The police chief was under immense pressure after learning about the missing heiress. The news had already made it into the headlines, and every news channel was talking about the incident. People who previously had no knowledge of Viviana's existence were now acutely aware of who she was.
Two days had already passed with no significant progress. The floor where Nico's apartment was located had been burned to a crisp, and all the CCTV cameras had long since stopped working.
"Chief, we found that the major damage was done to the fifth floor only, and that was where the victim was last seen. It can't be a coincidence," one of his officers reported.
"We can see that," the chief replied, his face set in a deep frown. "The fact that the two prime suspects are missing too makes it clear."
The case was complicated, with little to no leads. It seemed like a perfect crime, and the chief had little time to solve it. Many influential elites were keenly interested in the case, hoping to curry favour with Alister by finding his granddaughter. The chief, a man with a thick white moustache and a chubby face, sat behind his desk. His hands were clasped together, and his face rested on his hands as he pondered deeply, the case files scattered on the table.
"Keep looking. Check the recent flights and see if there are any suspicious names," he ordered.
"Yes, sir," the officer replied, saluting before leaving the office.
"This is going to cost me my hard-earned position if she is not found soon," the chief muttered, stroking his moustache with a frown.
In one corner of the empty room, there was nothing but a white mattress and a thin, fragile figure huddled on the floor. Viviana clutched her knees to her chest, her dark eyes wide open, as if she had seen a ghost. She didn't blink, not once. Her eyes remained fixed on the glass window, which reflected a face completely unfamiliar to her. No one knew how long she had stared at her reflection without blinking.
She was in shock. Two days had passed since she first saw her new reflection in the mirror, a face she did not recognize. It was as if she were staring into an abyss. Occasionally, her dry eyes would water, and silent tears would fall, only to stop again.
"The boy from the airport. This is his face. Why is my reflection like his? What happened to me? Did Nico kill me? Am I dead?" These questions looped through her mind. "How will Grandpa recognize me? How will he know this is me, Viviana, and not someone else?"
Knock, knock, knock...
Viviana's eyes darted from the glass window to the door. Her heart leaped out of her chest, and she jolted to her feet, pressing her back against the wall defensively. The doorknob turned slowly. She backed into a corner and curled into a ball, trying to make herself as small as possible.
Kiera entered the room, holding a tray of food, just like every day. And just like every day, he found Viviana in the same corner, staring at him as if he were there to claim her soul.
"Eat!" He spoke without an ounce of emotion. Even though he brought food, she never touched it. She hadn't eaten in two days.
"If you keep starving yourself, you'll die before the master even gets the chance." He rolled his eyes at her, but Viviana was too paranoid to understand his words. Everything felt like a threat.
She looked at Kiera with an empty gaze, and they stared at each other until Kiera stepped toward her. Viviana curled up tighter. When there was nowhere left to hide, she stiffened like a rock. Kiera crouched beside her, staring blankly for a long time.
"Do you really not remember anything, or is this an act?" Kiera asked, sounding curious. "I saved your *ss back there because I wanted to see what great plan Orion had, to understand how a mastermind like him thinks. But now, looking at you, you seem oblivious to everything. Tell me, are you good at acting, or do you genuinely not know where the seal is?"
Viviana watched him with hostility, expecting an attack. But he sat there, waiting for her response. When she didn't answer, he nodded and stood up to leave.
"I am not his son!" she blurted out. Kiera's eyebrows lifted in surprise. He turned around slowly.
"You know that wouldn't convince me. How can you not be his son?"
"I am not his son! I don't know who you people are! I just want to go home! Please let me go!" Tears formed in Viviana's eyes again.
Kiera wasn't convinced but decided to play along. "So if you're not his son, then who are you?"
Viviana felt like she finally had a listening ear. She instantly rose and grabbed onto Kiera's sleeve out of desperation. "I am Viviana! Viviana Cassius. I was hit in the head by my boyfriend, and then I lost consciousness. I thought I died but Now I'm in this body. I have no idea where this place is!" She cried, her voice cracking with pain. "My grandpa must be looking for me. If you let me go, I promise he will pay you however much money you want! So please, let me go!" She grabbed Kiera's sleeve, begging.
Kiera, expecting something more substantial, looked completely disappointed. He closed his eyes in annoyance and pulled his hand out of her grip. "I'm not interested in your stories. Eat this and take a bath after that." He left the room, disappointed, closing the door behind her with a slam. Viviana looked at the closed door with disappointment. "He just left?"
Kiera outside the door was still holding onto the door and a deep frown between his brows he seemed to be in deep thoughts. It took him a long moment to let go of the doorknob and actually leave the room.