Chapter 7 Troy was pacing back and forth in the living room, the phone clutched tightly in his hand, knuckles white. The police officer on the other end of the line spoke calmly, unfazed by his growing agitation. "We understand your concern, sir," the officer said. "But a person can't be declared missing unless it has been at least twenty-four hours since the last confirmed contact." "It's been over twelve," Troy snapped. "And she's never done this. She never just disappear: without leaving a note or a message. Her phone's off. She left everything behind including our wedding ring!" The officer sighed. "With all due respect, from what you're telling me, it sounds like she left on her own accord, sir. And if there's no sign of foul play, we can't treat this as a missing persons case." "She's my wife!" Troy hissed. "Is she?" the officer asked. "Are you legally married?" Troy froze. "I'm afraid unless you're her legal guardian or spouse with a certified marriage certificate, we can't open an official report," the officer continued. "I'm sorry." Troy cursed under his breath and ended the call, breathing heavily. He dialed the family lawyer next, desperate for another solution. But the lawyer only confirmed what the police had said. "You don't have any legal hold over her," the man told him. "You were never legally married. The certificate isn't valid, and she isn't your dependent. She's free to go anywhere, Mr. Green." Troy lowered the phone from his ear, jaw tightening with frustration. Travis and Van entered the living room, looking at him with raised brows. "What did the cops say?" Van asked, lounging on the couch. "They said she's not considered missing," Troy muttered. "Not officially. And since we're no married on paper… they won't look for her." "So?" Vanessa emerged from the hallway, arms folded, clearly annoyed. "You're making a big deal out of this." Troy shot her a sharp glare. "She's gone, Vanessa." "So what?" Vanessa walked forward, her heels clicking against the tiles. "Maybe she left. Isn't that what we've all been waiting for? For her to get out of our lives? And now she finally has." She let out a breathy laugh. "Maybe we should be celebrating instead." Troy flinched, caught between confusion and guilt. Van shrugged. "She always makes a scene, and then what? Comes crawling back. I mean, look at her history. She's emotional, overly sensitive. She probably wanted you to feel bad." Travis nodded in agreement. "Yeah, remember the last time you forgot your anniversary dinner? She got upset, left for the night, stayed at some motel, and then came right back the next morning." "She's done it before," Van added. "We're all she has. She literally has nowhere else to go." Troy hesitated, remembering her face-quiet, always trying to do everything right, always waiting for him. But this time… she hadn't left a note. She hadn't cried. She had just vanished. He could still picture the way she'd always greet him at the door after long meetings, her soft smile waiting even when his mood was foul. The way she'd place his dinner on the table without a word, her eyes silently asking if he was okay. The way she'd stay up late, curled on the couch with her sketchpad, waiting for him to fall asleep just so he wouldn't be alone. She was steady. Predictable. Loyal, even when he didn't deserve it. She never raised her voice. Never demanded. Even when she was hurting, she just… endured. And when she disappeared the last time, she left a sticky note on the fridge that said "I'll be back soon, don't worry." But now? Now there was nothing. Just… silence. And that scared him. 'She wouldn't just go like this," he muttered, almost to himself. Vanessa came closer and cupped his cheek with her hand. "Troy, you're worrying too much. If she really left, then good. That just means we can finally live our lives properly. You and me." Troy stared at her. 'Let's stop pretending," Vanessa whispered. "Isn't this what you wanted too? For her to disappear so we could be together without any more secrets or guilt?" Travis leaned on the back of the couch. "We should stop wasting energy looking for someone who doesn't want to be found. Let's face it. She left because she couldn't handle it." 'She's weak," Van added. "Always has been." Troy exhaled and ran a hand down his face. "Fine. We'll wait," he said finally. "If she comes >ack… I'll deal with her myself." /anessa beamed. "That's more like it." And if she doesn't?" Van asked. Then good riddance," Travis said with a snort. Exactly," Vanessa agreed, now sliding her arms around Troy's waist. "Now that she's out of the ›icture, maybe we can finally start planning our wedding?" Troy didn't respond right away. A flicker of something crossed his face-uncertainty, maybe even Juilt. But Vanessa kissed him then, her lips pressing sweetly to his jaw, and the hesitation nelted under her touch. She leaned back, eyes glinting. "Say yes, Troy. Let's finally do this. Let's be happy." He looked at her-his first love, the woman he'd waited five years for-and slowly nodded. 'Okay," he said quietly. "Let's get married." Vanessa squealed with joy, throwing her arms around his neck. "You won't regret this! I promise, his time, I won't run away again." Travis clapped him on the back, laughing. "Finally. Looks like everything's falling into place." As they celebrated in the living room, the air shifted, almost lighter. Vanessa was glowing, imagining her wedding day, while Troy stared blankly ahead, wondering deep down why something still didn't feel right. But for now, he said nothing. Because Taylor was gone. And no one else seemed to care.