Chapter 19
858words
Standing in the bustling airport terminal, he felt utterly lost and uneasy.
This wasn’t his turf. He was completely in the dark.
Where could he find Tara?
Where was she?
Although he had already reached out to some contacts for help, there hadn’t been any updates yet.
With no other choice, he checked into a hotel.
The waiting was unbearable, and he found himself restless.
He pulled out his phone and left messages on all of Tara’s social media and online accounts, only to find that everything—shopping apps, reading platforms, everything—had been deactivated.
She was erasing herself completely from his world.
His chest ached, as though pierced by a thousand needles.
Defeated, he walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stared at the dazzling lights of the dreamlike Birkham night.
Lighting one cigarette after another, he muttered, “Tara... I love you. I didn’t even realize how deeply until now.
“Come back to me. Please, just come back.”
His lips trembled as he bit down hard enough to draw blood, the pain a fleeting distraction from his torment.
Then his phone rang.
He jolted, his heart racing. It had to be news about Tara!
He fumbled to answer, “Hello?”
“You idiot!”
His father’s thunderous voice roared through the phone.
“Have you completely lost your mind? Look at the scandal you’ve caused!”
Leo quickly masked his emotions, his usual cool and composed demeanor returning. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Do you know how much damage you’ve done? The company’s stock has plummeted!”
Leo stayed silent, taking a long drag from his cigarette.
His sharp features, shrouded in hazy smoke, carried a forlorn, almost poetic melancholy.
It was a punishment he knew he deserved. He had failed Tara.
Mr. Carter Sr.’s voice softened, though it was no less commanding. “You need to hold a press conference immediately. Clarify your relationship with Nina and prove you had nothing to do with the rest of this mess!”
Leo rubbed his temples, exhausted. “The company has already issued a statement.”
“That’s not enough!” Mr. Carter Sr. snapped. “If you don’t show up in person, no one will believe it. Everyone thinks you’ve been arrested!”
“I’m in Birkham right now,” Leo replied. “I’ll handle it when I return.”
“You’ll handle it now!” Mr. Carter Sr. barked, furious. “Do you even realize how much the company is losing every minute because of you?”
Leo wanted to stay in Birkham to search for Tara. “I’ll sort it out once I’m done here. I’ll cover the losses myself.”
Mr. Carter Sr. paused, taking a deep breath to steady his anger. “Cover the losses? With what money? Don’t make empty promises! Even if knives are falling from the sky, you must prioritize the company’s interests.
“If this stirs up backlash among the shareholders, your uncles, and your siblings, I won’t be able to stop them from cutting your shares and benefits.”
Leo’s tone was indifferent. “I’ll record a statement clarifying everything and post it online. Let’s see how things go from there.”
Mr. Carter Sr. sighed in disappointment. “I had hoped you could take the helm as the next leader of the company. But it seems you’re still too immature.”
Leo pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze.
He knew the company’s success impacted the family, shareholders, and countless employees. He couldn’t afford to be reckless.
But right now, all he wanted was to find Tara, win her back, and propose to her.
After recording a video denying any involvement in Nina and Wesley’s crimes and stating he wasn’t detained but had traveled to Birkham, Leo uploaded it online.
The public, however, didn’t believe him. Speculations swirled that he had fled to Haven State to escape the scandal.
Leo had orchestrated countless social media campaigns to stir public opinion for his company’s artists, but now he was on the receiving end of that same fury.
He didn’t bother arguing with the trolls. Instead, he decided to take a walk.
Birkham, the fashion and shopping capital, was Tara’s favorite place to explore. Perhaps he might stumble upon her.
The streets were bustling, alive with crowds, but there was no sign of Tara.
Standing at a street corner, Leo felt a pang of loneliness and heartache.
A massive LED screen on a nearby store displayed breaking news:
“The heir to the world’s wealthiest man is set to marry the daughter of the tenth-largest development corporation. The monumental union has sent both companies’ stocks soaring.”
A bitter smile tugged at Leo’s lips.
Meanwhile, Carter Corporation’s stocks had plummeted because of him.
Mr. Carter Sr.’s call interrupted his thoughts.
“I just received an invitation to the wedding of the global tycoon’s heir and the CEO of Keystone Group’s daughter. It’s being held in Haven State.
“Tomorrow, you’ll hold an online press conference and announce that you’re here as my representative to attend this union—not to escape the scandal,” Mr. Carter Sr. instructed.
Leo agreed half-heartedly. “Got it.”
He was well aware of the tycoon’s heir—a 28-year-old aristocrat from Haven State, highly educated, and a standout among the world’s young elite.
But who was the daughter of Keystone Group?
