The Substitute's Contract: Seven Days to Reset My Life

Chapter 10

Sophia Sinclair strode into the manor in her high heels, followed by a visibly flustered Luna Smith. The living room was eerily empty—not a soul in sight.

"Where is he?" Sophia whirled around, her sharp gaze piercing Alexander Huxley.

Alexander's face flickered with panic as he pointed toward the sofa. "He was just here—" His voice cut off abruptly, his pupils constricting.

The sofa was empty.

"This can't be!" Alexander's face drained of color. He spun toward the bodyguards, his expression murderous. "You swore you had him under watch!"

The bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. "Ms. Sinclair, when we left, Mr. Smith was definitely on the sofa—"

"Useless!" Sophia snapped. "Find him. Now!"

Luna bit her lip, her fingers twisting the hem of her dress. Since last night, an inexplicable unease had settled in her chest. Now, with Ethan Smith missing, that dread only intensified.

"Dad," she said, lifting her gaze to Alexander, accusation lacing her voice, "you promised you'd take care of Uncle Ethan."

Alexander stiffened, instinctively looking to Sophia for support—only to meet the same skepticism in her eyes. His stomach dropped.

"You think I had something to do with this?" His voice trembled. "I was with you all night. How could I—"

Before he could finish, his attention snagged on a dark object left on the sofa. Moving closer, he realized it was a surveillance tape.

Sophia snatched it up before he could react. "What is this?"

"Don't—!" Alexander lunged for it, but a bodyguard's report cut him off.

"Ms. Sinclair, we've searched the entire manor. Mr. Smith isn't here."

The air turned to ice. Luna stared at the tape in her mother's hand and suddenly said, "Mom... what if this is a clue Uncle Ethan left?"

Sophia's eyes hardened. Without hesitation, she marched to the TV. "Play it."

"No!" Alexander paled, but it was too late.

With trembling hands, a bodyguard inserted the tape. A crackling noise filled the room before the screen flickered to life—

And everyone held their breath.