Chapter 18

Summer’s heart leaped into her throat. Her eyes, shimmering with tears, were wide with panic, threatening to spill over. Alexander! Her Alexander! Right now, all she wanted was just one look at him. Just a moment—that would be enough to know he was safe, still by her side, to give her a chance to make things right. But where could he have gone so early in the morning? Summer was frantic. She jumped off the bed and ran barefoot through the villa, searching every corner for him like a madwoman. But he was nowhere. Not in the living room. Not in the gardens. Not in the study. He was gone. Her Alexander had left her… That crushing wave of disappointment hit Summer all over again, making her knees weak and her body sway as if she might collapse. Then it hit her—something was off. Why hadn’t a single maid spoken to her this whole time? Right… Mrs. Thompson must be behind this again. Mrs. Thompson had seen Alexander leave that morning looking deeply troubled. He hadn’t even touched breakfast