The Billionaire's Promise
Chapter 202: She Is Missing

Chapter 202: She Is Missing

"I have bad news, Erik. Aryana was kidnapped from the cruise ship last night! The bodyguard you hired to watch her from the shadows colluded with the kidnappers."

"What?" The pen Erik was holding snapped into two.

"Find out who the kidnappers are right now! Exhaust all our resources to bring her back!" Erik stood abruptly from his chair and approached Marlon who stepped back. The expression on Erik’s face was new to him. Was it fury or worry or both?

"Bo... Boss, their getaway boat was caught in a tornado and capsized. The kidnappers’ bloated bodies were recovered. Aryana... she.. is missing." Marlon has difficulty saying those words. He was scared to say that probably his wife was also dead. When he received the news, he was shocked and it took a long time for him to recover.

Time stood still.

Erik felt as if an iron fist squeezed his heart. It stopped beating for a few seconds and he cannot breathe. Clutching his chest, he staggered backward and fell down as he lost consciousness.

"Erik!" As a trained military officer, Marlon did not panic. He checked Erik’s pulse before calling for an ambulance. As Erik’s friend and subordinate, his was filled with worry.

An hour passed when Erik regained consciousness. Against the doctor’s advice, he boarded a helicopter and scanned the area where the cruise ship traversed the night before, hoping against hope that miraculously, he could find his wife safe and sound.

Marlon alerted the Marines, and rescue boats were deployed.

In the afternoon, Erik visited the Pearl Of The Orient cruise ship. He was supposed to accompany her on that cruise for her photo shoot but because of ’that incident’ he missed the trip.

All the crew members were gathered on the deck. Erik interrogated them and their stories point to just one outcome.

Aryana completed the shoot in the afternoon and had a wrap-up party at night. At midnight most of the crew were drunk and sleeping. Two security officers who were patrolling the cruise ship were knocked down and hidden in a closet. They were only discovered this morning. The kidnappers used an inflatable to leave the cruise ship so the lifeboats were all intact and no one suspected that there was something amiss.

"Damn it! The kidnap happened last night. Why was it reported just this morning?"

"I am sorry, Sir. We were only able to confirm this morning after our internal investigation." The captain kept his head down. He was ashamed to admit that they were not aware that there was a kidnapping situation last night.

Erik lost his cool. He punched the captain in the chest. The captain staggered backward and almost fell but someone supported him.

Marlon restrained Erik when he noticed that he did not want to stop beating the captain.

Erik stormed off with Marlon following behind. He has already gotten the identity of the kidnappers and had asked King of Aces to check the records of those people.

The search and rescue operation continued for the rest of the day and the days that followed. Erik ordered the search area to be expanded to neighboring islands including the uninhabited small ones dotting the West Sea. In desperation, he announced a huge reward for those who can provide a lead to where his wife was.

Erik slept for only two hours each night and ate very little. A week passed but there was no news about Aryana. There were also no new leads on the kidnappers. Apparently, all payment transactions were done on a cash basis so King of Aces did not find anything on the Internet.

"Erik, you have to eat. How can you continue searching and find the culprit if you get sick? Here, drink this first. This can quickly nourish your body." Alex passed a bottled beverage to Erik. Thankfully he accepted and finish it in three big gulps.

Marlon, Alex, and Franco stayed with Erik at his Penthouse that night. "Do you have an idea who is the mastermind behind the kidnap?" Alex asked.

"It could be the Lopezes or someone from the Lees. The Lopezes are adamant about me and Cassie getting married." A glint suddenly crossed Erik’s eyes.

"I hope that my grandfather and father are not involved, because if they are, I will never forgive them."

Marlon shuddered when he sensed the coldness in his voice. He glanced at Alex who understood what was in his mind. He was worried that Erik’s mental state was affected because of the disappearance of Aryana.

The four people in the living room were silent. Each was lost in their own thoughts when the loud ringing of a cell phone broke the silence.

Marlon took out his phone. It was an unknown number.

"Hello," Marlon paused as he listened to the other line.

"Elaine, I am sorry but Erik is not available to take a call." Marlon looked at Erik worriedly.

"Calm down Elaine. Rest assured that we are doing our best to find her. If there is one person who wanted to find her, then that would be Erik. I’ll call you if there is an update." Marlon ended the call and sighed.

"Elaine is hysterical and demanded to talk to you but I think that the two of you are not in a position to have a conversation right now."

Erik just nodded and suddenly fell asleep. Both Marlon and Franco looked at Alex.

"I put a sleeping pill on the beverage. Look at the circles under his eyes. His health is deteriorating. He will break down soon if he continues to be like this."

The following morning, Marlon came to the Penthouse together with George and Henry Lee. George frowned when he saw how unkempt Erik was.

"What are you doing to yourself, Erik? Look at you! When was the last time you shaved?" George Lee scolded him.

Erik did not want to see his family but George threatened Marlon. Marlon was left with no choice but to bring George and Henry to the Penthouse. He was also worried about Erik.

Erik ignored his grandfather and his father and continued looking at his laptop. He asked King of Aces to check the records of hospitals, police stations, and morgues in the entire country but King of Aces did not find anything related to Aryana’s accident. It seemed as if she disappeared into thin air.

George Lee was worried about his grandson. He has never seen him like this. He has lost so much weight in the last week. He has also been absent from work since Aryana disappeared. George and Henry Lee have to step in to fill the void.

"Grandpa, Dad please leave. I’d like to be alone. Marlon, please escort them out."

The Elder Lees have no choice but to leave. George Lee took one more glance at his grandson. He sighed before leaving. A trace of regret showed in his eyes.

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