Chapter 105: Disappearance

“I always thought there would only ever be that one woman by your side, but I never expected—hahaha—you, Arthur Rivers, are just like this.” A mocking female voice echoed from behind Arthur.

Arthur didn’t turn around immediately. His eyebrows twitched just slightly, almost imperceptibly, then he replied calmly, “My affairs are none of anyone else’s business.”

“Ha! None of anyone else’s business? Sounds to me like you’re just angry and embarrassed,” the voice teased, laced with scorn and an unidentifiable emotion.

“Are you still harboring illusions about me, or...” Arthur turned abruptly to face the speaker, his gaze sharp and unwavering. “Or do you have other intentions? Maria.”

Maria’s eyes flickered under Arthur’s piercing stare, but she maintained her composure. “I have no other motives, but,” she paused, looking at Arthur deliberately, “others might think differently.” Her words carried a pointed implication.

Arthur regarded her meaningfully. “When did you stop caring about me? Or have you never cared at all?” He watched Maria’s face closely, catching every subtle shift in expression.

Maria’s eyes darted briefly before she smiled seductively. “Arthur, saying that really hurts my feelings.”

Her expression shifted so quickly that Arthur almost thought it was an illusion—that she had always admired him deeply. But he trusted his eyes and deepened his gaze.

Under Arthur’s intense scrutiny, Maria smiled serenely, though her heart pounded fiercely and her palms were slick with sweat.

In truth, Maria herself found her feelings strange—she couldn’t quite explain them, nor pinpoint when they changed. They were no longer as pure as before. But in today’s world, who could survive by being naive?

Her gaze cooled briefly at that thought, then warmed again as she looked at Arthur playfully. “So, now, Your Grace, would you be so kind as to escort me home? Or...” She glanced toward Avielle among the crowd and added, “Or would you rather escort your fiancée?”

Arthur’s eyes flickered sharply at the mention of Avielle’s name, but his expression remained composed. “Let’s go.” Without a word about the Queen’s visit or to anyone else, he strode toward the door.

Maria hurriedly bowed deeply to the distant Queen before quickly following Arthur, jogging and calling out, “Arthur, wait for me!”

Though Avielle was engaged in conversation, she kept a keen eye on Arthur’s every move. Seeing him leave with Maria close behind, her sea-blue eyes darkened with thoughtfulness as she watched them disappear.

The Queen, too, while speaking with others, kept her attention on Arthur. When he and Maria left, a faint crease appeared between her eyebrows, but she quickly looked away, their gazes meeting briefly in the air.

They exchanged a meaningful smile before both redirecting their attention back to those nearby.

In the car, Arthur and Maria remained silent, each staring out the window. The car dropped Maria off at her home and then drove away.

Maria watched the vehicle fade until it vanished completely. Her lips moved silently, her voice carried away by the wind, before she turned and entered her house.

Arthur kept watching Maria through the rearview mirror until she disappeared from sight. His brows furrowed briefly, then relaxed once more.

Back at his private villa, Arthur headed toward the bathroom, speaking to Hil. “Immediately pull up all information on Avielle Wetting and send it to my room.” Holding a change of clothes, he entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him. “Also, check what Maria has been up to lately, and whether she’s had contact with anyone.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Any other instructions?” Hil asked respectfully.

“No, that will be all. You may go.”

Hil bowed and left. The sound of running water soon filled the bathroom.

Arthur stood under the shower, letting the water cascade over his bare body, lips tightly sealed.

Blue, where are you now? Do you miss me?

I miss you so deeply—oh, how I miss you.

The phone rang sharply just as Arthur stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair. He answered while still wiping his head.

The moment the call connected, an angry voice burst out.

“Arthur, what the hell are you playing at?”

Summer Yu’s furious shout echoed over the line. Arthur held the phone away until the voice quieted, then brought it back and spoke slowly, “What are you talking about?”

“What am I talking about? Are you kidding me? You’re asking what I’m talking about?” Summer Yu, infuriated by Arthur’s indifferent tone, tossed aside all usual politeness.

“What exactly do you want to say?” Arthur ignored the anger and replied calmly, “If there’s nothing important, I’m going to sleep.”

“What? Sleep? You can still sleep?” Summer Yu was on the verge of rage, barely hearing Arthur’s words. Before he could get a word out, Arthur ended the call with a sharp click.

After cursing for a while, Summer Yu heard the dial tone and nearly smashed the phone in frustration. But just before doing so, he realized breaking it would prevent further calls. Reluctantly, he set it down and redialed.

“If you don’t get to the point within three seconds, I’m hanging up,” Arthur stated as soon as he answered, leaving Summer Yu choking on his prepared torrent of words, coughing and struggling to speak.

“Time’s up. I’m hanging up now,” Arthur said, moving to end the call.

“Don’t… don’t… wait, I’m talking…” Summer Yu shouted hurriedly.

“Speak.” Arthur rolled his eyes but waited.

“I heard a rumor—you’re engaged.”

Arthur responded with a simple “Hmm,” offering no further explanation.

“Hmm? You’re not even going to explain?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“None of my business?” Summer Yu’s anger flared anew. “What nonsense is that? Your own wife is under my care, yet you’re engaged to someone else. How is that not my concern?”

A flicker of pain crossed Arthur’s eyes before he spoke coldly again, “I’m not engaged.”

“Not engaged?” Was Arthur deliberately provoking him?

“Then what about Yingyue? Where does she stand?”

“She’s my stepmother, not yet married into the family—a little mama.”

Silence fell over the line. Then—

“Arthur Rivers, you bastard!”

With a slam, Summer Yu hung up.

Arthur looked at the phone and smiled bitterly to himself.

A bastard, huh?

Heh.

***

Sirius Island.

While it was still night in England, here the sun blazed high at midday, its dazzling rays scattering countless golden sparkles across the tranquil beach.

Yingyue gazed at the calm, undulating sea, her violet eyes serene and unreadable.

In truth, she had been about to discuss oil matters with Summer Yu when she overheard that shocking news.

Only months after her departure, the man who once professed deep love for her had already become engaged to another? Was he truly that lonely? Didn’t he still have Maria by his side?

Summer Yu stood before a small cabin, watching Yingyue lost in thought by the shore, his heart aching.

He knew the tangled history between Arthur and Yingyue—always so close yet distant, seeming to fit yet falling apart, their relationship neither here nor there. As an outsider, it left him deeply uneasy.

Suddenly, a distant rumble grew louder.

Both Summer Yu and Yingyue looked toward the horizon, spotting a sleek black plane rapidly approaching.

As it drew near, rows of black gun barrels aimed directly at Yingyue’s location.

Summer Yu’s heart leapt to his throat as he sprinted toward her, shouting, “Yingyue, get down! Get down now!”

Hearing his cry, Yingyue instinctively looked toward Summer Yu but did not move immediately.

As she did, gunfire erupted around her.

“Yu…” she barely began to speak before her voice was drowned out by the shots.

Flames exploded nearby, overwhelming Summer Yu with their intensity. He stood frozen, unable to see her amidst the smoke and fire. The acrid scent of gunpowder made him nearly faint. Coughing violently, he struggled to breathe.

When the gunfire finally ceased, Summer Yu looked up to see the black plane retreating.

Heart pounding, he pushed through the smoke, running toward where Yingyue had been.

But after only a few steps, he halted.

Before him lay a vast pool of fresh, crimson blood.

And Yingyue—was nowhere to be found.