Married On Paper To The Billionaire
Chapter 26: The Search Continues

"Please tell me you have some good news for me, Detective Riley," Kane said as he welcomed the cop into his office.

"Well... let's just say we might have hit a little snag in the search but we're not giving up."

"What do you mean?"

"We found the Banks family members. The father is battling heart disease and lives in hospice care. He informed us that he and Kendra's mother got divorced shortly after their daughter's death." "Why? Because they couldn't squeeze out more money from me?"

"Not really. Joyce was the brain behind all those interviews and smear campaigns. The old guy claimed to have been forced to participate but he eventually got tired and bowed out." "Interesting..."

"That was when Joyce filed for a divorce and kicked him out of their home."

"And their son?"

"In jail. He got arrested last month for robbing a drugstore at gunpoint with a stolen weapon."

"Sounds like him. And the mother?"

"Nowhere to be found. Her neighbors claimed that she hadn't come home for several weeks. One even insinuated that she might have skipped town because she left with a trunk full of bags the last time she was seen." "When was that?"

"Six weeks ago. That's four weeks before your daughter went missing."

"Shit!"

"I know. Sorry."

"I wanted it to be her so badly. The wording from that cryptic note found in my daughter's bed sounds like something she would say."

"We're not ruling her out just yet. We've sent out an APB across the country with her information. If she left the country in the last six weeks, we'll get a hit and track her down immediately." "That sounds promising."

"Hopefully, something will turn up soon. How is your wife?"

Kane sighed. "I don't know how to describe her. She's neither dead nor alive. It's almost as if she lost both children even though the other one is still with us."

"I can imagine..."

"She's grieving as if Tiara is dead. It's as if she's lost hope."

"I understand. I personally find it frustrating that we haven't found your daughter yet. I still have that gnawing feeling as if we're missing something."

"I feel it too. It's even more distressing to know that the longer it takes to find her, the more the trail goes cold. I don't even want to imagine the rest of our lives without her in it."

"I don't want to give you false hopes, Mr Beaumont, but I promise you that we will do our very best to find your daughter and bring her back home."

"Please, call me Kane, and thank you for your assurances."

"I'm just doing my job, but you're welcome."

When he got home later that day, he was pleased to hear that Emilia had stepped out of their bedroom for the first time in weeks. She was sitting by the swimming pool outside, watching Travis and Crystabel splash about in the water. "Hey, babe," he said cheerfully as he approached her. When she turned to look at him, her expression stopped him in his tracks.

"Have you found her?" She asked flatly.

"No."

"Then what are you happy about?"

"I'm happy to see that you're finally sitting outside and enjoying some fresh air."

"I wonder if Tiara is also getting some fresh air where she is right now."

Kane's joyous mood deflated completely. He missed his daughter too but he didn't like how Emilia tried to make him feel guilty each time he tried to cheer her up.

"I'll just go inside and change my clothes," he said and began to leave but her words stopped him again.

"You know, I find it very funny that even with all of your money, you still can't find our child who got stolen right under our noses."

He gritted his teeth. "I am doing everything I can, Emilia. Trust me, I am."

"Your best isn't good enough!"

"What?"

"I can't do this anymore, Kane. I just can't anymore!"

"Stop yelling and explain what you mean."

"I mean I can't just sit down inside this opulent mausoleum all day every day, waiting for you to return home with our missing daughter but all you ever come back with are excuses. I can't stand it anymore!" "What's going on?" Lillian asked, coming outside.

"I was just telling your brother that I've had enough of his failure and I can't stand it anymore."

"Come on, Emilia. This isn't you. You can't possibly blame Kane for something that's not his fault."

"It's ok, Lillian. You don't have to defend me. I understand how she feels."

"Do you?" Emilia questioned him. "I don't think you do, otherwise, Tiara would be here already."

She got up from the lounge chair and went to pick up Travis from the pool. Crystabel began to cry because she wanted to keep playing with her little cousin.

"Sorry, Crysie. Trav and I are leaving," said Emilia.

"Leaving? Where are you going?" Lillian asked as she headed to the pool to console her daughter.

"I can't be here anymore. Every minute I spend in this mansion reminds me that my daughter is still missing and it kills me. Seeing my son without his twin is killing me."

"So, what are you saying?" Kane asked her, dreading the response.

"I'm leaving this place with Travis. I can't stay here anymore or else I'll lose my mind."

"But what about me?"

"You're the head of the family, Kane. Fix this problem and then you can come and get us."

****

Kane wasn't the type of man to resort to drinking when things got hard for him, but tonight, he made an exception. He took two bottles of brandy to his study and indulged himself heavily.

All he wanted right now was to numb the pain in his heart and not have to think about anything for at least ten hours. When morning came, he would deal with the consequences of his actions but for now, he wanted to drink his sorrows away. "That doesn't look like fun."

He looked up to see who had spoken and he struggled to focus his eyes on the sprite of a woman standing at the doorway. Kane wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or not, but she looked unusually attractive tonight. "Selena?"

"It's Serena," she corrected him smoothly. "May I come in?"

"Sure, why not?" He drawled and stifled a hiccup.

She entered and closed the door firmly behind her. She rounded his desk and perched on the edge, facing him.

"I can never get over how handsome you are, Kane Beaumont," she said softly.

"My wife is over it," he said and laughed.

"She doesn't deserve you. You should be with a woman who knows your worth."

"She knows..."

"Does she? Then why are you alone here?"

"She went to her family... needs some time away..."

"A woman who loves you wouldn't abandon you in your darkest moments. It's in our times of grief that we know the people who value us the most."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Hmm... you're right."

"Yes, I am," she agreed and put a hand under his chin to lift his face. "You're so gorgeous, Kane. I've had a crush on you for years..."

"You're pretty too," he said with a drunken grin.

Serena knew that he wasn't quite with his senses but she didn't care. She'd dreamed of being this close to Kane nearly all her life and here she was, living the dream.

This was an opportunity of a lifetime and she wasn't going to waste it. She quickly began to unbutton her dress.

"Emilia won't like that," Kane drawled when she tossed her dress aside and stood in front of him in her underwear. "It doesn't matter. She's not here."

"I love Emilia."

"I know. I want to be your Emilia tonight, Kane. Please, let me be her for just one night."

She removed her underwear and stepped closer to Kane, rubbing her boobs in his face.

"Please, tell me you like that," she whispered desperately. "Tell me you love me."

"I love Emilia," he moaned even as he began to touch her.

"I am Emilia. Tell me you love me," she said, unbuttoning his shirt feverishly.

"I love you, Emilia."

She unbuckled his pants, unzipped them and dug inside to find his growing erection. Any hesitation Kane felt dissolved instantly.

Serena straddled him and guided his shaft into her. Tears sprang from her eyes at that first moment of contact. It felt even better than she'd imagined. None of her wildest fantasies involving Kane could ever compare to the real thing. "I love you, Kane!" She cried as she began to ride him.

Tears were running down her face and she was hanging onto him as if she was afraid that he might change his mind halfway through their escapade and leave her.

"I love you so much," she continued to moan.

Kane was lost inside of her. He didn't care who she was or what she said, all he could think of was how good it felt to be inside a woman again after many weeks of no sex.

They bumped and ground for several minutes before the ultimate release came. When it did, Kane was weak with relief while Serena was numb with awe.

"I will never forget this moment," she whispered into his ear and he snored in response. It was a win-win experience.