GONE
2048 Words
Chapter Two
Seraphine stared at the departure board without seeing any of the destinations.
Lagos.
Abuja.
London.
Paris.
The words blurred together.
She tightened her grip around the handle of her suitcase and glanced down at her handbag.
Inside it was the only thing she couldn't afford to lose.
The ultrasound photograph.
Her baby who was only six weeks old.
She had spent the last hour sitting on a bench outside the hospital, trying to decide what came next.
Going home had been the obvious choice until she remembered that the apartment wasn't home anymore.
Kaelor was everywhere there.
His books were still on the shelf.
His favorite mug was still in the kitchen.
His jacket was probably still hanging behind their bedroom door.
Even the stupid little dent in the hallway wall reminded her of him.
She couldn't go back.
Not tonight.
Maybe not ever.
Her phone vibrated.
Evelyn Calling...
Seraphine stared at the screen.
She almost let it ring out but then she answered.
“Hello?”
“Sera?”
Evelyn's voice immediately changed.
“What happened? You sound terrible.”
Seraphine looked through the glass doors of the terminal.
“I signed the divorce papers.”
Silence.
“He actually went through with it?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Sera.”
“I don't want to talk about it.”
“Fine. You don't have to talk. Just tell me where you are.”
Seraphine closed her eyes.
“Evelyn—”
“Where are you?”
“I'm at the airport.”
“What?”
“I need to leave.”
“Leave where?”
“I don't know.”
Evelyn was quiet for a moment.
Then she said, “Don't move.”
Seraphine frowned.
“Evelyn—”
“I said don't move. I'm coming.”
The call ended.
Seraphine stared at her phone.
Despite everything, a faint smile touched her lips.
Evelyn had always been like that.
She never asked permission to worry about her.
Seraphine looked down at her stomach.
Her hand rested against it instinctively.
“You're all I have now.”
She paused.
Then corrected herself.
“No.”
A small smile appeared.
“We have each other.”
Across the city, Kaelor stood alone in his office.
Rain tapped against the enormous windows.
The divorce papers lay on his desk.
Signed.
Finally finished.
At least, that was what he kept telling himself.
A knock sounded.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Zayven Laurent walked inside with a file tucked beneath his arm.
He stopped when he noticed the papers.
“So it's done.”
Kaelor didn't look at him.
“Yes.”
Zayven placed the file on the desk.
“You don't look relieved.”
“I didn't ask how I look.”
“No. You usually don't.”
Kaelor finally turned.
“What do you want?”
Zayven studied him.
“To know whether you're certain.”
“I am.”
“About the divorce?”
“Yes.”
“Or about Seraphine betraying you?”
Kaelor's expression hardened.
“Don't start.”
“I'm not starting anything.”
Zayven pulled out a chair and sat.
“I'm asking a simple question.”
“The evidence was verified.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Kaelor's jaw tightened.
Zayven leaned forward.
“You've known Seraphine for three years.”
“Three years is long enough for someone to learn how to lie.”
“That's not an answer.”
Kaelor looked away.
“I saw the records.”
“Records can be manipulated.”
“I had everything checked.”
“By your own people?”
Kaelor didn't respond.
Zayven watched him for several seconds.
“Then why do you still have that?”
His gaze shifted toward the bookshelf.
A wedding photograph sat there.
Kaelor followed his eyes.
He hadn't noticed it before.
Or perhaps he had simply refused to.
Zayven stood and walked toward it.
“You should probably get rid of this.”
He lifted the frame.
Kaelor's eyes narrowed.
“Put it down.”
Zayven looked at the photograph.
Seraphine was laughing in it.
Not the polite smile she gave strangers.
A real laugh.
There was a smear of flour across her nose.
Kaelor remembered the day.
She had insisted on helping with the wedding cake despite having absolutely no idea what she was doing.
She'd ruined the first batch.
Then the second.
He'd laughed until she threatened to throw the cake at him.
Later that night, she'd rested her head against his shoulder and asked him a question.
Will you always choose me?
He had kissed her forehead.
Every single day.
The memory disappeared when the frame slipped from Zayven's hand.
Glass exploded across the marble floor.
Neither man moved.
Zayven looked down.
“I'm sorry.”
Kaelor crouched and picked up the photograph.
A c***k ran across Seraphine's face.
His thumb stopped beside it.
For a moment, something unpleasant tightened in his chest.
He pushed the feeling away.
“Leave it.”
Zayven frowned.
“You're not replacing it?”
“No.”
Kaelor opened the bottom drawer of his desk and placed the damaged photograph inside.
Then he shut it.
“My marriage ended yesterday.”
Zayven didn't argue.
But as he walked toward the door, he glanced back.
“Maybe the marriage did.”
Kaelor looked at him.
“But that doesn't mean the truth ended with it.”
The door closed.
Kaelor remained standing.
His eyes settled on the drawer.
He didn't open it.
By the time Evelyn reached Seraphine's apartment, the rain had started.
She climbed the stairs two at a time, carrying two grocery bags.
She knocked.
Nothing.
She knocked again.
“Sera?”
The door opened.
Evelyn stepped inside and stopped.
“What happened?”
Half the apartment was packed into cardboard boxes.
Books were stacked beside the sofa.
Clothes filled two suitcases.
The walls looked strangely bare.
