Casper dialed Adeline's number.
The line went straight to the robotic voice saying the phone was switched off. Only then did it hit him—he had taken her phone away himself long ago.
He couldn't even remember the last time he had actually called this number.
Out of nowhere, old memories flooded back from when they first met. Whenever he went overseas on business, even during a packed meeting, he would slip out for those quick five-minute video calls with Adeline, just because he couldn't stand being away from her voice.
A strange, hollow ache settled in his chest, making him feel oddly panicked.
It was like something he had always taken for granted had suddenly vanished. It had been right there in his hand the whole time—how could it just be gone?
Who the hell had picked her up? Where
