Chapter 5. I Need You to Be My Wife

After cleaning myself up, I settled onto the plush sofa and gazed out at the vast expanse of the ocean before me. Despite my best efforts, sleep seemed like an impossible feat tonight. My mind was consumed by everything that had transpired, especially the unnerving mystery of Pier's sudden disappearance. I clutched my phone, and for the umpteenth time, I typed out a desperate message to him, hoping for a response.

To: Pier Cullen

Please give me a call ASAP. I swear, if you don't, I'll have no choice but to call New York's finest. Please, my love, come home.

Frustration washed over me as I noticed the stream of identical messages that had filled our conversation over the last few hours. My continuous attempts to call him only yielded a persistent beeping sound. The uncertainty of how long he had been missing made it difficult to involve the NYPD just yet.

I glanced at the wall clock, its hands indicating it was already two in