Seraphine stood in the middle of the room folding a sweater.
“I'm leaving.”
Evelyn dropped the grocery bags onto the kitchen counter.
“Leaving where?”
“I don't know yet.”
“You're serious?”
Seraphine nodded.
“I can't stay here.”
Evelyn looked around.
“You packed all of this today?”
“I didn't sleep.”
That explained the dark circles beneath her eyes.
Evelyn walked closer.
“Sera, you don't have to disappear because your marriage ended.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you acting like you're running away?”
Seraphine folded the sweater and placed it into the suitcase.
“Because every corner of this place reminds me of him.”
Evelyn's expression softened.
She didn't argue.
Instead, she began helping with the clothes.
For several minutes, neither woman spoke.
Then Evelyn noticed the envelope on the coffee table.
A hospital logo was printed across the front.
She reached for it.
Seraphine's head snapped up.
“Evelyn, don't—”
It was too late.
The envelope opened.
A small black-and-white photograph slipped onto the floor.
Evelyn stared at it.
Then at Seraphine.
Then back at the photograph.
Her mouth fell open.
“Sera.”
Seraphine said nothing.
“You're pregnant.”
Seraphine nodded.
Evelyn's eyes filled instantly.
“Oh my God.”
She crossed the room and pulled Seraphine into her arms.
That was all it took.
Seraphine broke.
“I wanted to tell him.”
Her voice disappeared against Evelyn's shoulder.
“I was going to surprise him.”
Evelyn held her tighter.
“When did you find out?”
“Today.”
“Does Kaelor know?”
Seraphine shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
Seraphine pulled away.
She wiped her cheeks before looking at the ultrasound photograph on the floor.
“He already thinks I'm capable of destroying his company.”
“He was wrong.”
“He doesn't know that.”
“He will.”
Seraphine looked at her.
“How?”
“Tell him.”
Seraphine gave a bitter smile.
“You think he'll believe me?”
“It's his child.”
“That won't matter.”
Evelyn frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“He'll think I'm using the pregnancy to stop the divorce.”
“You could never do that.”
“I know that.”
Seraphine picked up the photograph.
“But he doesn't.”
She placed it carefully inside the envelope.
“I won't let him think our baby is a weapon.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“So what are you going to do?”
Seraphine looked toward the window.
Rain streaked down the glass.
“Disappear.”
The following morning, Ashford Manor was unusually quiet.
Genevieve Ashford sat at the breakfast table with a cup of tea in front of her.
She looked up when Kaelor entered.
“You're late.”
“I had work.”
“You look exhausted.”
“I'm fine.”
Genevieve raised an eyebrow.
“You've never been good at lying to me.”
Kaelor pulled out a chair but didn't sit.
Genevieve studied him.
“Where is Seraphine?”
He went still.
“We're divorced.”
The teacup slipped from Genevieve's hand.
It struck the marble floor and shattered.
For several seconds, she simply stared at him.
“What did you say?”
“We finalized the divorce yesterday.”
“You divorced her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She betrayed me.”
Genevieve slowly rose.
“Did she confess?”
“No.”
“Did she admit to leaking the information?”
“No.”
“Did you hear her say she did it?”
“No.”
Genevieve's eyes hardened.
“Then what exactly do you have?”
“Evidence.”
“Evidence.”
She repeated the word slowly.
“And you were willing to destroy your marriage because of it?”
Kaelor's voice tightened.
“I had it verified.”
“By whom?”
“I don't see why that matters.”
“It matters because you're telling me you trusted a collection of documents more than the woman who shared your bed for three years.”
“She deceived me.”
“You don't know that.”
“I know what I saw.”
Genevieve stepped closer.
“No, Kaelor. You know what someone wanted you to see.”
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But she noticed.
Before he could answer, the butler entered hurriedly.
“Madam.”
Genevieve turned.
“What is it?”
“We've been trying to contact Mrs. Ashford.”
Kaelor looked at him.
“Why?”
“She isn't answering her phone.”
“Where is she?”
The butler hesitated.
“At the apartment, sir... there is no one there.”
Kaelor's brow furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“The apartment has been emptied.”
Silence.
Genevieve stared at him.
“When did she leave?”
“The landlord said she left before dawn.”
“Where did she go?”
“We don't know.”
Kaelor's expression hardened.
“Find out.”
“We've tried, sir.”
“And?”
The butler swallowed.
“There is no forwarding address.”
Kaelor reached for his phone.
Seraphine's name appeared on the screen.
He called.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Straight to voicemail.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
Genevieve watched him carefully.
“Kaelor.”
He didn't answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
For the first time since signing the divorce papers, the certainty he'd been holding onto began to c***k.
He had expected Seraphine to fight.
He had expected tears.
Anger.
Or perhaps even a desperate attempt to change his mind.
He hadn't expected silence.
He hadn't expected an empty apartment.
He hadn't expected her to leave without telling anyone where she was going.
And he hadn't expected the thought of never seeing her again to frighten him.
Genevieve's voice was quiet.
“You're beginning to doubt yourself.”
Kaelor lowered the phone.
“No.”
But the word lacked conviction.
He looked toward the window.
Rain clouds gathered over the estate.
Somewhere beyond those walls, Seraphine was leaving him behind.
And for the first time, Kaelor wondered whether he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.
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