Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 517

I exchanged a glance with Hannah, muttering under my breath, "Could she really have left the house? But where could she go?"

Hannah looked at me and suggested, "Maybe we should check the backyard again. Do you think she might have gone to the gazebo?"

"At this hour? By herself? That seems unlikely," I replied skeptically.

"We've been hanging out in the gazebo these past few days. Maybe she got used to it?" Hannah speculated.

I nodded, conceding the point. Indeed, we had spent a lot of time there recently, sending a clear message to any potential trespassers that it was occupied. She might have headed in that direction.

I took Camilla's hand and we turned to head back towards the backyard, though a part of my mind wondered about Fidelia's courage. It was pitch dark, and yet she had the guts to venture out alone. Monique would never have even entertained such an idea.

Our back-and-forth commotion eventually roused Galen. He came out of his room, wrapped in a robe, and asked, "What's going on?"

Camilla immediately flushed with embarrassment and apologized profusely to my father, "Mr. Wilburn, we think Fidelia has run off."

Galen, puzzled, looked at me for an explanation. I gave him a brief rundown and reassured him, "You go back to bed. We'll handle this. It's dark, and she couldn't have gone far."

I didn't want Camilla to feel more anxious with Galen around.

He nodded, trying to ease Camilla's worry, "Don't fret. She knows this place like the back of her hand. She'll be fine."

"I'm so sorry for disturbing your rest," she said, bowing her head repeatedly in a humble attempt to smooth things over.

Hannah, getting impatient, urged, "Enough apologies, and let's hurry to the backyard."

Galen waved us off, "Go on then and remember, don't scold her when you find her. Speak gently."

I pulled Camilla along, hastening our pace towards the backyard.

The backyard was quite expansive, with a bamboo grove, a well, and a row of servant quarters that had long been converted into storage spaces, usually kept locked.

Opposite the bamboo stood a sizable pond, covered in water lilies, with an octagonal pavilion adjoining the veranda for a better view of the lilies. In the dead of night, only the leaves rustled, creating unsettling shadows.

Despite our calls, there was no response.

Hannah, with swift feet, raced to the back gate. It was unlocked. She pushed it open and stepped out. I quickly followed, with Camilla trailing behind, unfamiliar with the terrain.

The gazebo's door was also unlocked. We had been bringing the kids over daily to play until late, and there had been no signs of intrusion over the past couple of days. Hannah pushed open the door and called out, "Fidelia."

Silence met us.

Then we went in, flicking on the lights. I scanned the area, the rocking chair under the wisteria was empty.

I hurried into the small building with Camilla right behind me. The silence inside was broken only by our footsteps on the wooden floor, echoing emptily.

Hannah was the first to dash upstairs. As she stepped, a crisp snap sounded underfoot. She looked down, then bent to pick up a small object.

"What is it?" I moved closer, peering curiously over her shoulder, with Camilla also leaning in.

Suddenly, Camilla gasped as she replied, "That's Fidelia's hair clip."

I turned to see what Hannah held in her hand. It was a little hair clip used to pin back stray locks of hair, adorned with a cute rabbit head, now with one ear broken off by Hannah's step. I looked at Camilla, "Are you sure it's Fidelia's?"

"Yes, she was wearing it when she went to bed." Camilla's lips quivered, her eyes filled with disbelief.

A chill ran through me as I exchanged a glance with Hannah.

"Don't move," Hannah said firmly, "I'll check upstairs."

She bounded up to the third floor and returned moments later, shaking her head, "She's not there."

"Camilla, are you certain she was wearing it when she went to sleep? Could it have fallen off while we were playing here these last few days?" I asked again, needing to be sure.

"I'm certain. I touched her head before bed and it was there. I even told her to take it off for sleeping, but she said it kept her hair from tickling her face," Camilla stated with conviction, her voice trembling.

A wave of panic surged through me, but I tried to deny the obvious conclusion, "It means Fidelia was here recently."

Hannah and I shared a look of alarm. Both of us knew what this implied.