Chapter 3 Disappearance

Catrina stood by the window, her hands clasped tightly together as she gazed out at the distant horizon. The faint scent of lavender wafted through the air, but it did little to soothe the tightness in her chest. Her thoughts were elsewhere, centered on the visitor who would soon arrive.

"Elle," she called out to her daughter, who had been bustling about in the hall. "Make sure Giana is ready. Our visitor will be here soon, and she must look presentable. No imperfections."

Elle nodded, her face expressionless. She had learned to keep her emotions hidden, especially when things were... as they were. Catrina watched her leave the room, her footsteps echoing through the grand hall.

Minutes passed, and Catrina couldn't help but feel the weight of what was coming. She turned her attention back to the window, but before she could lose herself in the thought, Elle hurried back into the room, her face pale.

"Mother," Elle's voice was sharp, filled with a mix of fear and urgency. "Giana... she's not in her room. I've checked everywhere. She's gone."

Catrina's stomach dropped. Her eyes darted to the door as the sound of horse hooves grew louder from the distance. The visitor was almost here. The man she had sold her daughter to. The man who would change Giana's fate forever.

"Are you sure?" Catrina asked, her voice more controlled than she felt.

Elle nodded, her hands trembling slightly. "She's not in her room. Not anywhere. And Lorenzo D'amico... he's already on his way. I heard the carriage."

The words hit Catrina like a physical blow. She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself, her mind racing. The sale, the exchange, the cruel transaction that had already been set in motion. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Not now. Not like this.

"Get to the store room ," Catrina said urgently, her voice low and steely. "Find her. You must find her, Elle. Before he arrives."

Elle hesitated for only a moment before nodding, her face determined, despite the fear she surely felt. "I'll go quickly."

As Elle rushed out the door, Catrina's eyes flickered toward the grand clock on the wall. Time was slipping away faster than she could comprehend. She thought of Giana, her sweet, innocent daughter, the girl who had no idea of what awaited her. Catrina had failed her in every way, and now, there was no turning back.

The vehicle wheels crunched on the gravel path outside, signaling that Lorenzo D'amico had arrived.

And Catrina was left with nothing but the weight of her decision and the haunting fear of what would come next.

The air in the dimly lit room felt thick with tension. Catrina stood at the center, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her face drawn with worry and desperation. Across from her sat Lorenzo D'Amico, his sharp eyes assessing her every word. The weight of the moment hung between them.

"Lorenzo," Catrina's voice trembled, but she forced herself to steady it. "You know I wouldn't ask this if I had any other choice. But Giana... my daughter... she's gone. Disappeared. Vanished without a trace."

Lorenzo didn't react immediately. His fingers drummed rhythmically on the armrest of his chair, his gaze never leaving her face. He already knew the deal was in motion-part payment had been made, the transaction was nearly complete. But the disappearance of the girl, this complication, was a thorn in his side.

"Where is she, Catrina?" he asked coolly, his voice like ice, as though the situation barely affected him. "You owe me the rest of the payment. We agreed. A deal is a deal."

Catrina flinched but quickly composed herself, her eyes pleading with him. "Lorenzo, I swear to you, I will find her. I need time-just a little more. Giana is my blood, my child. She's not just a possession to me, like she is to you." Her voice cracked on the last word, but she quickly recovered. "I know the money has been partially paid, but I need more time. Please, I'm begging you."

Lorenzo leaned forward slightly, his face unreadable. "Time? You ask for time, yet time is something I cannot afford, Catrina. The longer she is missing, the more difficult it becomes to honor our arrangement. You know how these things work."

Catrina's heart raced as she desperately tried to read the coldness in his expression. "I know you don't care for my daughter, Lorenzo, but I promise you-she's worth far more than what you've paid. I can find her. Give me until the end of the week. If I fail, I'll give you the rest of the money, everything I have. But please, just a little time."

Lorenzo's eyes flickered with something-maybe interest, maybe amusement-but his voice remained as firm as ever. "You're asking me to put my trust in you, Catrina. You're asking me to believe you will find her. But trust is a luxury I can't afford. The world doesn't stop spinning because of your personal problems."

Catrina's fingers tightened, nails digging into her palms. She could feel the rawness of her plea burning in her chest. "Please. She's my daughter. I can't lose her. I'll pay whatever it takes to make this right, Lorenzo, but I need you to give me that time. I beg you."

Lorenzo stared at her for a long, drawn-out moment. The silence was oppressive, hanging like a dark cloud over the room. Finally, he leaned back, his fingers steepled together.

"One week, Catrina. You have one week. If you don't come back with her by then, I will consider our agreement void-and the price you'll pay will be far higher than what you think you owe."

Catrina nodded, relief and fear intermingling in her chest. "Thank you. I won't let you down."

He gave a slight nod, his face once again betraying no emotion. "See that you don't."

As she turned to leave, Catrina's mind was already racing, desperate for any clue that might lead her to Giana. One week. The clock was ticking, and the shadows of her daughter's disappearance were closing in on her from all sides...