THE 24-HOUR SEARCH

THE SILENT FEAR

Elsa moved around the hall with purpose, supervising the ushers just as her mother had instructed. It was finally time to eat, and the once perfectly arranged trays of pastries and dishes were now being lifted from the serving tables by ushers in matching uniforms. They spread out across the vast, glittering reception hall, placing plates of food, pastries, and chilled drinks in front of guests seated at round tables draped in ivory linen.

The atmosphere shifted into something warm and indulgent—clattering cutlery, soft laughter, and delighted murmurs filled the room. Everywhere Elsa turned, people were taking bites of her mother’s pastries with the kind of expression that made pride swell in her chest.

She didn’t waste a moment. With every opportunity she got, she leaned in with a bright smile and said, “My mom baked it.” She said it as though it were a secret she could no longer keep. And the reactions were always the same—wide smiles, raised brows, and impressed nods. Some guests asked for her mother’s contact, and Elsa eagerly gave it out, scribbling numbers on napkins, reading them out loud, and saving them in their phones.

She was handing out another contact when she froze. The event planner was staring directly at her.

Elsa’s heart plummeted. Oh no. She wasn’t supposed to promote anything here. She wasn’t supposed to talk to guests about business. What if she had ruined something?

But then the event planner smiled—a soft, understanding smile—and gave her the smallest nod, a gentle little tilt of the head that said, It’s okay. Go on.

Relief washed over Elsa so quickly it left her a little dizzy. She almost smiled back but forced herself to keep moving, to blend into the work around her.

Soon, the mood in the hall shifted again—the music softened, phones came out for pictures, and guests stood from their seats. It was time for the couple to leave.

Daniel and Emmy stood at the center of the hall, glowing—truly glowing—as everyone gathered around them. Emmy’s laughter filled the room like bells, and Daniel held her hand as though letting go was impossible. Guests clapped, whistled, and cheered; mothers dabbed their eyes; friends shouted blessings over the noise. The newly wedded couple waved, bowed playfully, and hugged family members. Joy was a living thing in that moment—tangible, warm, contagious.

Elsa watched with a soft smile… until her attention was pulled elsewhere.

She saw him.

The man from earlier. The one she had bumped into. Now standing close to the groom, smiling, relaxed, familiar—as though he belonged in the spotlight.

Wait… he’s the best man?

Her eyes widened just a little. If he was Daniel’s best man, then he must be famous too—someone important, someone known. She hadn’t even realized.

And then, as though he had felt her stare tug at him, he looked up. Their eyes met.

Everything… paused. For both of them.

Elsa felt it like a soft punch to her chest—something warm, strange, unexpected. His expression shifted slightly, his smile fading into something unreadable, a flicker of recognition or curiosity in his eyes. For a heartbeat, it felt like the loud hall melted away, leaving only the two of them suspended in a moment that neither had planned for.

But that moment shattered instantly.

Because Elsa saw him.

Her stomach dropped. Her skin went cold.

The man she never wished to see again. The man from years ago. The man who slowed down her dreams, broke something in her that had never fully healed.

The perpetrator himself.

He stood across the room, talking with a small group of men, laughing casually, unaware of the fear he had ignited in her. He hadn’t seen her—not yet. But she saw him. And that was enough.

Her heart hammered violently against her ribs. Her breathing changed—shallow, sharp, unsteady. Her fingers trembled. It felt as though the air around her thickened, trapping her in place. The hall felt suddenly smaller, the sounds distorted, her vision tunneling toward his familiar, unforgettable face

_______

PRINCE ADAMS POV

Daniel and Emmy were still waving at everyone when they slipped into the convoy, laughing softly between themselves. All that was left was for me to get in, start the car, and drive them to the hotel where they were spending the night. Everything had been arranged perfectly—transport, suite, champagne. I had personally made sure nothing would ruin their first night together.

But I… I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.

The woman who stood frozen near the entrance. The woman whose presence tugged at me like an invisible string.

