Defiant Love 20

Chapter 20 

Alexander’s POV: 

I stared at Victoria across the dining table, making no attempt to hide my contempt. Her arrogant attitude was 

insufferable. 

“How interesting,” I said, each syllable dripping with sarcasm. “You seem to have forgotten that Charlotte is my wife. Have you given her the respect she deserves?” 

Victoria opened her mouth to object, but I didn’t give her the satisfaction. I stood from my seat, brushing off non–existent dust from my suit pants. 

“Victoria, I believe my in–laws deserve an apology from you.” 

I allowed a cold smirk to play across my lips, savoring the shocked expression on her face. Without waiting for her response, I strode out of the dining room. 

Upstairs, I went directly to look for Charlotte. She wasn’t in our room. Spotting a female housekeeper in the hallway, I stopped her. 

“Where is Charlotte?” 

The woman’s eyes widened slightly. “Sir, she ran out crying a little while ago. We don’t know where she went.” 

I walked outside, scanning the area, but couldn’t see any sign of her. I decided to stop looking for her. She would return when she calmed down. 

Back inside, I took out my phone and called my assistant. 

“I need you to purchase a property,” I said, getting straight to the point. 

A brief silence followed on the other end. “Sir, don’t you already have the estate in Marin County?” 

“Do I need to explain my reasons for wanting to buy a house?” I snapped, anger instantly flaring. 

“No, of course not, sir,” my assistant quickly backtracked, then immediately followed up with: “What specifications do you need? How many bedrooms? House or apartment? Investment or personal use? Any location preferences? Budget cap?” 

I gripped the phone tightly. “Were you in real estate before?” 

“No, no, I swear! It’s just my first time helping you buy property, and I want to make sure I do it right.” 

I exhaled slowly. “A villa. For personal use. Suburban area. Unlimited budget.” 

After ending the call, I went back upstairs. 

Though I shouldn’t be concerned about Charlotte, I kept imagining scenarios of her facing hostility in this home. My work efficiency had noticeably declined. The solution was clear: we needed to move out immediately. 

The Marin County estate held special significance for me, and I couldn’t accept letting a woman I barely knew live there. I had no choice but to buy a temporary residence. 

1/2 

Chapter 20 

By nine in the evening, Charlotte still hadn’t returned. I tried calling her, only to hear her phone ringing between the sofa cushions. My concern intensified–she had left without her phone. 

Frowning, I went to the security room. The surveillance footage showed Charlotte breaking free from a staff member who tried to stop her, then leaving the estate. That had been four hours ago. 

Sitting in the security room, my index finger pressed against my lips as I considered where she might have gone. “With her personality, if she’s upset, she wouldn’t go to her parents,” I mused to myself. “So, where did she go?” 

As each minute passed, my anxiety grew stronger. A young woman alone in the city at night… countless potential dangers 

flashed through my mind. 

Near midnight, my patience was exhausted. I called my security team, ordering them to search the streets of San Francisco 

for Charlotte. Then, I contacted one of my oldest friends, Jake Bennett. 

His groggy voice answered after the fourth ring. “What? Who’s Charlotte? You’re married? Your wife is missing? Charlotte is missing? God, I may have spent the night at bars, but I think I’d remember my best friend getting married!” 

“Yes, I got married. To Charlotte Cole. And now she’s missing,” I replied curtly. 

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