The Billionaire's Silent Wife (Ryan and Eve) novel Chapter 182

182 The Station, the Trace, and the Empty Tower 2

Steven’s grip tightened for a second, then he looked at Tevin and Maxwell as if noticing their presence

made the situation more dangerous.

Ryan shrugged Steven off with controlled force, pushing him back just enough to reclaim space.

“Eve is missing too,” Ryan said, voice low and lethal.

Steven froze.

His face shifted, shock, then something darker. “What.”

“My wife,” Ryan repeated, jaw tight. “Is missing.”

Steven’s mouth opened, then closed.

His eyes flicked toward the officers, then back to Ryan.

For a second, Steven looked like the reality of it hit him, Eve, pregnant, missing.

Then his desperation sharpened into fury again.

“It’s her,” Steven hissed. “It’s Leah.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “I doubt my mother took my wife.”

Steven stared at him like Ryan was insane.

Tevin sensed the explosion building and stepped between them. “Not here,” he said sharply. “Not in the

station.”

Maxwell’s voice came low. “Outside. Now.”

Steven tried to lunge again, but Maxwell caught his shoulder with a grip that didn’t hurt, just controlled

him.

Ryan’s jaw tightened, but he let them steer him, because the last thing he needed was to be arrested in

front of the chief while Eve was missing.

They pushed through the station doors into the cold night air.

The moment they were outside, Steven snapped.

He grabbed Ryan by the collar again, pulling him close. “Give me my fiancée,” he snarled, eyes wild. “Give

me my daughter.”

Ryan’s eyes went cold as ice. He caught Steven’s wrist and shoved him away hard enough that Steven stumbled back a step.

“Eve is my wife,” Ryan said, voice controlled but edged. “And she is carrying my child. We are in the same

shoes.”

16 The Station the Trace and the Empty Tower 2

Steven’s face twisted. “Don’t compare yourself to me.”

Ryan’s gaze sharpened. “Then stop grabbing me like you own me.”

Steven’s breath came ragged. “Leah is behind this.”

Ryan’s jaw flexed. “And you don’t know what you’re accusing.”

Steven laughed bitterly. “You don’t know what kind of woman your mother is.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “I know exactly what she is.”

Steven’s voice rose. “Then stop defending her!”

“I’m not defending her,” Ryan snapped. “I’m refusing to assume without proof.”

Steven stared at him, furious. “Proof? Leah doesn’t leave proof.”

Ryan stepped closer, eyes hard. “Then tell me the truth.”

Steven’s mouth tightened. “I told you,”

Gem

“No,” Ryan cut in, cold. “You’ve been hinting. Whispering. Threatening. Holding secrets like leverage while people suffer.”

Steven’s breathing hitched.

Ryan’s voice lowered, dangerous. “Tell me what you know.”

Steven’s eyes burned. “Leah has been after my life for a while.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened. “Because of what.”

Steven swallowed hard, struggling. “Because I, because I refused to help her.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed further. “Help her with what.”

Steven’s face contorted. “Your clueless father doesn’t know the snake he sleeps with.”

Ryan’s mouth tightened. “Don’t talk about my father like he’s innocent.”

Steven’s laugh was harsh. “He isn’t innocent. He’s just weak. He lets her do what she wants.”

Ryan’s gaze sharpened. “Stop seeing Leah as the victim,” Steven hissed, stepping closer again, “and start

seeing who she really is.”

Ryan stared at him, anger building. “Show me.”

Steven’s jaw tightened. “I can’t,”

Ryan’s voice cut through like a blade. “Tell me. So we can be on the same page.”

Steven hesitated, eyes flickering.

Ryan’s voice dropped lower. “Because to me, Steven, you and Leah are one and the same. Two monsters

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In The Station the Trace and the Empty Tower 2

fighting over who gets to call themselves a parent.”

Steven flinched as if struck.

Before he could respond, the station doors opened behind them.

An officer stepped out quickly, scanning for Ryan.

“Mr. Ashbrook,” the officer called. “Chief Claude wants you inside. We have something.”

Ryan’s body went rigid.

Tevin’s eyes sharpened. “Now.”

They moved back into the station fast.

Steven followed, stumbling slightly, panic renewed.

Inside, the chief was standing near a desk with a tech officer.

“We traced Mrs. Ashbrook’s phone,” the chief said immediately.

Ryan’s chest tightened. “Where.”

The tech officer spoke quickly. “Last ping location came up near an abandoned cell tower on the outskirts. It’s not active anymore, but the signal bounced.”

Ryan’s jaw clenched. “Take me there.”

The chief nodded. “We’re moving.”

Ryan didn’t wait.

Tevin and Maxwell fell into step with him automatically. Steven followed, breathing ragged.

Outside, police vehicles moved, lights flashing without sirens, controlled urgency.

Ryan’s car followed behind.

He drove too fast, hands tight on the wheel, heart pounding so hard it felt like it might break ribs.

Tevin sat in the passenger seat, jaw clenched. Maxwell sat behind them, silent, eyes fixed ahead. Steven was in the back too, shaking with rage and fear, muttering Leah’s name like a curse.

They arrived at the abandoned cell tower within minutes.

It rose out of the darkness like a dead skeleton, metal structure silhouetted against the night sky, surrounded by overgrown weeds and scattered debris.

The place smelled like damp earth and rust.

Police officers moved out with torches and radios, scanning the area.

Ryan stepped out of the car and felt the cold hit his face like punishment.

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His eyes swept the ground, searching.

“Eve!” he called, voice raw.

No answer.

The only response was the wind moving through weeds.

They searched the area quickly, under broken fencing, near a small concrete platform, around the base of

the tower.

Nothing.

No movement.

No footprints visible in the darkness.

Then Ryan saw it.

A glint on the ground near the edge of the concrete platform.

He moved toward it before anyone could stop him.

His breath caught.

A smashed phone.

Shattered screen. Broken casing. Pieces scattered like glittering shards.

Ryan dropped into a crouch, hands trembling as he picked it up.

He didn’t need the wallpaper to know.

He knew the shape. The colour. The case she’d chosen because it felt soft in her hands.

Eve’s phone.

His stomach dropped so hard he felt nauseous.

This wasn’t her leaving voluntarily.

This was someone silencing her.

Ryan’s chest tightened, panic turning into something darker.

He held the broken phone in his palm like it was evidence of his failure.

Tevin stepped close, voice low. “Ryan…”

Ryan didn’t respond.

Maxwell crouched beside him, eyes scanning the ground. His voice was flat, dangerous. “This is a kidnapping.”

Ryan’s breath came sharp.

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182 The Station the Trace and the Empty Tower 2

Steven stumbled closer, eyes wide. “Eve…”

Ryan’s fingers tightened around the broken phone. His throat ached. His mind went cold and sharp.

Then one of the officers called out. “Chief! Over here!”

Ryan stood, moving fast.

The officer shone a torch toward the base of the tower where two heavy chains lay, partially hidden under weeds, metal links thick, scraped, disturbed like they’d been used recently.