Bernard stopped in his tracks, his heart sinking.
Hera was still fast asleep when he left the villa just this morning. At that time, she didn't seem like she was going to wake up anytime soon.
Ever since locking her up in the villa, she hadn't made a fuss out of anything. She even prepared food for him.
Bernard thought she had gotten used to living a pampered and sheltered life. It never occurred to him that she'd run away in just a day.
"Find her! Search every nook and cranny for her! I want to see her when I get back home!" he ordered before hanging up.
He had wanted to return to his office, but he turned and headed in another direction. Seeing this, Theo went after him.
"Bernard, the meeting—"
"You'll attend the meeting in my stead," said Bernard coldly.
Theo saw the gloom hanging over Bernard's face and asked, "Did something bad happen?"
What greeted him was silence because Bernard was already calling Douglas to drive over while walking into the private elevator to go downstairs.
…
It was already late afternoon when Bernard reached the villa. It was snowing, and haze hung in the air like a veil.
The air was filled with the buzzing of helicopters and the noise of the search party looking for Hera in the forest.
Lola stood at the door, her posture straight and unmoving. There was a layer of snow on her head and shoulders, which meant that she had been standing there for quite some time.
"How did she escape?" Bernard asked the moment he got out of the car.
Lola answered, "She probably escaped through the front door."
"Probably, you say?" Bernard's voice was as cold as the snow falling from the skies above.
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