Chapter 5
Three days had gone by, and there was still no sign of Yasmine. Truman stood there, as stiff as a board, while Sebastian lit another cigarette. The smoke curled around his fingers, and his eyes looked like storm clouds.
Sebastian frowned and said, “Yasmine came from an orphanage. She had no connections. You’re telling me you can’t find her?”
Truman’s forehead was dotted with sweat. “There’s no info on where she is, Mr. Zimmerman. She’s just vanished.”
Sebastian stubbed out his cigarette. His eyes landed on the divorce papers spread out on the desk. The signature at the bottom was neat but firm. It showed how determined Yasmine was when she left.
Sebastian clenched his hands into fists. He thought to himself, ‘Impotence? Guess she forgot how she was crying her eyes out in my bed, huh?‘
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he crumpled the divorce papers in his fist. The lilies Yasmine had bought three days ago were wilting in their vase. Their petals drooped like tired hands.
He ordered, “If the official channels don’t work, try the underground networks.”
Truman nodded. “Got it.”
“Wait a minute,” Sebastian said, stopping Truman.
Truman turned back, looking confused.
“Buy fresh lilies. Replace these,” Sebastian said, pointing to the vase.
Truman hesitated. His eyes looked troubled. “Sir… What if we really can’t find Madam?”
Sebastian gave Truman a cold glare. It was like two angry flames burning in the dark.
Truman lowered his head. He knew he’d overstepped and hurried away.
After Truman left, Sebastian slumped into his chair. His fingers brushed the dried lily petals as he whispered, “Yasmine, what’s with all this drama?”
Mandy stood at the top of the staircase. Her shawl was draped over her shoulders like a queen’s. “Still no sign of Yasmine?”
Sebastian looked up. His face was as cold as usual. “Mother,” he said flatly.
Mandy scoffed, “Let the ungrateful girl stay gone. Grown–ups don’t play hide–and–seek. Since you’ve made up with Ashley, just sign the divorce papers and be nice to her. Because of you, she-”
Sebastian cut her off, “I’m heading to the office.”
Mandy called after him, but he didn’t turn back. She glared at the lilies on the table. Her irritation grew. ‘Since when do we keep junk in the house? Sebastian is treating these like they’re treasures.
‘Someone! Get rid of this. Pack up all of Yasmine’s stuff. I want it out of here now,” she ordered.
The maids scrambled to clean the master bedroom. Soon, one of them ran out clutching some medical records. Her face was pale. “Mrs. Zimmerman… this looks like something Yasmine left behind.”
Mandy grabbed the papers and quickly skimmed through them. Her eyes widened. “Burn these. Sebastian can’t see this. Useless! She couldn’t even protect her own kid. No wonder she left,” Mandy sneered.
Meanwhile, Tieline Design was filled with tension. The executives stood nervously in the lobby. They adjusted their ties and whispered to each other.
“What’s going on? Did Ms. Guzman really come back?”
“Who knows? She disappeared without a word three years ago. I thought she was gone for good.”
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10 25
Chapter 5
“Shut it. She’s the pride of the Guzman family. I don’t want to get caught up in your gossip. I still want to live a peaceful life.”
As the crowd buzzed with excitement, a stretch limo pulled up outside the entrance of Tieline Design.
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