She looked… innocent. Pure. Soft in a way that made something deep in my chest tighten. I didn’t know her, yet I couldn’t pull my gaze away. There was something quiet about her aura, something unexplainably magnetic. And the longer I stared, the more this strange instinct stirred in me, urging me to step closer, to know her name, to understand why she carried this fragile glow around her.

But then her expression changed.

She looked like she had just seen a ghost.

Her eyes widened, her lips parted slightly, and every bit of color drained from her face. She wasn’t just startled—she was terrified. Terrified in a way a person only gets when their past suddenly stands in front of them. I tried to follow her gaze toward the group of men at the corner, but none of them seemed odd or threatening. Still… someone among them had frightened her. Deeply.

Was she mistreated earlier? Did any of them insult her? And who was she?

The event planner never mentioned another assistant when I was organizing how the boy would bring in the surprise gift I got for Daniel. So what was her role here?

Prince! Daniel shouted from the car window. Unless you plan to make us sleep here, get in!

I rolled my eyes at him. Relax. Some of us have eyes to look around, unlike you.

He laughed.

Emmy kicked off her heels and sighed dramatically. I’m tired. I need my bed. Like… immediately.

Daniel and I met eyes and burst into identical grins. Because the poor bride didn’t know she wasn’t getting any sleep tonight—not with the way Daniel had been staring at her all day. The man had been counting down seconds until he could finally break their virginity respectfully, romantically—but thoroughly.

I let out a quiet chuckle and turned my head back toward the lady.

And this time… she looked like she was going to faint.

Before I even knew what I was doing, I rushed toward her and grabbed her shoulders gently.

Hey—hey, are you okay? I asked.

She nodded slowly, too slowly. A lie. Her eyes were glassy. Her breathing was uneven. Her hands were shaking.

Who did you come with? I pressed. Your mom? A friend? Where are they?

Tears filled her eyes instantly. And for the first time, she pulled away from me—not out of shyness but fear. Fear of me. Fear of the closeness. Fear as if I were another monster she needed to escape.

I’m… I’m fine, she whispered in a trembling voice.

She wasn’t. She looked like she was fighting her own heartbeat, like her body was shutting down from panic. Her fingers twitched violently, and her knees looked ready to give out.

I made a decision I didn’t fully think through. I took her hand. You’re coming with me.

She didn’t resist. She couldn’t. She was too shaken to even process what was happening.

Daniel and Emmy stared at me from the car with identical “Are you out of your mind?” expressions, but I ignored them. I guided her to the front seat and helped her sit. Daniel and Emmy settled quietly in the back.

I climbed in, started the engine, and noticed the way she hugged herself tightly—shivering, even though the AC wasn’t cold at all. I turned it off.

No one spoke at first. Then Emmy leaned forward, her voice soft like silk.

Sweetheart… are you okay?

The woman forced a tiny smile. Congratulations to you ma'am, she says softly.

Daniel, wanting to be polite, placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.

What happened next—I will never forget.

She jerked violently away from his touch as if electrocuted, her breath catching in her throat. Then she started shaking—full-body trembling, almost like a seizure of fear. Her eyes widened as though she were staring at something only she could see.

Whoa—hey, hey, hey, Daniel exclaimed. Miss, it’s okay. You’re safe—just breathe, okay? Breathe.

Prince! Emmy screamed. Stop the car! Daniel needs to sit in front. Let her come to the back with me!

I hit the brakes immediately.

They switched seats—Daniel up front with me, the lady in the back with Emmy. I didn’t dare look at Daniel. I could feel his disappointment burning a hole in my side.

I knew exactly what he was thinking:

Prince Adams, you made me leave my bride’s side on my wedding night. I should be kissing her, not sitting here like your co-driver.

Yeah. I was in trouble.

But Emmy didn’t care about any of that. Her attention was entirely on the trembling woman beside her.

What’s your name? Emmy asked softly.

The woman swallowed hard. E… Elsa.

Elsa, Emmy repeated gently, placing Elsa’s head on her shoulder. It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re fine. You’re with us. You’re safe, okay? She rubbed Elsa’s arm slowly, grounding her.

Elsa closed her eyes, still shaking, still hugging herself—but she clung to Emmy’s comfort like a lifeline.

Elsa.

So that was her name.