chapter1234

Stella's heart skipped a beat. "Missing? What happened?"

"I went out to get lunch after bringing him his," Harold explained, his voice strained. "When I got back, he was gone!" For original chapters go to find novel net

"Have you tried calling him?" she asked urgently.

"I did. It went straight to voicemail."

Stella's expression hardened. "What about the hospital's security footage? Have you checked it?"

"Yes, I just did. He left on his own. He wasn't kidnapped."

A small measure of relief washed over her at the news.

She and Leonard were now sworn enemies; if Joshua had been taken by him, it would have been a disaster.

Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Harold, have you tried locating his phone? Where was his last known location?"

There was a slight pause on the other end. Harold had almost forgotten his other identity as the hacker.

"I... I was so worried, I forgot," he said, his voice lacking its usual confidence. "I'll track his phone right now, Ms. Cameron."

"Please do," she said.

"Are you coming back now, Ms. Cameron?"

"I'm on my way, but I'm quite a distance from the hospital. Call me the moment you have any news."

"Okay," Harold said, relieved.

Returning to the auction hall, Neville saw the tension on Stella's face. "Star, is something wrong?"

"Neville, I'm so sorry, but I have to leave," she said. "Joshua is missing. I'm worried that Leonard or Sellers Burton's men might have taken him. I need to get back immediately."

Neville's expression turned serious.

He was well aware of Stella's feud with both men, especially with the

recent turmoil surrounding the ne

Lerman family. He had asked for details, but he had pieced most of it together.

"More people means a better chance of finding him," he said. "I'll go with you."

Stella didn't refuse. "Thank you."

On the way to the hospital, Stella's phone rang again. It was Harold.

"Ms. Cameron, I've located Joshua."

"Where is he?" she demanded.

Harold hesitated for a second before answering. "He's at the beach."

The night air by the sea was cold and biting. Stella's car slowed to a stop. In the distance, she saw a tall slender figure sitting on a large rock at the water's edge. Waves crashed against the stone ?ending up plumes of spray. The man's silhouette looked precarious, as if it might be swept away by the tide at any moment, and a sense of panic seized her.

Her heart leaped into her throat. "Joshua!" she called out, her voice nearly lost in the wind.

The figure, almost one with the

darkness, turned his head. The

streetlights along the shore were on,

but their glow didn't reach the man

on the rock. Stella couldn't see his

face only a shadowy outline But even without seeing his expression, she could feel his eyes on her.

She hurried toward him. Standing at the base of the rock, she looked up, the scolding words she'd prepared dying on her lips. "Josh," she said, her voice softening as she held out a hand. "Come down."

He looked down at her, his handsome face obscured by shadows. "What are you doing here?"

"Harold said you were missing... Josh, why did you come here?"

"No reason," he said. "I just wanted to see the ocean, watch the sunrise. I was going stir-crazy in that hospital room. I needed to get out and clear my head."