Chapter 62

Ethan:

The weight of the day's labor dragged at my heels as I stepped into the dimly lit foyer of our home. My eyes, heavy with fatigue, scanned the familiar surroundings, searching for a sign of Kimberly. Her absence was a gaping hole in the usual hustle of our home, and I was met with an unsettling silence in response to my call to her.

I made my way to the security desk, where the guard's eyes lifted in acknowledgment. 'Has Kimberly returned yet?' I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, hoping for a different answer than the one I expected. The guard shook his head, his expression a mix of sympathy and bewilderment.

'No, sir. She left earlier today and hasn't come back.'

My heart sank as I reached for my phone, the screen's glow casting an eerie light on my worried face. I dialed Kimberly's number, but it went straight to voicemail. Her phone was off, and I couldn't track her location through the app we used. Panic began to claw at my insides as I realized she was truly missing.

I