Luke's probably just clearing his head."

But I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. "You don't understand, Max. He's never done this before. Not like this. Not without telling me."

Max's voice softened, "Emily, remember how we used to joke about Luke being a master of escapades? He's probably off on one of his thinking adventures. He's always been a bit of a lone wolf when sorting things out."

Trying to inject some lightness into the situation, Max teased, "Besides, you guys managed to keep your secret marriage under wraps from everyone, including me, his supposed best friend. He's quite the enigma, isn't he?"

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for not having shared our secret with Max earlier. "I'm sorry, Max. I know I should have told you. You must think I'm awful, right?"

Max's laughter rang through the phone, a comforting sound that eased some of the tension. "Hey, I'm just pulling your leg, Emily. Luke spilled the beans when you two were in Brazil, about to tie the knot. He was so hammered, I told him if he didn't marry you right away, I'd fly over and scoop you up myself!" His tone was playful, yet there was a warm undertone of affection in his voice.

He continued, his voice still light but filled with fondness, "And let me tell you, right after you guys said 'I do', Luke called me, drunk as a lord, going on and on about how amazing you are. The guy's been head over heels since day one. At the office, even when he was playing the tough boss, giving you all that work, he couldn't stop talking about you. It was always 'Emily this' and 'Emily that'. He's completely smitten, you know."

Hearing Max's words, a mix of laughter and tears welled up in me. It was comforting and heartwarming to know how much Luke talked about me, even when we were dancing around our feelings.

Max's tone shifted to one of reassurance. "Look, I know Luke. He's probably just sorting through some things. I'm sure he's just out there, probably sitting on some hilltop, contemplating how lucky he is to have you. Give him some time. But I promise you, I'll keep an eye out and call you the minute I hear anything."

As I put down the phone, the house felt eerily silent, a stark contrast to the warmth and laughter Max's stories had momentarily brought. My gaze kept drifting to the front door, half-expecting Luke to walk in at any moment.

Evening crept in, and with it, the weight of Luke's absence grew heavier. His unexplained disappearance, so out of character, left me in a state of restless concern. I tried to distract myself, but my thoughts kept circling back to Luke, to the love we shared, and the fears that now seemed to overshadow it.

The night settled in, deep and quiet, with no sign of Luke. Questions about his whereabouts and the enigmatic man from the restaurant gnawed at me, casting a long shadow over the empty spaces of our home. Every moment that ticked by felt like an eternity, every unknown detail a piece of a puzzle I desperately needed to solve.