CHAPTER 54: THE SEARCH FOR YOU

Since they were already in Ginza, Adrian said, "Since we’re here, let’s check out the mall."

Bianca smiled. "Okay, sounds good."

They made their way to Ginza Six, the biggest shopping complex in the area. Sleek and modern, it had more than two hundred luxury brand stores all under one roof, a place where it was all too easy to lose track of time... and money.

While the two of them were browsing around, Bianca suddenly felt a sharp cramp in her stomach. She needed to find a restroom—fast.

"Adrian, I’m going to the restroom," she said, biting her lower lip to hold back the discomfort.

Adrian’s brows knitted with concern. "I’ll go with you."

"No need. I can go by myself. Just wait here," Bianca refused, feeling a little embarrassed. She wasn’t the type who needed company just to go to the restroom. And honestly, the thought of Adrian waiting outside while she took care of business, made her feel awkward.

Adrian slid his hands into his pockets. "Are you sure you don’t want me to come along?" he asked again, just to be certain.

Bianca gave him a quick nod.

"All right, I’ll wait here."

"Mm." Bianca nodded again in understanding before walking away.

Adrian only turned his gaze away once Bianca’s back disappeared from sight. He then started observing the surroundings. Like any other upscale mall, the mall was bustling with people, some were shopping, others were just browsing. Every store he glanced at seemed to have customers inside.

While taking in the view, a jewelry store a short distance away caught Adrian’s eye. Before he knew it, his feet had already carried him inside. A display near the center showcased a women’s necklace and ring set—white gold with sparkling diamonds—that immediately drew his attention.

A staff member approached with a warm smile. "Would you like to take a closer look, sir?"

"Sure," Adrian replied.

The staff gently set the pieces on a velvet tray. "This is one of our newest collections—white gold, eighteen karats, with premium-cut diamonds. It’s quite popular among women and makes an excellent gift for a partner."

Adrian glanced at the set, admiring the elegant design. "I’ll take them," he said without much hesitation.

He pulled out his wallet and handed over his credit card.

As Adrian was paying for the jewelry he had picked out especially for Bianca, she, completely unaware of his little detour, started feeling anxious. When she returned from the restroom, the spot where Adrian had promised to wait was empty.

Her mind immediately went into overdrive. With her heart thumping, she took the long way around from where Adrian actually was and began looking for him.

Meanwhile, Adrian, having just finished paying for the gift, headed back to where he’d been before. He had no idea Bianca was at that moment frantically searching for him.

About half an hour passed, and there was still no sign of her. Something felt off. Deciding to check the restroom, Adrian realized he had no idea where it was. A building as massive as the mall surely had more than one, and he wasn’t sure where to start looking.

The sheer size of the shopping mall made Bianca feel like she was trapped in a maze. Panic began to rise when nearly an hour had passed without spotting Adrian.

Shit!

She cursed under her breath.

How could she be so stupid as to forget she could simply call him? She quickly reached into her bag for her phone and dialed his number—only to find it was turned off. That made her even more anxious.

She returned several times to the spot where Adrian was supposed to wait, but he was never there. Feeling drained and frustrated, Bianca finally decided to head back to the hotel.

Maybe there was a reason Adrian had to leave her alone. Or maybe he had gone back to the hotel ahead of her. Bianca tried to keep her thoughts positive.

While Bianca decided to head back to their accommodation, Adrian stayed behind, determined to find her. He even approached the customer service desk, treating it almost like a missing-person case.

"What’s the name of the person you’re looking for?" the staff asked politely.

"Bianca Valencia," Adrian replied without hesitation.

"And your name, sir?"

"Adrian William."

"Have you tried giving her a call?"

Adrian rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. "I would, but my phone’s completely dead. Forgot to charge it earlier, and now it’s out."

"I see. In that case, we’ll make an announcement through the PA system."

Within minutes, Adrian and Bianca’s names were being called over the speakers, asking her to come to the customer service desk if she could hear the announcement. But even after the message repeated a few times, there was still no sign of her.

Adrian blamed himself for letting Bianca go to the restroom alone. He should have known she could be careless.

What if she got lost and couldn’t find me? What if she didn’t know how to get back here?

Adrian’s mind started racing with possibilities.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that the mall was about to close, Adrian might not have realized how late it had gotten. The fear he felt while searching for Bianca was overwhelming.

He was scared something might have happened to her. He was scared of losing her. He was scared she would leave him, just like someone else once had. Dark thoughts began to cloud his head.

With hunched shoulders and heavy steps, Adrian hailed a taxi. On the ride back to the hotel, his heart wouldn’t settle. He felt restless, anxious, hoping Bianca had already made it back before him.

When the taxi finally pulled up to the hotel, Adrian almost ran through the entrance. His chest tightened as he reached for the door to their room. Bursting inside, he felt a wave of relief wash over him when he saw Bianca sitting casually in front of the TV.

In an instant, Adrian closed the distance and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Where were you? Why didn’t you tell me you came back to the hotel?"

"I tried calling you, but your phone was off. I looked for you in the mall but couldn’t find you anywhere. I thought you’d already gone back. I’m sorry. Have you been looking for me all this time?"

"You have no idea how scared I was," Adrian whispered, remembering the panic he’d felt. "But that’s not even what I was most afraid of. I was afraid you left me on purpose, Bianca."

"Hey, I’m here. And I’m not going to leave you, Adrian." Bianca’s hand gently stroked his back.

Adrian pulled away just enough to meet her eyes. "Do you mean that?"

"Huh?" His intense gaze made her mind go blank.

"Do you really mean it, you won’t leave me?" he pressed, lifting her chin.

Still unsure what exactly he meant, Bianca nodded. "I’m not going to leave you, Adrian," she said softly, a small smile on her lips.

Without another word, Adrian cupped the back of her neck and kissed her with urgency, pouring every emotion he felt into that kiss.

***