Chapter 4

Seven years into the future.

Julian stared at his phone, staring at the dozen missed calls he had made to Chloe. A creeping dread gnawed at his chest.

Chloe had never been like this.

Usually, she would lose her mind. She would spam him with angry texts and calls, crying, demanding to know why he was torturing her, why he was cheating, begging him to come home.

But today was dead silent.

Not a single call. Not a single message.

Julian couldn't sit still anymore.

He grabbed his coat, walking past Sabrina, who was watching cartoons with Leo on the couch.

"I'm heading back home for a bit," he said. "Take care of Leo."

Sabrina jumped up, blocking his way. "What's wrong? Is she throwing another tantrum?"

"Julian, we barely get time away together. Don't let her ruin this. She always pulls this stunt. If you rush back now, she'll just do it again next time."

Julian hesitated, but the bad feeling in his gut wouldn't go away.

Sabrina sighed, shifting tactics. "You promised Leo you'd take him to the theme park tomorrow."

"You can't break a promise to your own son."

She shot Leo a quick glance.

Leo immediately ran over and hugged Julian's legs, crying:

"Daddy, don't leave! Don't go back to the bad lady!"

"It's her fault! She doesn't want me to have fun! Stay here with Mommy and me! You promised!"

A sharp pang hit Julian's chest.

He ruffled Leo's hair, correcting him gently:

"Leo, how many times have I told you?"

"She's not a bad lady. She's your mother. Don't call her that."

Leo looked up with teary eyes. "I'm sorry, Daddy. If you stay, I'll be good. When we go back, I won't call her bad lady anymore. I'll call her Mommy."

Julian nodded.

He stayed.

Yet all through the night, Julian turned his phone screen on and off, over and over again.

Still, nothing.

No replies. No answered calls.

By four in the morning, Julian couldn't take it anymore.

He booked the earliest flight home.

Sabrina rubbed her eyes as he got dressed. "Julian? It's so early. The park isn't even open."

"Chloe hasn't answered me all day," Julian said without looking back. "I'm worried something happened. I'm going back."

"Take care of Leo."

Before Sabrina could protest, he walked out the door.

When his plane landed, the anxiety in Julian's chest flared into panic.

He urged the cab driver to speed up.

As the car pulled up to his estate, his heart dropped.

An ambulance was parked outside.

He didn't even wait for the cab to fully stop. He stumbled out and sprinted through the front doors.

"Chloe!"

"Chloe, what's going on?!"

"Answer me!"

Nobody answered. The maids and staff were gathered in the master bedroom, pale and trembling.

Julian shoved past them like a madman.

On the floor lay a body, covered by a stark white sheet.

A paramedic looked at him with somber eyes. "Mr. Vance, I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Your wife overdosed on sleeping pills last night. She... she's gone."