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CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT: WHERE'S ETHAN? ROSE AMARA POV   Serene seems to like me, unlike Emilia, as she talks to me the most out of all the women here. Serene came late and hoped she didn't know what was happening. Belle is the ideal co-host, since she is so endearing and lovely. She is superior to this world. Yet I don't know how I will make her the other side of the world. I check the messages in my group chat with my guards whenever I have a chance. No signs of Ethan. As of the moment. "Where is Ethan? I asked calmly. Yet my heart beats faster. "His guard must also learn where he went," Eya said. "That boy with the bleached hair is useless." As Serene tells me about her grown sons and married life, I sneer before smiling. In the mafia, married people are typically treated with more respect. Only certain people are able to fulfill the task of starting a family. I quickly typed a message to Ethan. "Ethan, where are you? Text me whenever you can." I put my phone in my pocket and focused on Serene instead of hoping for a quick reply. She is older, in her forties, but speaks with a cool manner. Early mafia recruits mature into females like Sofia who are aware of their responsibilities and uphold them. She jokingly tells me, "Rose, you can start your own family now that you're married." 'We haven't arrived there yet, and we never will." I would never begin a family with someone like Ethan, whose past I am unaware of and whose future I can never anticipate. Amilie slouches down to her sister-in-law and asks, "Why not?" while gulping down her smoothie. "Paradise in trouble?" I go the diplomatic route rather than just saying that. Simply said, we want to spend more time together before having children. I detest the fact that when I tell a lie, it doesn't feel like a lie. Amilie pouts, "Oh. And here I had assumed you would not want him." I gave her a glare. "Not taking place." He's such a charmer with that accent, I get it, I get it. Serene firmly called out, "Amilie." Finally letting it go, Amilie departs to join the other arriving Italian women. In her place, Serene apologizes, and I act as though everything is fine while secretly planning how to poison Amilie's smoothie. Everyone departs while being taken by their guards after making hazy preparations for another meeting similar to this one. Before I grab Belle and head to where Zeth and Eya are waiting for us in front of my car, I make sure Lily is in her vehicle. Rechecking my phone, I messaged him "Any sign of Ethan?" No response. Zeth gave his head a brief shake while furrowing his brows. 'What about his guard—do you remember his name again?" Eya responds, "Parker" Yes, Parker. Tell me where he is. Her shoulder is raised. He promised to keep looking, but I doubt the youngster would find anything helpful. Ethan has vanished into thin air at this rate. Belle's puzzled look moves to each of us as she asks, "Why? What happened to Ethan?" I put a hand on Belle's upper back and told her to "go inside." My earlier trembling in my limbs had returned. I'm getting close to fuel by the time we get home. I coerced myself into entering Uncle Raven's former office, which was Father's. I often stay away from this location since it brings back strong memories of my father. Amber's style is perfectly captured in the tidy library of Italian books and the smooth oak desk. He enjoyed teaching me there, whether it was by reading to me while I was on his lap or by simply going about his business while I read in the corner. But right now, I feel numb, almost as if the world is losing its color, and I have no control over it. I discover Father and Hades looking over the paperwork. I informed them to stand while I informed them of the attack. I'm astonished at how composed my voice sounds when I state the facts. Before taking my hand in his aged one, Raven carefully rises up and moves closer to me. Ethan is a seasoned traveler, so everything will be okay. Why do you give the impression that I'm concerned about him? Hades gives me a peculiar expression but says nothing. I got away from them and went to my room. To indicate that I'm not scared, I stop checking my phone, take a shower, and go to bed or at least try to. I'll be up in fifteen minutes and double-checking my texts. There was no reaction. I discovered the clinic's test, which indicates that he is clean, when reading my emails. He took it late last night while in an emergency department, as shown by the date at the top. I'm curious about how he declared an emergency and how quickly the results came in. However, if anyone could make it happen, it would be Ethan. He probably threatened a doctor and flirted with a nurse. As I call him, I'm standing by the balcony. I'm greeted by the usual unavailable notice like it was ten years ago. A similar message. the same conditions. My eyes began to water. Mom used to tell Maria and me that having tears in our lovely eyes is a sign of weakness, but I couldn't even try to stop them. I'm ready to make another call when his voice and seductive presence surrounds me. "Princess, did you miss me this time?