CHAPTER 025 DAN'S POV The glow of multiple computer screens bathed the dimly lit room in an eerie blue light . The air buzzed with the hum of hard drives , the rhythmic clicking of keyboards filling the space like an urgent countdown . My team worked at a breakneck pace , their eyes flicking between monitors as feed after feed cycled through . Street corners , alleys , subway stations - every possible route she could have taken . Yet , nothing . I exhaled sharply , arms crossed over my chest , frustration clawing at me . Adrian was losing patience , and when Adrian lost patience , people got hurt . I'd seen it before , and I had no interest in being on the receiving end of his anger . A sharp curse broke through the tense silence . " Still no sign of her , " John muttered , his fingers flying over the keyboard . " Either she's damn good at avoiding cameras , or she's gone underground ." I ran a hand through my hair , tension knotting in my muscles . " We're missing something . " Another tech , barely looking up from his screen , offered a suggestion . " Maybe she changed her appearance ? " " Doesn't matter ," I snapped , stepping closer . " The Al would still pick up the structure of her face . No amount of makeup or hair dye is going to fool it . " John hesitated , tapping his fingers against the desk before glancing at me . " Since we can't find her , let's try Plan B. " I already knew where he was going with this . My jaw tightened . " the asshole that put us in this situation " I said flatly . Thankfully when the fight occurred there were street cameras around that we could use to get his face . John nodded . " If she's hiding , she's not doing it alone . And if she is , she won't last long . She'll need help eventually ." He was right . And Adrian wouldn't wait for ' eventually . ' " Run a facial recognition scan , " I ordered . " Find the guy , track his movements . If she's with him , we'll know soon enough . " John's fingers flew across the keyboard , the screen shifting as he pulled up an image of the man in question . A few keystrokes later , the scan launched , running through every public and private feed we Successfully unlocked ! The room fell into a tense silence , broken only by the occasional beep of the system processing images . I checked the time . Adrian wouldn't wait much longer . If we didn't find her soon ... I didn't want to think about what that meant for me . 1/3 CHAPTER 025 A sharp beep from the monitor . The Al had locked onto something . John stiffened . " Got him . " I leaned over his shoulder , my eyes narrowing at the screen . The guy had been spotted two days ago , entering an apartment complex . Bingo . " She might be there , " I murmured , my mind already working through the next steps . John glanced up . " Do you want to go over there with the team ? " Not yet . Adrian didn't like half - finished jobs . " Keep tracking him , " I said . " I want to know every move he makes . " Adrian wanted results . And I would get them - before it was too late . *** ADRIAN'S POV The day had dragged on longer than I wanted . Meeting after meeting , forced conversations with investors , numbers that didn't meet expectations - it had all been a waste of my time . I barely heard James when he walked up beside me as I headed toward my car . " Adrian , " he said carefully . " Let's grab a drink . You need to get your mind off things ." I knew what he was trying to do . He thought a distraction would help . It wouldn't . " Not today ." My voice was sharp , final , James sighed but didn't argue . He knew better . As I reached my car , my driver was already waiting , holding the door open for me . I slid inside without another word , the cool leather seat doing nothing to ease the tension in my shoulders . My phone vibrated in my pocket . I pulled it out , glancing at the screen . - Dora . I ignored the call . Her messages flooded my WhatsApp , unread and unanswered . Whatever she wanted , I didn't have the patience for it today . Today wasn't about business . It wasn't about her . It was about the one special person I had lost . The car ride felt endless . The city blurred past the tinted windows , the bright neon lights contrasting against the darkness pressing against me . When we finally pulled into the driveway , I didn't wait for the driver to open the door . I stepped out , my movements stiff , my body heavy with exhaustion that had nothing to do with work . I walked straight into my library , shutting the door behind me . The room was quiet , lined with towering bookshelves filled with stories I never had the time to read . 2/3 CHAPTER 025 I shrugged off my suit jacket , loosening my tie as I poured myself a drink . The whiskey I burned down my throat , but the fire did nothing to thaw the ice in my chest . One drink turned into two . Then three . I didn't know when I drifted off . But then , the dreams started again . * FIFTEEN YEARS AGO * I could still remember the excitement buzzing in my veins , the way my heart pounded as I clutched my exam results in my hands . I had done it . My grades were excellent . I couldn't wait to tell my mother . I practically ran home , pushing open the door with a grin on my face . " Mom ! " I called out . Silence greeted me . My smile faltered slightly , but I brushed it off . Her car was outside . She had to be home . I walked further inside , my footsteps unnaturally loud against the floor . Something felt wrong . I couldn't place what it was . I reached her bedroom door . My hand hesitated on the handle . A strange , heavy feeling pressed against my chest , but I pushed it aside . I opened the door . She was sitting by the window , holding a framed photo of us - our family . Something tightened in my stomach . " Mom , I'm home ." My voice was softer now , cautious . I took a step closer . Then , I noticed it . Tears . She was crying . I stopped in my tracks . " 1 ... Are you alright ? " I asked . No response . I had rarely seen my mother cry . She was a strong woman , someone who never let -anything break her . So why ? What had happened ? My fingers clenched at my sides , unease crawling up my spine . And then , she finally looked up at me , Her eyes - red - rimmed , filled with something I couldn't understand . Something I had never seen before . And at that moment , I knew . Something was very , very wrong . No network available now . Please check your network . J Likes 3/3