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All I could hear were the sounds of my footsteps echoing off the walls. My shoes pounded into the marble floor, one right after the other. I couldn’t get to the ball room fast enough. My heart beat out of my chest, the pulse in my neck profusely pounding against my skin while sweat pooled at my temples.
My eyes shifted every which way when I entered the massive space, looking for Belle. I inspected every inch of the scene unfolding in front of me. It was like I wanted to ingrain this moment of panic into my memory.
Words couldn’t describe what I felt. The sentiments that surged through my bloodstream. I forced myself to keep my shit together as I looked for her among the throngs of people.
Every bone in my body was still.
Every single part of me was unable to move.
Taking one last look around the room, I called her, and it went straight to voicemail. I sprinted down another hallway, darting through the estate, needing to find her. I felt as though my life depended on it. Music blared loudly through the speakers as everyone mingled and carried on without a care in the world. My blood raged, blinded by craze and madness looking for her.
Finally, I shouted, “Belle! Where are you?!”
There was no controlling the inner turmoil or the wave of thoughts soaring through my mind and taking over every last inch of me. It was as if my conscience knew what would happen next.
With each ragged, deep breath.
With every blink of my panic-ridden eyes, I was still unable to find her.
Not one logical thought was able to form in my head. I could only feel the anxiety flowing through every bone in my body. My patience was stretched thin, dangling by a thread.
That thread fucking snapped, when all of a sudden, I heard an unfamiliar voice, exclaim, “Tristian.”
I snapped around, coming face to face with the man I least expected. We locked eyes. He was standing at one end of the hallway while I was at the other. Neither one of us a said a word, not one fucking word until he questioned…
“What are you doing with my granddaughter?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
—Tristian—
I followed him into an office which I assumed was Belle’s father’s. As soon as I stepped inside, I was completely blindsided by my grandfather’s presence.
Closing the door, I looked back and forth between them before stating the obvious, “So this an ambush?”
“What did you think was going to happen, Tristian?” Mr. Montgomery asked, sitting behind his desk while my grandfather stood beside him. “How long did you think you two could keep this up?”
I didn’t know what to say. Silence was best.
“Alright,” Grandfather chimed in. “I’ll start with this. You’re going home immediately to pack.”
“Pack?” I breathed out, staring only at him.
“Yes. You’re going to finish high school overseas.”
I leaned against the door, folding my arms over my chest in defiance.
My grandfather and I were always on good terms. This was the first time we were in a battle.
“You can stand there all you want, Tristian, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’ll be leaving on the redeye tonight.”
I shook my head, finally speaking, “You can’t do this.”
“On the contrary, it’s already been done. They’re expecting you.”
I scoffed out, “I won’t go.”
“You don’t have another choice. I’m your legal guardian, and what I say goes.”
