The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

Charles pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Didn't you quit?"

Peter snatched the pack from Charles, his lips tightening. "Since when did you become my mother?" Charles squinted. "You managed to come down without a single scratch. I've got to say, I'm impressed." Peter quirked an eyebrow, locking eyes with Charles in a direct challenge. "Do you need me for something?"

"You're really playing for keeps with Anna, huh? Decided you're not letting go?" Charles straightened up, turning to lock gazes with Peter, his long fingers casually draped over the steering wheel, though his eyes were sharp as daggers.

Peter shot him a look. "Quit probing, Charles. If I wasn't serious, I wouldn't still be here."

It felt like every whisper of the wind and rustle in the grass was a threat, only those he kept close could ease his mind.

Tania had been gone for three years, seven months, and thirteen days. It was enough time.

Peter toyed with his cigarette pack before finally speaking up. "Kelly's been hanging around Kerlsberg a lot lately. I've got no clue who's taking her there. She's a live wire, so watch your back." He continued, "Leverage your inside contacts to spread the word about my mother-in-law's illness. You've got a bigger network than me, so this should be easy for you, right?"

Charles's lips twisted into a sly smile. "You always make sure you come out on top. You've given me a tip, so I won't just sit back and watch. Give me two weeks."

"Make it a week. I can't wait any longer, and neither can my mother-in-law," Peter insisted.

Charles's gaze hardened. "Fine."

With that, Charles swung open the car door and unfolded his long frame from the seat. "You sure Jack Lennon is making a comeback?"

"I'm not certain," Peter admitted. "But if it's not my Uncle Jack, I'm out of guesses."

After Charles had gone, Peter lingered in the car, lost in thought, until he finally grabbed his phone and dialed Lareal. "Any updates from Carvonia?"

"Nothing yet, Mr. Lennon." Lareal's voice came through, weary from the fruitless search. "Maybe she's not in Carvonia? Should I expand the search?"

"No, keep at it." Peter's gut screamed that Tania was there. Jack had vanished into Carvonia years ago, never to be seen again.

Ending the call, Peter was startled by

a tap on the window. Squinting, he

made out two figures through the glass. It took him a moment to rol down

in the window, revealing a man and a woman. The woman's smile was bright. "Brother-in-law, it's really you! I was just saying..."

"Need something?" Peter's voice was icy, cutting through her cheer.

She paused, thrown off. "Just here to visit the folks?"

Peter's brow creased. "And you are?"

Her smile faltered. "I'm Layla, you know, the..."

"The fake?" Peter's lips twisted into a smirk, his gaze shifting to the man behind her. That man had once had eyes for Tania.

Layla's smile vanished, her face

going pate against Peter's chill. "We're not exactly pals, and I doubt you've earned the right to calme 'brother-in-law."

"I..." Jordan gripped Layla's hand, his face sour. "Weren't we here to see mom and dad? Why the freeze-up?"

"..."

Peter gave Jordan a quick nod, then rolled up his window and hit the gas, his car zooming off into the distance.

Layla's face tyvisted in anger as she

watched Peter's car disappear. She shook off Jordan's hand with a fierce glare. "Why are you grabbing me? Scared to stand up to your old flame, huh? What kind of guyare you, Jordan?"