Chapter 76

Julian

I watched Megan closely as she gazed around the lavish hallway of my home and something about the way she smiled at everything made me uncomfortable. She looked every bit like the cat who had got the cream. But of course she did. She was here in my home. In Cassie's home. Megan would take it as a win.

She had won because by bringing her here I had given the whole world a clear message. One that told everyone that Megan was important to me. More important than Cassie who no one knew I was married too.

Frowning I felt the start of a headache begin to form. It had been brewing since my brief conversation with Ian. Mostly because of the looks he had been throwing my way. He didn't approve of what I was doing. That much was obvious but he wouldn't say anything out loud. He was, however going to try and help me find out the truth.

If Megan had been lying all this time, then no one would blame me for kicking her out of my home and banishing her but if she wasn't lying?

I side eyed her as she ran her hands over one of the marble side table. There was something on it , something gold. She fingered it slightly before picking it up and turning it around and around in her hands.

"This is beautiful." She turned to me with her eyes shining. "Is it for me?" Without waiting for permission she slipped it onto her finger. Holding her hand up to show me. "It's a little tight but we can get it resized right?"

My eyes settled on the plain gold band dotted with tiny moonstones . I recognised it straight away. It was Cassies. It was strange that she had left it in the foyer because she usually wore it on her ring finger.

In fact I had never seen her without it.

"Cathy." I called out.

My elderly housekeeper arrived at the end of the hallway. "Oh Julian. You are back." Wiping her hands on her apron she approached.

Frowning I stared at her. She was acting like she had just realised when in reality I knew she had known the second I had pulled into the drive way.

"How is Ian?"

"He's fine. He sends his love. Cathy." I stepped back and Megan sidled up to me. "I would like to introduce you to Megan. Megan this is Cathy. She runs my house for me and is a dear family friend and mentor."

Megan thrust out her hand. For a second Cathy just stared at it. A sneer curling up her top lip. "Is that my mistress's ring?"

Megan's whole body went rigid. Glaring between the two of us she tore the ring from her finger. "It's Cassies?" She rounded on me. "You tried to give me your wife's jewellery?"

I opened my mouth to tell her that I hadn't given her it at all and that she had just taken it without asking but Cathy cut in.

"Anyway. You are welcome here. I've made up a room for you and if there's anything you want me to prepare just let me know. Julian wants you to be comfortable here. After your ordeal. I'm sure you will be back on your feet and back to your own life very soon."

Arching a brow in shock, I waited for her to continue.

"I've prepared supper but I wasn't sure if you wanted to wait." Her eyes met mine. "I made -"

"I'm starving." Megan said theatrically rubbing at her stomach. "What is for dinner."

Slowly Cathy's eyes turned to her. And I had never seen such a dismissive look on her face befor. The animosity in her lined face was clear. Never in all the years I had known Cathy had I seen her so hostile.

"Lamb."

"Beautiful." I murmured.

"Well I'm not the biggest fan on lamb but I'll eat it this once as you've worked so hard." Megan cut in and I frowned. Why the hell was she acting like the mistress of this house? It was like now she had her feet through the door she thought she was in charge.

"Thank you Cathy." I cut in. "We will eat. Would you kindly tell Cassie that we are about to eat or is she -"

A line appeared between Cathy's eyebrows. "Miss Cassie isn't back yet?"

Suddenly uncomfortable, a weird sinking feel opened up in my stomach. "She's not?" Glancing at my watch I drowned more. "Have you seen her today at all?"

I didn't like this. I didn't like this one bit. More than likely I was overreacting. She had told me she had plans today but there was a feeling- a sense of dread in my gut that I couldn't shake off.

"What time did she leave?"

"Just after you Julian." Cathy's eyebrows knotted together as the dread filled her as well. "She had her gym bag and went with her driver. He-"

I was already pulling my phone out of my pocket. "This is Julian. Can you pass on a message to Cassie. She's in room-" I paused. "What do you mean she's not there?"

"No one has seen Cassie since this morning. She discharged her mother and said she was going to take her home." The voice on the other end of the line said matter of factly. "That was a little after nine this morning. Have they not arrived?"

"No they haven't." Pinching the skin between my eyebrows. I ended the call without saying another word. If Cassie had been at the hospital at nine then she hadn't gone to work or to the gym. She had simply gone to her mother and -

Disappeared.

But had she disappeared on her own or had my wife again been kidnapped. And where the hell was her security. I dialled his number next and it rang off.

The pit in my stomach opened into a chasm.

Something was wrong. Really really wrong and I couldn't help but feel that yet again it was all my fault.

"Master, what is wrong?" Cathy asked.

"Julian." Megan reached for my arm. "I'm sure she's just out doing what Cassie does. Can we eat? I'm faint with hunger."

I barely looked at her. "Cathy, can you make my guest company? I need to make a few calls."

I walked up the stairs without looking back.

Where the hell was my wife?