Chapter 59 Leads

Some people in Vincent's life moved on with their lives, while others continued searching for him.

Nathan was one of the later . He wasted no time and hired numerous individuals to locate his friend. Unfortunately, their last lead was in Portland.

"Nathan, you're spacing out again," a sultry voice broke through his thoughts. He opened his eyes to see a stunning woman looking at him.

The woman before him was a stunning sight, her fiery red hair flowing in soft waves that seemed to catch the light and ignite with a life of their own. Her flawless skin glowed with a natural radiance, imbued with a warm, rosy blush that only heightened her beauty.

But it was her eyes that was truly captivating, bright green orbs that sparkled with intelligence and a hint of mischievousness. Her full lips were painted with a subtle shade of red, a nod to her confident sensuality that only added to her mesmerizing allure.

"Just thinking about something, May," Nathan replied with a forced smile.

"Vincent?" The word came out of her mouth in a hushed whisper, tinged with concern. They had started dating because of their parents' arrangement, but she had secretly harbored a crush on him for years before that.

She admired Nathan's genuine personality. Unlike other wealthy individuals who indulged themselves with women, Nathan was more focused on his weird hobbies and enjoyed simple things like spending time with his best friend. But now, that person who always put a smile on his face was missing, and it was taking a toll on him.

"I'm fine" he answered with a smile.

But May could see through his façade. She suspected that Nathan was thinking that his bestfriend might be dead already, even if he didn't want to admit it. She knew how important Vincent was to Nathan and how much he missed him. It pained her to see him suffer like this.

"Maybe we should go on a vacation?" She suggested, hoping to take his mind off things. "My father just bought a beach house in Panama. Maybe you need some time off?"

Nathan hesitated for a moment. He knew that taking a break from his search for Vincent was a good idea, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to keep looking.

"I don't know . I feel like I should keep searching for him," Nathan said.

May placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I understand, but you've been searching for more than a month now. You need to take care of yourself, too. Besides, we could use this time to relax and enjoy each other's company."

Nathan thought about it for a moment, and he realized that she was right. He needed a break, and he couldn't think of anyone better to spend it with than her.

"Okay, let's do it," he said, a smile spreading across his face.

"Great! I'll make the arrangements." She grinned back at him.

But as they discussed their vacation plans, a man in a black suit approached them.

"Excuse me, sir," the man said, his voice low and serious. "Someone is looking for you."

Nathan recognized him as one of his bodyguards. His father had assigned security personnel to protect him after he was kidnapped in the past. Although he had no memories of the incident, Nathan often wondered if his father was overreacting by keeping security around him at all times.

"Who is it?" Nathan asked.

"It's the same girl who keeps showing up here every week," the bodyguard replied, his voice low but firm.

Nathan turned to May, a small crease forming on his forehead.

"Sophia," Nathan repeated, his thoughts drifting to the young woman who had been relentlessly seeking information about Vincent's whereabouts. He couldn't help but wonder what was driving her, what had caused her to become so fixated on his missing best friend.

But as he thought more about it, he realized that Sophia was just one of many people who had been asking about his bestfriend. Vanessa had been searching for him as well, and even his neighbor Mia had expressed concern about his disappearance.

It was clear that Vincent had touched many lives, had made an impact on the people around him in ways that Nathan hadn't even realized. And now, as he tried to piece together the mystery of his friend's disappearance, he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for not being able to find him.

He had always thought of Vincent as his brother, his peace of mind , the one person who would always have his back no matter what. But now that he was gone, Nathan felt vulnerable, exposed, as if he had lost a part of himself.

It wasn't just the fear of what might have happened to Vincent that kept him up at night, though. It was the knowledge that he had let his friend down, that he had failed to protect him when he needed it most.

But it was too late for regrets now. He knew that he had to focus on finding Vincent, on unraveling the tangled web of clues that might lead him to his missing friend.

For now, though, he would keep his thoughts to himself, determined to stay one step ahead of whoever was behind Vincent's disappearance. It was a dangerous game, but Nathan was willing to play it, to do whatever it took to find his friend and bring him back to safety.

"It seems like everyone is looking for Vincent," May commented, noticing the worried look on Nathan's face.

"I know, Vincent had a talent for making other people fixated on him," Nathan said, his thoughts drifting back to his missing friend. "But am I also like them so I cant blame them" he chuckled.

"You're more obsessed with Vincent though," May teased him, playfully poking his chest.

"Obsessed? Me? No way," he retorted, trying to keep a straight face. "I just happen to care a lot about my best friend who's been missing for weeks," he added, trying to defend himself.

"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that," she rolled her eyes, chuckling softly.

"Okay, I'll go speak with her," Nathan said, making his way towards the door.

"I'll come with you," May offered, taking his hand with a soft smile. Nathan's heart swelled with affection for his girlfriend as he looked into her eyes. Even in the midst of all this chaos and uncertainty, May's presence brought him some sense of comfort and stability.

"Thank you," he said, squeezing her hand gently. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"It's my job to support you," May replied with a sweet voice, placing a tender kiss on Nathan's cheek. "I'll be with you every step of the way, no matter what happens. We'll find Vincent together."

Nathan couldn't help but feel grateful for her unwavering support and love. He returned May's sweet kiss with one of his own, his heart swelling with love and gratitude for the woman by his side.

"I know," he whispered, his lips still pressed against hers.

"And I love you for it." he added. With that, they parted, their hands still intertwined.

***

***

As they stepped outside, Nathan saw Sophia standing , her eyes lighting up when she saw him approach.

"Mr. Nathan, have you found anything new about Vincent?" Sophia asked, her voice filled with hope and anticipation. Nathan could see the desperation in her eyes, the longing for good news about his missing friend.

" No," Nathan's heavy sigh echoed in the quiet surroundings. Sophia's face fell as she listened to him. She had been waiting for news of her boyfriend return, but it seemed like they were no closer to finding him.

Silence enveloped them as they each tried to come up with something to say. But the truth was, there were no words that could ease the pain and uncertainty they were feeling. They were lost in a sea of emotions, grappling with the unknown and the fear that came with it.

For a moment, Sophia simply looked at Nathan, hoping to find some solace in his eyes. And though he couldn't make the situation go away, his presence alone was enough to give her some measure of comfort . She couldn't help but feel grateful for Nathan's unwavering commitment to finding Vincent. She knew that if there was anyone who loved Vincent more than she did, it was Nathan. It was clear to her that Nathan saw Vincent as more than just a friend, but as a brother.

Finally, she decided to voice out something that had been bothering her for a while.

"I don't want to suspect anyone, but I think I know someone who might know what happened to him," Sophia admitted with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

Nathan's heart raced at the mention of a possible lead.

"Who is this someone?" he demanded, shaking her shoulders in anticipation.

"You're hurting her , Nathan!" May stepped in and reminded him to calm down as he was hurting Sophia with his grip.

"I'm sorry, I got excited," Nathan apologized, snapping back to reality and releasing her. He realized he had lost his composure for a moment there.

"Please tell me what you know, " he asked with a face filled with anticipation.