BOUND BY ONE NIGHT

Chapter 21

Alex’s POV

Lavender was gone, not transferred, not reassigned, not on leave. Just… gone. HR claimed she resigned and cleared out her desk quietly, signing the paperwork without hesitation. I couldn’t believe it. The girl who trembled before sending an email at first, who triple-checked everything, she just vanished without a trace?

No, something was wrong. I stalked down the hallway toward her old workspace. It looked painfully empty, like she had never existed. As if every trace of her laughter, her scent, her shy smiles had been wiped clean. I stood there, feeling foolish and furious, unable to stop myself from imagining her seated there again, headphones in, worrying her lip with her teeth while typing.

Why didn’t she come to me? Why didn’t she fight? Why did she run? I had sent messages, called, nothing, straight to voicemail. Her number disconnected. Her apartment? Vacant. Landlord said she’d left in a rush, “personal reasons,” no forwarding address.

Lavender had slipped through my fingers, and I hadn’t even realized I was holding on. I leaned a hand against the cubicle wall and shut my eyes, breathing in the faintest remaining trace of her floral perfume. God, I hated that it still lingered. It was proof of her absence.

“Alex.” My mother’s voice sliced through my thoughts like a blade. I turned, masking my inner turmoil with the cold composure expected of me. She assessed my expression for all of two seconds before rolling her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on that girl.”

That girl, always reduced to nothing. “She resigned,” I said evenly. “Nobody knows where she went.”

“She caused enough scandal already,” Mother snapped. “Her leaving is a blessing. No more rumours distracting you from real responsibilities.” My father stood beside her, posture stiff, silent agreement radiating from him, responsibilities, the family name, the company and Cassandra.

Of course, right on cue, Cassandra stepped forward from behind them. She was dressed elegantly, poised as ever. The picture of society-approved perfection. “Alex… your family and mine have been patient,” she began gently, though I knew the softness was more calculated than kind. “The board wants a clear headline, a unified future. Setting our engagement date would settle everything.”

There it was. The noose tightening.

“Can we please stop pretending this is about the company?” I huffed. “You want the engagement for you. For the spotlight.” She didn’t even deny it. “I want what we’ve planned for years, what everyone expects, what is right.”

Right, was it? Once, I thought it was. Cassandra and I were the perfect pair on paper. But paper never accounted for the way Lavender’s voice softened when she said my name. Or how she made me feel seen, like the man, not the heir.

Cassandra reached for my hand, I didn’t pull away fast enough. “Lavender was a mistake,” she whispered. “And mistakes are meant to be forgotten, not chased.” A mistake, The word hit harder than I expected.

“Son.” My father’s tone hardened. “You’ve put the family through enough unnecessary drama. You will choose a date today.” My patience snapped. “You all act like I committed a crime. I simply cared for someone.”

“You humiliated Cassandra,” Mother hissed. “Do you know the damage that causes? The headlines? The whispers? Do you know what we have endured because you let a lowly employee wander into your personal life?”

Lowly, of course. If they had met Lavender’s heart, her honesty, her strength, they wouldn’t dare speak like that. But they wouldn’t meet her. They didn’t want to.

“What we endured?” I scoffed. “Lavender lost everything.”

“And she needed to,” Cassandra interjected sharply. “She stood out of place. She doesn’t belong in this world, Alex. You know it.” I stared at her, at all of them. The life I had been groomed for suddenly felt like a cage that was closing in.

Lavender didn’t run because she was weak. She ran because this world, my world, cornered her.

“Choose a date.” Father repeated, his tone final. “Or the board will assume you are not prepared to lead this company.” And there it was the real threat.

Not love, not happiness, power, prestige and Legacy. I swallowed back every fierce argument clawing up my throat. For once, I felt helpless trapped between the only future I knew… and the only person who had ever made me want a different one.

Lavender could be anywhere now, alone, hurt. And all I could do was stand here while they dismantled what remained of us.

“Fine.” The word tasted bitter. “Set the date. I’ll be there.” Cassandra’s triumphant smile made my stomach twist.

“Excellent,” Mother said, already pulling out her phone to alert whoever cared about such victories. “We’ll make the announcement soon. This will smooth everything over. People will forget the scandal.”

Forget Lavender, as if she were disposable, replaceable, forgettable. I clenched my fists behind my back, nails digging into my palms until pain grounded me. I would not forget her. Even if she never returned, even if I was forced down this path, even if the world celebrated my engagement…

I knew exactly what, and who I was losing. Lavender wasn’t a mistake. She was the only thing that had ever felt real. And while my mother smiled… while Cassandra stepped closer as though claiming her victory… while my father nodded with satisfaction…

I silently swore,’ If I ever found Lavender again, nothing on this earth or beneath it would make me let her go.’

But for now…

I had no choice but to let them believe they’d won.