Chapter 4
1528 Words
The silence in Mr. Blackwood’s study lasted too long.
Mr. Callen stood near the door, expression controlled—but uneasy.
“She’s gone,” he repeated.
This time, the words landed properly.
No one spoke immediately.
Not because they didn’t hear him.
Because they were trying to understand how something so simple could feel so heavy.
Mrs. Blackwood’s hand slowly left the edge of the desk.
“No…” she whispered.
It was not denial.
It was shock catching up.
Mr. Blackwood didn’t respond at first.
His eyes stayed fixed on nothing in particular.
Like he was replaying the entire day in fragments.
The Morning he told her about the marriage
Lunch that she didn't come out for .
Her silence.
Her room.
Now—
absence.
“Search the estate,” he said finally.
“I already have, sir. There is no sign of her inside the grounds.”
He hesitated for half a second.
“…I even sent the drivers to check the nearby town,” he added carefully.
“Still nothing.”
That sentence changed the air in the room.
Because it removed hope.
Not assumption.
Fact.
Mrs. Blackwood sank slightly into her chair.
“She wouldn’t just leave…” she said faintly.
But her voice did not finish the thought.
Because even she was no longer sure.
Amara, who had been standing near the doorway, stepped forward slightly.
Who's missing??
What's going on? She asked again, more firmly now
She looked between her parents
Mom, dad ??.
Mrs. Blackwood opened her mouth—
then closed it.
Mr. Blackwood answered instead.
“Your sister is missing.”
Amara froze.
“Missing?”
Mrs. Blackwood’s voice broke slightly.
“She’s not in her room or anywhere around
the house.”
Amara shook her head slightly.
“That’s not possible. She was here this evening.”
Mom didn't you go to her room after dinner..
Her voice sharpened.
“I saw her.”
Mr. Callen spoke carefully.
“And now she is not.”
That sentence settled differently.
Heavier.
More final.
Amara stared at them.
Slowly, confusion replaced certainty.
“She left?” she asked.
No one confirmed it.
No one denied it.
That silence was the answer.
A knock interrupted them
A servant entered quickly
Sir... We have a call from the vale resident
Mr Callen left the room and returned shortly
“Sir… the Vale representatives are sending someone to the estate to confirm the arrangement in person.”
The room went still.
Not louder.
Worse.
Stillness that carried pressure inside it.
Mr. Blackwood’s jaw tightened slightly.
“…When?”
“Tomorrow morning, sir.”
Amara frowned.
“What arrangement?” she asked again.
But no one answered her.
Not properly.
Because even inside the room—
They were still deciding what the answer should be.
Mr. Blackwood remained standing behind his desk, one hand braced against its edge.
His face had gone pale.
"No," he said quietly. "She wouldn't do that."
No one replied.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
After a long moment, he lowered himself into his chair and stared at nothing.
"Leave me."
His voice was rough.
"All of you. Leave me."
No one argued.
One by one, they filed out of the study, leaving him alone with the reality he refused to accept.
Later that night, Mrs. Blackwood went to Selene's room.
It was untouched.
Everything exactly as it had been.
Too still.
Too final.
She stood there for a long time without speaking.
Then quietly closed the door.
Morning arrived quickly
Nobody truly rested.
The household looked exhausted already.
Breakfast was served that morning, but hardly anyone touched it.
The long dining table sat filled with food that gradually grew cold beneath silver covers.
Mrs. Blackwood stared at her untouched tea.
Mr. Blackwood reviewed reports brought by returning drivers without taking a single bite.
Amara remained confused by what's going on
Even the servants moved more quietly than usual as they cleared plates that remained nearly untouched.
The absence of one person had somehow changed the atmosphere of the entire estate.
Just before noon, the sound of a car entering the estate broke the uneasy silence.
Mr. Callen, who had been standing near the entrance hall,straightened immediately.
A well-dressed man stepped out.
Everything about him was neat.
Measured.
Important.
Mr. Callen recognized him at once.
“Mr. Bennett.”
“Mr. Callen.”
The older man gave a polite nod.
Without another word, Mr. Callen personally led him inside.
The servants exchanged glances.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody needed to.
From upstairs, Amara noticed the unfamiliar guest.
