Chapter 22

The family dinner was quiet, the air heavy with unspoken words. Tessa, feeling the weight of it all, excused herself early and made her way to her bedroom. As she passed the table, her eyes landed on a gift box. She remembered the watch she had meant to give to Stephen, so she dialed his number. "Hey, Stephen, remember that gift I promised you? I'm about to head over with it. Are you at the manor?" "I am." "Great, I'll be there soon." … At Evergreen Villa, Zachary and Wendy entered, but the housekeeper, Emma, glanced over her shoulder. "Mr. Gomez, didn't Ms. Yates return with you?" Zachary frowned. "Isn't she home?" Emma's confusion deepened. "Didn't Ms. Yates go out with you? She hasn't been back in the past few days." A sudden realization hit Zachary, and his heart raced. Without a word, he hurried upstairs. The vanity was empty, the small decorations gone in Tessa's room. When he opened the closet, it was empty. Every trace of Tessa had vanished. The room had been retu