Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Winston remarked, "This whole situation feels fishy, like someone's plotting something." Connor had a nagging suspicion in the back of his mind. But he wasn't quite sure. Could it be that Grant wasn't just taking Chloe for a joyride, but actually planning to whisk her away? The thought seemed a bit out there. If Grant was so head over heels for Chloe, he wouldn't have let her be with Lucas to start with, and he certainly wouldn't have missed his chance after Lucas and Chloe split, letting Connor swoop in. Besides, the idea of just taking Chloe away was ridiculous. Chloe was her own woman; she wouldn't let anyone push her around. Yet, Connor couldn't wrap his head around why Chloe would leave him high and dry after the crash. Something must've gone down between them—a major blow- up, maybe even the reason for the crash. Winston noticed Connor's worried look and tried to reassure him. "Chloe's always had a knack for landing on her feet. She'll be alright." "She'll come back." In the days that followed, Grant remained in a coma, and Chloe was nowhere to be found, as if she had just vanished into thin air. As days turned into weeks, Connor's mental state took a nosedive. He spent his days driving aimlessly around the city. Sartori Corporation and the Shaw family threw everything they had into the search, but strangely, Chloe's whereabouts were still a mystery. The media was awash with missing person alerts, and the story of Chloe's disappearance was everywhere. A month later, Connor finally hit rock bottom. He came down with a nasty fever that wouldn't break, leaving him out of it and completely drained. He lay in bed, not moving an inch, refusing to eat. When he was awake, he'd just stare blankly at the ceiling. During this time, he'd lost a lot of weight, his face now gaunt and hollow. The Shaw family couldn't come to terms with the situation and kept searching, extending their efforts nationwide. But finding one person in such a big country was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Still, unlike Connor, they held onto hope. Ruby showed incredible strength. She visited Connor in the hospital and said, "Connor, I know you're heartbroken, and I can't wrap my head around it either, but Chloe and I have a bond. I just know she's still out there." "As long as she's alive, we can find her. It's only a matter of time." Connor lay there, unmoving, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "If Chloe comes back and sees you like this, she'd be devastated. Connor, you need to snap out of it." The Sartori family came by several times, even Jeffrey showed up, but nothing seemed to help. Pax also tapped into all the Gilbert family's resources to help with the search, but there was still no news. As time dragged on, despair set in for everyone. Except Ruby-she remained unwavering in her belief that Chloe was alive. "Connor, you've got to get back on your feet. Live your life. We will find her." But these words didn't seem to reach Connor. He felt like fate had completely knocked him down, and he couldn't get back up. His faith, his light, his warmth, the core of his being-they were all gone. Hope was a distant memory. He didn't even care about the truth anymore. Not even the news of Grant waking up could shake him from his stupor. Connor started to starve himself. It wasn't a conscious choice; he just couldn't bring himself to eat. He was tired of everything, even the sunlight. He slept around the clock, because only in his dreams could he catch fleeting glimpses of Chloe. Everyone else was at a loss.noveldrama