The Russian Billionaire's Secret Heir

Chapter 27

"Chase, are you ready?" Collin shouted from outside, his voice echoing through the hallway.

Inside, Chase was still getting ready, his mind preoccupied with thoughts that felt heavier than usual. A few minutes later, he finally made his way downstairs.

His three friends stood waiting, but their expressions were unusually somber, lacking the usual camaraderie they shared.

"Let's go," Chase said, his voice deep and steady as he slipped on his black sunglasses. He headed for his car, the gesture feeling like a shield against the world outside.

The others exchanged glances but said nothing as they followed him into their own vehicle. The atmosphere in the car was tense, the weight of unspoken worries hanging in the air.

As they drove toward the airport, Lance broke the silence. "Am I the only one who notices Chase, or is he just indifferent to everyone except that girl?"

"You know he's been trying to find her ever since that one-night stand," Charles replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "You can't really blame him for being so fixated."

Collin frowned, "But I only saw him like this today. In all the time we've been friends, this is the first time he's been so crazy about a woman. It's not like him."

"Yeah, it's definitely different," Lance agreed, concern etched on his face. "I just hope he doesn't lose himself in this. He can be so focused that it's like he forgets everything else."

"Maybe this is what he needs, though," Charles suggested, his voice softer. "Everyone has that one person who can shake them up. It's just hard to watch him struggle."

Collin nodded slowly. "We should be there for him. He's always been the strong one in our group. Right now, he seems...lost."

Lance looked resolute. "We'll make sure he knows he's not alone. Whatever he's going through, we're in this together."

As they approached the airport, a shared determination settled among them. They were more than friends; they were brothers, and they would do whatever it took to help Chase find his way back.

Chase didn't utter a word throughout the entire flight from Russia to New York, his silence a heavy presence among his friends. He sat motionless, staring blankly ahead, lost in his own thoughts.

As the plane landed, the wheels touched down with a soft jolt. Collin leaned closer to Charles and Lance, whispering, "He didn't sleep for ten hours of our flight."

The two glanced at Chase, their concern growing. As they exited the plane and made their way to the waiting car, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken worries. They climbed in, and the driver pulled away from the terminal, heading toward their hotel.

Collin broke the silence again, his voice low. "We really need to get him to talk. This isn't like him."

Lance nodded, keeping his eyes on Chase in the rearview mirror. "He looks completely out of it. We have to make sure he's okay."

Charles leaned back in his seat, trying to think of the right words. "Maybe once we settle in, we can talk to him. He might just need a little time to adjust."

The car glided through the bustling streets of New York, the city alive with energy, but Chase remained detached. He seemed miles away, caught in a web of his own thoughts.

As they pulled up to the hotel, Collin placed a hand on Chase's shoulder. "Hey, we're here. Let's check in and take a breather, okay?"

Chase nodded, though it felt more like an automatic response than a genuine affirmation. The three friends exchanged worried glances, each of them hoping that once they were settled, they could reach the Chase they knew beneath the surface.

They just needed to find a way to break through the wall he had built around himself.