CHAPTER 36: GOOD LUCK FINDING NANNY!

The Grand Regal Hotel’s ballroom was still alive with the hum of celebration, the clinking of glasses, and the soft strains of the orchestra, but the atmosphere had shifted for those closest to the unfolding drama.

The guests, oblivious to the tension, continued to mingle, their laughter and chatter filling the opulent space.

At the centre of it all, Clara stood frozen, her glass still raised, her smile brittle as she tried to process Viktor’s sudden departure.

The twins, Dario and Dante, stood near her, their faces pale and streaked with tears, clutching Elias’s phone as if it were a lifeline. Luka, now tasked with salvaging the engagement party, adjusted his tie nervously, his eyes darting between the twins and Clara.

A few minutes ago, Viktor had ordered Luka to handle the wedding without him. Luka didn’t want that. He wanted to reject his brother but he couldn’t. He had never seen Viktor like that. Ever! Viktor told him to take the kids inside and ran off.

"I hope he finds the nanny and brings him back. I wonder where he went," Luka grumbled softly.

Meanwhile, the twins were inconsolable. Dario gripped Luka’s suit jacket, his small hands trembling.

"Uncle Luka, is Nanny really gone? He said he’d come back!"

Dante, holding the phone tightly, added,

"He left this behind on purpose! Why would he do that? Did something happen to Lila at the hospital?"

Luka knelt to their level, his voice gentle but firm. "Hey, hey, slow down. What’s this about Lila? Did something happen to her?"

Dario’s eyes widened, his voice rising.

"You know that Lila is Nanny’s sister. She’s in the hospital, and she’s really sick. Nanny must have told Dad about her, but he never listens!"

Dante nodded, his tears falling faster.

"Yeah! Nanny always goes to visit her, but Dad thinks he’s lying. He’s not lying, Uncle Luka!"

Luka’s brows furrowed, his mind racing. He stood, placing a hand on each twin’s shoulder.

"Okay, okay. Tell me everything you know about Lila."

Dario sniffled, wiping his nose. "Nanny said she’s in a bad condition. He’s been taking care of her, going to the hospital all the time. We wanted to visit her yesterday, but he said it wasn’t a good time. After all, Nanny got punished when he took us to the hospital the other day,"

Dante’s voice cracked.

"What if something happened to her? What if that’s why Nanny left? What if Nanny doesn’t come back?"

Luka’s jaw tightened. He was aware of Elias’s sister’s condition and its critical nature, but the twins’ conviction made him pause.

What if something had happened to her indeed?

He glanced toward the front of the room, where Clara was now speaking to her father, her gestures sharp and her voice low. Luka turned back to the twins.

"Listen, your dad’s gone to find your nanny. He’ll figure this out. But we need to stay calm, okay? Let’s go sit down for a bit."

The twins shook their heads, their faces stubborn. "No way," Dario said. "We’re not staying here with her." He pointed at Clara, who was now glaring in their direction, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Luka sighed, rubbing his temple.

"Alright, come with me. We’ll figure this out." He led them to a quieter corner of the ballroom, near a table piled with desserts. The twins sat, still clutching Elias’s phone, their eyes darting toward the entrance as if expecting their nanny to walk back in.

"Dante, let me see that phone," Luka said, holding out his hand.

Dante hesitated, then handed it over. "It’s locked. We don’t know the password."

Luka turned the device over, his mind racing.

’Why would Elias leave his phone behind?’

He tried a few basic codes... 0000, 1234... but nothing worked. He set it down, looking at the twins.

"Did Elias say anything else about where he was going? Anything at all?"

Dario shook his head. "He just said he’d be back. But... he looked sad. Like he didn’t mean it."

Dante’s voice was small. "Do you think he’s leaving us forever, Uncle Luka?"

Luka’s heart twisted. He forced a smile, ruffling Dante’s hair.

"No way. Elias loves you two. He’s probably just... handling something important. Your dad will find him."

The twins nodded, but their eyes were doubtful. Luka leaned back, his mind turning to Viktor. He pulled out his own phone and sent a quick text.

L:Hospital address sent. Be careful, Vik. Call if you need backup.

.

Meanwhile, outside the hotel, Viktor was behind the wheel of his black sedan, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. The city lights blurred past as he sped through the streets, his phone buzzing with Luka’s message. The hospital address glowed on the screen, and he groaned, pushing the car faster.

His tie was gone, tossed to Luka in a fit of frustration, and his suit jacket was crumpled in the passenger seat. His mind was a storm of emotions... anger at Elias for leaving, regret for not believing him about his sister, and a gnawing fear that he was too late.

He remembered every time Elias had mentioned visiting his sister. Each time, Viktor had brushed it off, assuming it was a cover for meeting a boyfriend, maybe even this Jace guy. The thought made his blood boil.

’Fuck! How could I be so stupid?’ he thought, slamming his hand on the dashboard. He’d been so caught up in his own feelings, his own need to keep Elias close.

’Only if that old man had told me Elias was leaving!’

.

Back at the hotel, before he’d left, he’d confronted Gerald and Marco in the parking lot. The memory flashed through his mind as he drove.

"Keys," Viktor had demanded, his voice sharp as he approached the car.

Gerald had turned, his brows furrowing.

"What’s wrong, sir?"

"Elias is gone," Viktor said, his tone cold. "I’m going to bring him back."

Gerald stepped in front of the car door, his expression apologetic but firm.

"Sir, I’m sorry, but Elias made it clear. He doesn’t want anyone looking for him. He’s served his month, and he’s left."

Viktor’s eyes narrowed, his anger flaring. He grabbed Gerald’s collar and pinned him against the car.

"You knew he was leaving, and you didn’t tell me?"

Gerald didn’t resist, his voice steady.

"It’s what he wanted, sir. He asked me to help him go quietly."

Viktor’s grip tightened, his jaw clenched. "Why didn’t you stop him?"

Gerald met his eyes.

"Who knows? Because he was scared, sir. Scared of you. Or maybe he needed to go, for his own reasons."

Viktor shoved him away, yanking the car door open. "Move."

Gerald stepped aside, his face heavy with guilt. Marco, standing nearby, looked away, unable to meet Viktor’s gaze. Viktor had sped off without another word, his mind set on finding Elias.

.

Now, as he raced toward the hospital, his phone buzzed again. Another text from Luka.

L: No luck with the phone. Twins are freaking out. Clara’s pissed. You’d better hurry before she reports to her daddy.

Viktor didn’t reply; he was focused on the road. He didn’t know what he’d say when he found Elias, but he wasn’t letting him slip away again. Not like this.