The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

"Ms. Mosher, is it really necessary to make employees drink until they can't even stand straight? Their competence is reflected in their design proposals, not in their drinking skills," Keith said, her tone sharp with disapproval.
Serena suddenly felt Stacey's grip on her arm tighten abruptly. She gently pulled her arm free from Stacey's grasp, swaying unsteadily as she struggled to keep her balance. "Stacey, I'm really sorry. I'm not quite myself today."
With that, Serena turned away, her steps unsteady as she staggered down the hallway toward the far end.
Keith watched Serena's unsteady figure stagger away, a flicker of concern crossing his brow.
He turned to Stacey with a slight nod, his tone icy. "Ms. Mosher, I'll take my leave as well."
Stacey hastily stepped forward, reaching out to grasp Keith's sleeve, only for him to seamlessly evade her touch. She flushed briefly with embarrassment before forcing her customary smile back in place.
Stacey hurried to explain, her voice tinged with urgency, "Keith, you've got it wrong. I just wanted Serena to feel included with everyone."
Keith ignored her explanation and strode without hesitation in Serena's direction.
Stacey stood rooted to the spot, watching his retreating figure vanish down the hallway as the smile on her face gradually faded.
Serena staggered out of the revolving door. The crisp autumn night air hit her face, cutting through her drunken haze and clearing her mind a little.
She fumbled for her phone, intending to hail a ride. Suddenly, she felt a coat being gently draped over her shoulders.
Serena jumped in surprise, whipping around to find Keith standing right behind her.
"M-Mr. Brannon?" she stammered, her voice still a little slurred with surprise.
Keith said, "I'll take you home."
Serena instinctively wanted to say no. She really didn't want to trouble him anymore.
Yet her body refused to cooperate. A wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to brace against the nearby wall.
Keith quickly reached out to steady her and said, "Let me take you home. It's too late for you to be out here alone. It's not safe."
"Alright, thanks," she said.
Keith steadied her by draping her arm over his shoulder while pulling out his phone to text the driver their destination.
Soon, a black car pulled up in front of them. Keith helped Serena into the car, which then pulled away smoothly, vanishing into the city's shimmering night.
Inside the black car, Serena leaned back against the seat, the faintly sweet scent of alcohol lingering in the air.
She swayed slightly with the car's motion, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyelids so heavy she could barely keep them open.
Keith sat beside her, his eyes fixed on his phone as his long fingers tapped rhythmically across the screen.
He couldn't help but steal a glance at her—her eyes were closed, head gently tilted to the side, her breathing soft and even.
Before he could finish speaking, the car took a slight turn, sending Serena's body swaying sideways.
Her head accidentally came to rest on his shoulder, a feather-light touch that seemed to radiate a gentle warmth.
Keith was startled, his body tensing momentarily. Instead of pushing her away, he lowered his gaze slightly, letting his eyes rest on her peaceful, sleeping face.
Her breathing was soft and shallow, yet at this close distance, it inexplicably stirred something indescribable in his heart, like ripples across still water.
He had never observed her this closely before. Her long, delicate eyelashes, her slightly pale lips, and the uncharacteristic softness the alcohol had brought to her features.
The city lights flickered past the car windows, bathing everything inside in a dreamlike, surreal glow.
For a moment, the silence was so profound it seemed even their heartbeats had deliberately slowed, the world holding its breath around them.
Suddenly, a sharp ringtone pierced the quiet, shattering the brief moment of peace.
Keith's brow furrowed slightly. He looked down at his phone. The caller ID read Fiona. He answered the call without hesitation. "Hello, Fiona?"
Fiona's voice on the other end was frantic with worry. "Mr. Brannon, Alyssa's gone. She was right beside me just now, but I've searched everywhere and can't find her."
Keith asked, "Where did she go? Where are you now?"
"I just took her out for some grocery shopping nearby. How could I be so careless?" Fiona sounded anxious.
The phone's speaker was loud enough for Serena to faintly catch Alyssa's name, instantly snapping her out of her drowsiness.
She lifted her head from his shoulder, rubbing her temples, her voice still rough with sleep. "Did something happen to Alyssa?"
Keith's gaze lingered on her drowsy eyes. After a brief pause, he said softly, "Fiona just called. She said Alyssa is missing."
At those words, Serena's heart lurched, and the drunken haze in her mind instantly cleared by half.
"Wha— How could she just disappear?" She braced herself against the car seat, her voice sharp with sudden alarm.
Keith said gently, "Don't panic just yet. Let's go there and check the situation first."
He reassured Serena while swiftly confirming the location with Fiona, then directed the driver to change course.
Serena's heart was in knots. She clutched her phone, her palm slick with sweat. 'Poor Alyssa is so tiny. How scared she must be, all by herself,' she wondered.
There at the roadside stood Fiona, her face full of anxiety. The moment she spotted Keith, she rushed to meet him.
"Mr. Brannon, there," Fiona said, her voice choked with self-reproach. "How careless of me—nothing like this has ever happened before—"
Keith gave Fiona's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Fiona, don't panic yet. Right now, our priority is to find Alyssa."
Fiona explained, "I was going grocery shopping and told Alyssa to stay in her room and not run around, but she suddenly grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go.
"I asked if she wanted to go out for a walk, and she nodded. I thought it was just a quick trip to the nearby store, but the moment I turned around, she was gone."
"Alyssa's just a little girl. She couldn't have gone far in such a short time. Let's split up and search nearby." Serena forced herself to stay calm and think things through, but her heart was pounding wildly with worry.
Only then did Fiona notice the young woman standing beside Keith. "Who is this?" Fiona asked, looking at Keith with a puzzled expression.
"This is Serena, Alyssa's savior," Keith said briefly. "Ms. Gray, this is Fiona. She's been looking after Alyssa since she was little."
Serena gave Fiona a quick nod, her voice tight with worry. "Fiona, no time to lose—let's split up and search."
Fiona kept nodding, utterly beside herself with worry.
Just as Serena turned anxiously to leave, a warm hand gently caught her arm. Keith looked at her with concern. "Are you alright? You just had some drinks—must be feeling rough?"
Serena shook her head, her face pale. "I'll manage. Finding Alyssa is what matters right now."
"Why don't you wait in the car? We'll handle the search."
Serena insisted, "No, I'm coming too. More hands make light work. Alyssa must be terrified right now."
Serena's voice trembled with urgency. She couldn't even begin to imagine how terrified Alyssa must feel, all alone in these strange streets.
Seeing how determined she was, Keith didn't try to stop her. "Just be careful," he said.
The three quickly split up, combing through every street and alley in the vicinity.
Serena sprinted down the street, her eyes frantically scanning every nook and cranny. She kept praying silently in her heart, 'Please let Alyssa be safe.'
"Alyssa? Alyssa," she called out repeatedly, her voice growing hoarse with urgency.