Selene looked over at her son while having tea after the court in the garden. "Louis,the welcome party is set for tomorrow. All Elites of Silvermore city will be in attendance. It will also be a perfect occasion to announce the date for your engagement officially.
"Hmm,he answered absent mindedly,his gaze distant.
Selene paused, narrowing her eyes, "Is something troubling you".
He shook his head and smiled faintly,"Nothing mother, just a long day".
But it wasn't nothing,his mind was on the text he received earlier–from John about the phone retrieved from the cellar. The information traced from the account had led to a dead end and the lack of progress gnawed at him.
Louis clenched his fist,he had to piece this puzzle altogether before his coronation day. Rising from his seat,he kissed his mother on the cheek "mother,I have to be on my way now, work resumes tomorrow"
"Ohh darling son, don't be too hard on yourself,you just came,I am sure your father can still manage things while you take a well-deserved rest"
Louis smiled and looked at her mother "I am no longer a small boy,I have so many responsibilities now, It's time I let father rest and take what's mine".
With that he excused himself and drove out of the Whitmore ancestral house.
As he maneuvered the city of Silvermore,he picked his phone and dialed John.
"Yes master",John answered on the other side of the phone.
"Keep the man alive,he might still be useful as bait. Also finalize for tomorrow we are heading for the company. Make sure my schedule includes time for tomorrow's welcome party.
"Understood sir",John answered.
Meanwhile,Lisa just finished talking to Selene over the phone regarding the preparation for the welcome party. Her heart raced with excitement. Tomorrow marks the day their engagement will be officially announced.
Smiling to herself,she whispered "Finally, everything will be all mine".
Lisa had discovered the Stones were not yet over the child they lost tragically in a car accident over twenty years ago.
For years she has resented the Stones despite the love and attention they had showered her ever since they had adopted her,she could never fill the void their daughter left behind.
Every year the Stones held a remembrance ceremony for their lost daughter on her birthdays,and it served as a painful reminder that she would never fully own their hearts–or legacy.
But everything had changed when she hired a private investigator to find out about the background of Star. To her shock she found out Star has been rescued by the Holloway's years back– exactly the year Stone's biological daughter had supposedly died. The final piece of the puzzle finally summed up into place when she recognised the necklace Star has always put on,a unique heirloom carved from stone, identical to the one owned by the Stone's late daughter.
Lisa's lips curled into a cold smile.She has to move fast. If the Stones ever realize their daughter is alive somewhere and close by,she would lose everything. That is why she had orchestrated to marry Louis– ensuring that the agreement between Whitmore and Stone would work in her favour.
"This time", she muttered, "I will take everything that was meant to be hers"
Meanwhile,in her office, Star was engrossed in a pile of documents when Maria walked in.
"Why are you in my office?",Star queried Maria.
"Why are you still here,Star?"Maria retorted with a question, setting her bag on the table.
"I have so much to do", Star replied without looking up.
Maria frowned, "Are you sure you are okay?",you haven't been yourself lately.
Did you even get any sleep?
Star sighed, leaning back in her chair, "I'm fine….. just busy".
Well, I'm not letting you stay buried under work today," Maria declared.The Whitmore has invited the Holloway's to the welcome party this evening and you are going.
Maria crossed her hands,"No,you have to attend,work can wait. You have been drowning yourself inside work ever since your parents left you with the company. You have to breathe".
"It's not just about work," Star admitted quietly. "I'm not ready to face him."
Maria softened. "Star, isn't this the right time to ask questions you've been avoiding? Declining the invitation of the Whitmores' could have consequences. Are you sure you are ready to handle that?"
Star hesitated, her mind racing. "I'll think about it."
"There is nothing to think about," Maria retorted,"we are clocking off early to get ready for the event."
"Wait,who is the boss? Me or you?"Star argued as Maria dragged her along.
"Who cares, for now you listen to me" Maria replied.
At the shopping mall,Maria had handed a lovely dress to Star
"Go in and change and let's see if it fits," She said hesitantly.
Star took the clothes already tired, "Okay".
While Star went in to fit the clothes,Maria waited outside impatiently.
"What's taking her so long?" she muttered while glancing at the time and being restless at the same time. Out of curiosity she stood up and called out, "Star,what is holding you down?", "Do you have difficulty fitting into the clothes?" Come on now,we will be late!
She was greeted by the silence.
She pushed open the door to the dressing room,to her horror,the dressing room was empty,the dress crumpled on the floor. Panic sets in, she ran out and screamed "someone is missing!"
Meanwhile, at the Whitmore manor, Louis car sets to leave for the ancestral house.
"Boss,there is a new development ", John reported. "The transaction made on the cellar phone has been traced to an account in Liverpool".
Before Louis could reply,his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, frowning as he picked up
"Hello"
"Sir….we…we lost her", a shaky voice stammered at the other end of the phone.
Louis' expression darkened,his voice rose "what do you mean you lost her?", he demanded.
"Madam Star....she is missing".
In fury,Louis barked, "Turn the car around! Head to the shopping mall immediately!"
As they near the shopping mall,Louis' phone buzzed again,a message popped up, showing the picture of Star with her hands tied to the back and her mouth muffled up with a little caption: "Don't bother looking for her,she is gone".