Angelo's POV
"Far, do you know where Chinny is?" I asked on the other end of the line while talking to Farley. "She hasn't come home yet."
[We all went home earlier, Gelo. I was going to have Khairro take her home, but she said it wasn't necessary.]
I frowned.
Where the hell is she? She's not answering my calls. This is fucking frustrating as hell!
After hanging up, I called Astrid, but she said my wife wasn't with them. It was already two in the morning, and she was still not home. I couldn't sleep.
I changed clothes and left the house. I needed to find her as soon as possible. My worry for her was overwhelming.
I couldn't just sit here and wait for her. I had to find her.
As I drove, I tried calling her again, but I froze when I realized her phone was unreachable—it was turned off. I couldn't triangulate her GPS because her phone was off.
I couldn't stop searching for her. I went to all the places she might have gone, but she wasn't there.
"Chinny, where are you?" I slammed the steering wheel.
I was terrified that something terrible had happened to her. Please, no.
—
"Tita, is Chinny here?" I asked Chinny's mom. I was at their mansion, hoping she was there.
"She didn't come here, son. Why? Didn't she go home to your house?" her dad asked, concerned.
She's not here? Fuck it!
"It's already dawn, Gelo—that girl. I'll have someone call her," her dad said, but I immediately shook my head. I was already causing too much trouble here.
"No need, Dad. She's probably home by now. I'll get going," I lied. "Please go back to sleep. I apologize for disturbing you."
Her parents just nodded.
I decided to go back home, hoping she had returned.
When I entered the house, I went straight to Chinny's room. The door was slightly ajar, and the light was on.
I sighed in relief.
I walked inside and saw her holding a book. She turned to look at me.
"Gelo? Why are you still awake?" she asked, frowning. She got home a while ago since she was already in her pajamas.
"I've been searching for you. You could have at least answered my calls or replied to my messages," I tried not to sound irritated. "You should have considered that someone was worried about you. Get some rest."
I didn't look at her reaction. I didn't ask where she had been. What mattered was that she was home safe.
As I reached for the doorknob, I felt her arms wrap around me from behind.
Was I drunk?
"I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again," she said softly. Suddenly, all the frustration I had been feeling melted away.
"Alright," I gently removed her arms and turned to face her. "Where were you?"
She couldn't meet my eyes. My brows furrowed.
"I was at Cruella's house," she said, still avoiding my gaze. Why did she look nervous?
I just nodded, convincing myself to believe her.
But I needed to confirm it. I had to ask Cruella as soon as possible tomorrow.
I just smiled and walked out of her room.
I should let her rest. She looked exhausted.
—
Days passed, and Chinny kept coming home late. Her reasons?
Those fucking papers.
Even though I didn't believe it, I forced myself to. I hated the thought that Chinny might be with that guy.
"Cruella!" I called out to her as she walked down the street where I lived.
"What?" she responded coldly. I just smiled at her.
"I need to ask you something," I began. Cruella nodded.
"Has Chinny been going to your house to work on her papers?" I swallowed hard. Damn! She hadn't even answered yet, and I was already nervous.
"Nope, I've been busy. Besides, Shieneva always goes somewhere else," she said, making me frown.
"What?"
"The other day, someone picked up Chinny. I don't know who it was because he never got out of the car when fetching her. I thought it was you, though. You sure it wasn't you?"
It felt like my whole body was on fire. It must have been Kilorn, and I wasn't wrong.
I walked absentmindedly to my parked car.
Just as I was about to start the engine, I saw her stepping out of the house.
I just sat there, watching as she walked towards a red car.
I froze in my seat when I recognized who owned that damn vehicle.
I held back the tears that wanted to fall.
I had only been assuming things. I thought I had it figured out.
She was with him again.