One Night Stand, Eight Surprises: Pampered by My CEO Husband --- - Chapter 71: Chapter 71
You are reading One Night Stand, Eight Surprises: Pampered by My CEO Husband ---, Chapter 71: Chapter 71. Read more chapters of One Night Stand, Eight Surprises: Pampered by My CEO Husband ---.
Damien zipped his suitcase with mechanical precision. The room was still bathed in morning light, golden and soft, yet there was a strange chill in the air. Arielle stood in the doorway of their bedroom, one hand resting on her bump, the other gripping the doorframe.
“You really have to go?” she asked, voice gentle but strained.
“It’s just three days,” he replied, forcing a smile. “We’ve worked on this deal for months. Securing this merger means long-term protection—for the kids, for the company, for us.”
Arielle nodded slowly. But her eyes didn’t. Her eyes said everything.
Something’s wrong.
She stepped closer, hands sliding around his waist as she leaned into him. Damien dropped the suitcase and pulled her in, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then her lips—slow, meaningful, like it might be the last one for a while.
“I’ll call you the moment I land,” he whispered.
“You always say that.”
“I always mean it.”
At the private airstrip, the jet gleamed like a diamond against the cloudy sky. Security surrounded the area, tight and meticulous. Yet Arielle’s nerves tightened with every step they took.
Lily and Noah clung to Damien’s sides.
“Bring us back something!” Lily grinned.
Noah nodded. “Something Italian.”
Damien laughed, but it was soft. Distracted.
He kissed each child, whispered something only they heard, and hugged them tight. Then, finally, he turned to Arielle.
“Don’t watch the news,” he murmured.
Her breath hitched. “Why would you say that?”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because it lies. But this—” he pressed her hand to his heart, “—never does.”
Then he turned, boarded the plane, and disappeared into the cabin.
Hours later, as Arielle sat in the kitchen reviewing invoices for the bakery, her phone buzzed.
Flight LA-748 landed successfully in Venice.
She let out a breath.
But then her phone buzzed again.
Damien Laurent not seen exiting.
Her heart stopped.
Another ping.
Boarding crew denies confirming his presence upon landing.
Arielle stared at the screen, numb.
She called his number. Straight to voicemail.
She called again. Same result.
She stood abruptly, the stool clattering to the floor.
“Mom?” Lily called from the living room.
“Stay here!” Arielle choked out, grabbing her coat.
Damien’s words echoed in her mind.
Don’t watch the news.
She turned on the television.
And there it was.
BREAKING: International CEO Damien Laurent Missing in Transit.
The room spun.
Her knees gave.
And as the world collapsed around her, the only thing she could whisper was his name.
“You really have to go?” she asked, voice gentle but strained.
“It’s just three days,” he replied, forcing a smile. “We’ve worked on this deal for months. Securing this merger means long-term protection—for the kids, for the company, for us.”
Arielle nodded slowly. But her eyes didn’t. Her eyes said everything.
Something’s wrong.
She stepped closer, hands sliding around his waist as she leaned into him. Damien dropped the suitcase and pulled her in, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then her lips—slow, meaningful, like it might be the last one for a while.
“I’ll call you the moment I land,” he whispered.
“You always say that.”
“I always mean it.”
At the private airstrip, the jet gleamed like a diamond against the cloudy sky. Security surrounded the area, tight and meticulous. Yet Arielle’s nerves tightened with every step they took.
Lily and Noah clung to Damien’s sides.
“Bring us back something!” Lily grinned.
Noah nodded. “Something Italian.”
Damien laughed, but it was soft. Distracted.
He kissed each child, whispered something only they heard, and hugged them tight. Then, finally, he turned to Arielle.
“Don’t watch the news,” he murmured.
Her breath hitched. “Why would you say that?”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because it lies. But this—” he pressed her hand to his heart, “—never does.”
Then he turned, boarded the plane, and disappeared into the cabin.
Hours later, as Arielle sat in the kitchen reviewing invoices for the bakery, her phone buzzed.
Flight LA-748 landed successfully in Venice.
She let out a breath.
But then her phone buzzed again.
Damien Laurent not seen exiting.
Her heart stopped.
Another ping.
Boarding crew denies confirming his presence upon landing.
Arielle stared at the screen, numb.
She called his number. Straight to voicemail.
She called again. Same result.
She stood abruptly, the stool clattering to the floor.
“Mom?” Lily called from the living room.
“Stay here!” Arielle choked out, grabbing her coat.
Damien’s words echoed in her mind.
Don’t watch the news.
She turned on the television.
And there it was.
BREAKING: International CEO Damien Laurent Missing in Transit.
The room spun.
Her knees gave.
And as the world collapsed around her, the only thing she could whisper was his name.
End of One Night Stand, Eight Surprises: Pampered by My CEO Husband --- Chapter 71. Continue reading Chapter 72 or return to One Night Stand, Eight Surprises: Pampered by My CEO Husband --- book page.