Chapter 9
680words
"Honey, I'll be there soon. I can't wait to see what surprise you've prepared for me."
But as the fireworks lit up the night sky, Callista's response never came. An uneasy feeling crept into Luther's heart.
Just as he was about to call her, Wren stopped him by pressing her hand over his phone.
"Luther, you promised to stay with me tonight."
"I can't leave Callista alone there," he said while frowning. His thoughts were consumed by her.
He wasn't there with her, and he began wondering how worried she must've been. Their fifth wedding anniversary wasn't complete unless they watched the fireworks together.
"But it's too late even if you go now. A little delay won't make a difference, will it?" Wren murmured while looping the silk ribbon of her nightgown around his fingers and gently pulling.
The nightgown slid to the floor.
Luther's breathing grew heavier, though he muttered, "Don't be ridiculous."
Wren leaned closer. "I'm telling you that I'd reward you for staying. Don't you want it?"
Her answer came in the form of a muffled groan from Luther.
Wren's smile grew more seductive. Luther pulled her into his arms and began kissing her fiercely. His phone was now discarded to the side, and it rang multiple times but went unanswered.
Two hours later, Luther changed his clothes and drove to the rose garden. The fireworks had long since ended, and only a few stragglers lingered outside the garden.
He deliberately mussed his clothes at the gate to make it look like he had hurried there.
"Honey, I'm so sorry I'm late. You can punish me however you want…" he called out as he entered.
But inside, the only people present were a few staff members tidying up. Callista was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's my wife?" he asked.
"Mr. Spencer, Mrs. Spencer never came," one of the staff replied.
Luther's face darkened. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could she not have come?"
"Truly, sir, Mrs. Spencer didn't come."
A dryness crept into Luther's throat, and the sense of unease swelled. He pulled out his phone, assuming the missed calls were from Callista. But they weren't.
There were seven missed calls—all from Jane.
Luther scrolled through his phone again. He was searching for anything from Callista. There was nothing.
How could there be nothing?
Acting on instinct, he dialed her number, but the call didn't go through—her phone was off.
His face turned pale. He bolted out of the rose garden, jumped into his car, and sped home.
"Honey, it's my fault. Kai got into some trouble, and I had to go help him. That's why I…"
"That's why I was late," that was what he wanted to say.
Yet, his voice faltered as he stepped into the house. The living room was empty.
The sprawling villa felt like a show home now. It was utterly lifeless. Every trace of Callista was gone.
Luther's eyes darted to the wall where their oversized wedding photo used to hang. It was gone too.
The most impossible thought flashed through his mind.
Did Callista leave him?
No. That couldn't be it. He'd just missed the fireworks. That was all.
She had the softest heart. All he needed to do was find time to comfort her, maybe buy her some honey garlic prawns, and everything would be fine.
"Cally, don't scare me. You know I care about you the most. I'm terrified when I can't see you. You said you had a surprise for me. I don't even know what it is yet."
As he spoke, Luther climbed the stairs to their bedroom. The room was empty as well.
He hurried to the closet and pulled it open, and half of it was bare. The only things missing were Callista's clothes.
Luther's mind exploded in chaos. His vision blurred, and his knees nearly gave out. Hearing footsteps behind him, he spun around desperately.
However, it wasn't Callista. It was one of the house staff.
"Mr. Spencer, Mrs. Spencer said she left you a surprise."