Her eyes followed the two men as they disappeared down the hallway.
She frowned.
Mr. Callen led the visitor straight toward Mr. Blackwood's study.
The door closed behind them.
And remained closed.
Upstairs, Mrs. Blackwood paced restlessly inside her room.
She had been unable to sit still all morning.
Every passing minute made her chest tighten further.
A knock startled her.
She turned sharply.
Amara stood outside.
“Mom?”
Mrs. Blackwood quickly forced herself to calm down.
“Yes?”
Amara frowned.
“Who just came?”
“No one important.”
“Mom.”
Mrs. Blackwood looked away.
“It is nothing.”
But Amara knew better.
Nothing had felt normal since yesterday.
Nothing.
Not her father's silence.
Not Mr. Callen's expression.
Not the servants whispering among themselves.
And certainly not the stranger who had just been taken into her father's study.
Downstairs—
The door to the study remained shut.
And whatever was happening behind it—
was making the entire house hold its breath.
Before long, the study door opened.
Mr. Bennett stepped out first.
Still composed.
Still unreadable.
Mr. Callen accompanied him back toward the entrance.
Neither man spoke loudly.
Neither man needed to.
From upstairs, Amara watched the visitor leave.
The black car disappeared beyond the gates.
But the uneasiness it brought remained behind.
Mr. Callen returned alone.
He headed straight back toward the study.
A minute later, a maid hurried upstairs.
“Madam…”
Mrs. Blackwood stopped pacing immediately.
“Yes?”
“Master requests your presence in the study.”
Mrs. Blackwood froze.
For a second, she simply stared.
Then she nodded weakly.
“Tell him I'll come.”
The maid left.
Amara frowned.
“Mom?”
Mrs. Blackwood forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
“Stay here.”
“Mom, what is happening?”
“Please, Amara.”
Her voice broke slightly.
“Just… stay here.”
And she left.
Amara stood alone in the room.
Confusion had long since turned into fear.
Because everyone seemed to know something.
Everyone—
except her.
Mrs. Blackwood entered the study slowly.
The door closed behind her.
Mr Blackwood stood by the window.
Mr. Callen remained near the desk.
Neither man spoke immediately.
And somehow—
Their silence frightened her more than words.
“What did he say?” she asked quietly.
Richard turned.
“He suspects nothing.”
Relief flashed across Evelyn's face.
Only for a moment.
“Then why do you look like that?”
Richard exhaled heavily.
“The Vale family wants preparations to continue without delay.”
She stared at him.
“And Selene?”
No answer came.
Because there was none.
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
“She'll come back,” she whispered.
“She has to.”
Richard lowered his eyes.
“And if she doesn't?”
Silence.
Heavy.
Cruel.
Mr. Callen finally spoke.
“We have sent the drivers everywhere nearby.”
“There has been no word.”
Evelyn shook her head immediately.
“No.”
“No.”
“She'll come back.”
“She has to.”
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
“We don't have the luxury of waiting.”
That sentence made Evelyn look up.
Slowly.
Fear entered her eyes.
“Richard…”
“No,” she whispered before he even spoke.
“No.”
Richard's voice remained calm.
Too calm.
“The Vale family cannot be embarrassed.”
“No.”
“They cannot discover that Selene disappeared.”
“No!”
Evelyn stood up abruptly.
“You can't mean—”
“What choice do we have?”
The words echoed inside the room.
And for the first time—
Neither husband nor wife spoke.
Because both of them had thought about it.
Neither had dared say it.
Until now.
Mr. Callen lowered his eyes.
Even he looked troubled.
Outside the study—
Amara had come downstairs.
Not intentionally.
Not to eavesdrop.
Only because she couldn't sit still anymore.
But as she approached—
she heard her mother's voice.
“No!”
“Not Amara!”
Amara froze.
Inside the study, Evelyn's voice broke.
“She doesn't even know anything!”
“She doesn't deserve this!”
Amara's heart skipped.
Deserve what?
Her father spoke quietly.
“She is our daughter too.”
“She is the only chance we have left.”
Outside—
Amara stopped breathing.
And for the first time since Selene disappeared—
fear truly settled inside her.
Because somehow—
without understanding how—
she had just heard her own name.
And it sounded like a sentence
- Writer
