Chapter 78
Back at the airport, Christoph stared at his phone, a crease forming between his brows.
Gina used to reply within seconds. It had been over thirty minutes. Still nothing &
“Chris, what’s wrong?” Natalie leaned into him, her soft body pressing against his arm.
“Nothing” he said quickly, snapping out of it. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and forced a smile. “Just thinking. about what to buy you once we get to the auctions in Europe.”
Natalie wasn’t buying it though. She could feel it–the way his mind wasn’t really with her. Her pout turned sharper. Her voice lost its sweetness.!
“You’re worried about Gina, aren’t you?”
“What? Of course not” Christoph shot back, too quickly.
Still, his eyes flicked to his phone again, then toward the security gate, like he was expecting someone–hoping someone- would come running after him.
Right then, the boarding call echoed through the airport. However, his gaze stayed locked on the crowd, scanning every face, almost searching.
Natalie froze, then suddenly yanked her bag up off the seat. “Forget it. Honeymoon’s off.”
“What?” He reached for her. “Nata, don’t be like this-”
You’re not here with me, Chris,” she snapped, eyes bright with unshed tears. “From the moment we got to the airport, you’ve been glued to your phone, looking around like she’s going to come rushing in to stop you.“N
“She’s not!” he snapped. “I’m not waiting for her!”
He didn’t sound so sure. And he definitely wasn’t convincing anyone.
Christoph rushed to explain, pulling Natalie into his arms in a panic. “I’m just… I’m just worried she might do something stupid while we’re gone.”
Even as he said it, he was already dialing the housekeeper. “What’s Gina doing right now?”
“Sir, she left early this morning–with all her luggage,” the housekeeper replied.
Christoph’s expression shifted instantly. “Where did she go?”
“I’m not sure But it seems she’s taken everything. There’s nothing of hers left in the house…“}
His arm tightened involuntarily around Natalie–so much so that she winced.
“Ow! Christoph!” she cried, pulling back with teary eyes. “If you still care about her, just say it. Don’t take it out on me.“\
I’m sorry, Nata, I didn’t mean to.” He scrambled to calm her, apologizing over and over–but his eyes kept drifting, his mind somewhere else entirely.
Another boarding call echoed overhead.
Natalie stepped back and flung his hand off hers. “Christoph, this is your
choice.”
“Either get on that plane with me right now and cut her off for good–or go find her. But if you do… don’t ever come looking for me again.”
Christoph clenched his jaw, torn. He followed her toward the gate–but just before they reached it, he stopped. His fingers moved on their own.
He called his assistant. “Find out which flight Gina booked. Now.”
As the plane began taxing, Christoph finally got the call that knocked the air out of his lungs–it was his mother.”
“Chris‘ Have you lost your mind? You actually signed the divorce papers?” Jill shouted over the phone. “If Gina leaves for good, what are we supposed to say when Nata ends up pregnant? The whole family will be a laughingstock!”
Jill was practically stomping while on the phone. “You need to turn around and fix this. Now!“N
Christoph’s face darkened. “Mom, stay out of it. She’s just throwing a tantrum. I already told her I’d give her a child–there’s no way she’d actually go through with a divorce.” Even as he said the words, doubt clawed at him.
The second he ended the call, he tried to message me, only to find he’d been blocked on everything. An unfamiliar panic twisted in his chest. He stood up abruptly, heart pounding.
“Sir, please sit down and fasten your seatbelt, a flight attendant called out, stepping toward him.!!
need to get off this plane! Open the door–now!” he snapped.
Natalie clung tightly to his sleeve, terrified. “Chris, are you out of your mind? We’re already on the runway!*!
“She’s bluffing,” she said, her voice trembling but determined. “That’s what this is. Gina knows you still care–so she’s using that to manipulate you. If you go after her now, she wins.”
Christoph couldn’t even hear a thing Natalie said. His eyes were wide, locked on nothing, his mind racing with every
2/2 56 54
possibility of searching
For the first time, the man who thought he had everything, realized he might have just lost the only one who ever truly loved him
2/2
