From Terrorist Cell to Diamond Prison

Chapter 25

Harold was starting to catch on, and Rosalie could feel the clock ticking. If she didn't get the evidence she needed on him and Fiona soon, she might not get another chance.

When Luke finally returned, he was different. There was a faint smear of blood at the corner of his mouth, and his clothes were wrinkled, clearly from the day before. This wasn't the Luke she knew, the composed, untouchable man. He looked worn down, maybe even vulnerable.

Without a word, Rosalie grabbed some medicine and gently dabbed it on his wound.

"Does it still hurt?" she asked quietly, her fingers brushing lightly against his skin.

Luke didn't flinch. His gaze stayed fixed on her, his expression unreadable. He shook his head.

"Not at all."

Her hands hesitated. Guilt crept up in her chest.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Williams," she murmured, barely above a whisper. "For dragging you into this mess."

Luke's lips twisted into a bitter smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Mr. Williams, huh? Is that all we are now? Just formalities and polite words?"

Rosalie dropped her gaze, her hands fidgeting as the silence stretched between them. She wanted to say more, but the words wouldn't come. Finally, she took a deep breath, summoning her courage.

"There's one last thing I need to ask you," she said quietly.

Luke leaned forward, his voice softening. "What is it? If it's within my power, I'll do it."

Rosalie hesitated, then met his eyes. "I need you to stop sending people to follow me. I can handle myself."

His face darkened. "You think you'll be fine if someone like Harold comes after you? That you don't need help?"

She stayed firm, her resolve clear in her expression. "I need you to trust me. Please respect my request."

Luke studied her for a long moment, his jaw tightening. Finally, he gave a reluctant nod. "If that's what you really want, I'll honor it."

Without another word, Rosalie turned and walked away. Luke watched her go, a hollow ache settling in his chest. There was a finality to it, a quiet certainty that she didn't want him in her life anymore. The woman who once built her world around him was now moving on without a second glance.

That night, instead of returning to Mr. Fitzgerald's house, Rosalie disappeared. No one knew where she'd gone. Meanwhile, Fiona couldn't stop calling Luke. He answered once, her voice cool and clipped.

"Tomorrow is our wedding day," she said simply. "I'll be waiting for you. If you don't show up, I'll wait until you do."

But by the time the morning papers hit, the headlines told a different story. News of Luke's broken engagement with Fiona spread like wildfire. Furious, Harold retaliated by capturing Rosalie.

As for Fiona, something seemed to snap. Her usual cunning was replaced by something far more unstable.

"Keep an eye on her," Luke told his men, his voice sharp. "Make sure she doesn't do anything extreme."

By the next morning, things had gone from bad to worse. Both Rosalie and Fiona were gone.

Harold noticed first, assuming Fiona was sulking somewhere, nursing her heartbreak. But as hours passed and he checked every place he could think of, starting with the church where the wedding had been planned, panic began to set in. She wasn't just missing. She was gone.

Mr. Fitzgerald, fresh off a red-eye flight from an out-of-town lecture, was just as shocked. He'd expected Rosalie to be home, but her bed hadn't been slept in. No one had seen her since the day before.

The Mitchell and Fitzgerald families descended on Luke, demanding answers.

Harold, wild with anger, stormed up to him. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't been messing around with my sister, none of this would've happened!"

Luke's patience snapped. He grabbed Harold by the collar, his low growl sending chills through the room. "Don't you dare pin this on me! Everything happening right now is because of you. If anything happens to Rosalie, I swear you'll pay for it."

Harold's eyes narrowed, his voice venomous. "Is that a threat?"

Before fists could fly, Mr. Fitzgerald stepped between them, his tone sharp and commanding. "Enough! This isn't helping anyone. We need to focus on finding them. Have either of you checked every place they could've gone?"