Ariane Hastings
They’ve begun looking for Ariane in the whole state but they didn’t find her. There’s no sign of her being in the state for the past two years either.
“No…” Devon muttered to herself when she entered the run-down apartment that has been sitting rotten for the past years.
According to her landlady, Ariane disappeared leaving no trace of his whereabouts.
“How about a baby? Did you see her bringing a baby here?” Daemon asked while Devon was staring emptily at the sullen house. Knowing that her friend brought her child to this house is mentally abusing her.
Where are you, Ariane? Where did you bring my Emily? Please come out now. Return her to me now.
The landlady looked at them in confusion. “A baby? She doesn’t have a baby with her. Ariane is an orphan without any husband or boyfriend.”
Devon clung to Daemon’s hand for support as her head spun in anxiety, her sweat shining against the soft features of her face. “No, it’s not her baby. It’s mine. I just entrusted my baby to her during that time because I was so desperate. Did you hear her talking about a baby?”
“No, we didn’t hear anything about a baby from her but she mentioned a relative who can help you with anything with Ariane. Wait here. I’m going to get her contact details.”
Hope sprang and welled up deep within me. Daemon caressed her back and held her tightly against his tensed body. This could be the information that they’re looking for.
“Thank you so much,” he said after receiving a piece of paper from the woman and turned to her. “Don’t worry. We’ll find Emily.”
They traveled to Hamptown which is close to the territory of the Farrows but Daemon almost took all of his army to accompany them. He is not taking any chances especially now that his intel picked up another army privatization of Gestoni.
They reached the house at the address and rang the bell but no one’s answering. Daemon is about to break in but luckily, an elderly woman opened the door and looked at them.
“Yes, children? What do you want?” she asked and closed the door behind her.
“Good afternoon. I’m Daemon Druft. We’re here to ask about your relative, Ariane Hasting. Can I ask where is she now?”
Biting the inside of her cheeks, Devon waited in bated breath.
Please be positive. May this be good news.
“Ariane Hasting died one year ago,” the woman said in a controlled voice.
“Dead?” she whispered, her hand slowly slipping her grip on Daemon but her husband caught it back quickly.
The woman nodded. “Yes, she died of pneumonia in her own house.”
“What?! That can’t be!” she exclaimed.
No! Ariane cannot be dead. Her only best friend is alive!
“Our condolences. How about a baby? She brought a baby girl with her. Do you have any idea where she gave the baby?” Daemon asked when Devon cannot open her mouth to speak a word.
“A baby? My niece doesn’t have one. She’s impotent.”
“Please ma’am,” Devon begged her. She’s about to kneel down on the dirty ground had it not been for Daemon who hoists her up and keeps her by his side. “Don’t you really remember if Ariane had brought home a baby? It’s my baby, Emily. I entrusted her with my baby temporarily.”
“I just told you that she didn’t have a baby with her when she came home. And what kind of mother are you to leave your baby even when she’s a friend? You are one irresponsible mother!” she chastised her.
Devon sobbed hard and buried her face on his chest.
Yes, I am, she thought. I am the most irresponsible mother ever!
“It’s not my wife’s fault, ma’am,” Daemon said calmly to defuse the situation. “Thank you for the information. We’re leaving.”
He carefully wrapped his other arm around her and gently pulled her back to their waiting car.
“No, stop. I can’t go. We have to find her, Daemon. We have to find our baby.”
He cupped her face and gave her a reassuring smile. “It’ll be better if we go home. You should take a rest first. You just got out of the hospital.”
Still in shock from the new information, Devon shook her head repeatedly. “No, we have to find her, Daemon! Emily needs me and I need her more than ever.”
“I know, I know,” he said in the calmest voice possible. “I understand you but we can’t give our full focus if you’re not totally healthy. Please listen to me. It’s for your own good too. The better you are, the faster we could find our daughter. You understand me?”
They went home despite her protests. She quickly ran to their room and laid on the bed while hugging a pillow to conceal her red face.
“I just want to be alone, please,” she uttered when the door opened.
She thought he left but to her surprise, he laid down beside her and hugged her from behind. Kissing her head, Daemon held her securely in his arms.
“Hush, baby. We will find her, okay?” He planted a soft kiss on her forehead. “We’ll find Emily in no time. She’ll be back to us, I promise you.”
She nodded in exhaustion. She’s feeling tired, the kind of tiredness that sleep cannot even quench.
“Don’t leave me,” she begged in a shaking voice. “Don’t leave me, Daemon.”
“I’m not leaving you. From now on, I’ll always be here for you, Devon.”
In spite of knowing that he agreed to marry her to take his revenge on his father, Devon cannot seem to afford to lose Daemon in her life.
“I’m sorry, Daemon.” She cried hard. “I’m sorry for losing Emily.”
He kissed her head again and brushed aside her hair back. “Why are you saying that when I should be the one who’s sorry. It’s all my fault. I neglected you when you gave birth to our baby. What kind of a father does that? I’ve controlled my emotion for far too long. I was selfish and because of that, we lost Emily. Years of intelligence and being in extreme power but I can’t even find my own daughter.”
He lifted her face to him and gave her a smile. “I promise I’ll take care of you Devon. I’ll find Emily. I’ll give you our complete family.”
