Unexpected Marriage With Mr. Leighton: Rebirth of the Villain-Chapter 47: HE NEEDS RIVER

Arthur felt these uncomfortable feelings. Annoyance and worry. He couldn’t remember when the last time he was worried about River was since she was a very independent and capable person, even when she was only a young girl.

The word ’worry’ only related to Aubrey, since she was the delicate one between his two daughters, but it had never been in the same sentence with River.

Therefore, it was so strange for him to feel this way. He was worried about River, and it was hard for him to admit it since he was not used to it.

He stared at the picture. She was only five years old there, looking so happy when she played at the beach; sand was on her face and legs as she was wearing short pants and a yellow shirt. She grinned at the camera, and he remembered when he took this picture.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

"Where are you, River?" Arthur said tiredly.

He had been back and forth with his emotions. A moment ago he was angry, and then he would be sad, but then annoyed, and now he was worried...

"Come back, and I will not be angry with you." He caressed the picture. "I promise I will make it right for you. If you want him, I will make him be with you as long as you come back."

Arthur didn’t know what he was saying; he might as well get drunk, but at this point he would promise River heaven and hell for her to show up or give a little bit of information that could lead him to her.

Anything.

He was so desperate to get anything that could lead him to her.

Because if she disappeared for a long time and vanished without anyone knowing what happened, the possibility was only one: someone might have killed her.

Arthur knew how much River dedicated her life to her missions, and for her to neglect this for this long, it was not normal.

"Did someone hurt you?" Arthur asked to no one in particular. He remembered the last time River was badly injured because she took a very risky job that almost cost her life. "Did something bad happen to you?"

Arthur really wanted to know what happened to River. He had exhausted all of his resources to get to her, but it was still useless. The only thing that he got was disappointment.

However, Arthur was not the only one because right now Arlo was in the same mental state as him.

After his canceled breakfast between him and Ranon, he spent his night in the bar. He drank to oblivion to numb the pain.

He missed her so badly.

His company and Leighton had been in a joint business, but they had not yet met in person since they used representatives to handle their deal. But after meeting that woman who reminded him so much of River, who was actually Ranon’s woman, he wanted to see her again. Therefore, he arranged the meeting.

They were supposed to discuss the burned shipping containers that happened not so long ago and had a breakfast the next day.

But who would have thought that Ranon would cancel on him for breakfast at the last minute when he was supposed to bring his woman to have a meal together and sent someone else instead?

That was why Arlo had been very upset right now.

There were some things about Ranon’s woman that reminded him of River. The way she spoke, the way she moved, her habit, and the way she stared at someone. Everything.

Arlo used to observe River because, in his eyes, that woman was interesting; that was why he knew a lot of things that even River herself was not aware of.

And now when she was gone, not even Aubrey’s presence could fill the hole in his heart where River left. It felt hollow, and the more Arlo tried to ignore it, the more it hurt.

"You need to stop," Noah advised Arlo as he took away the drink in his hand; he sat down next to him. "I have called Michael, and he is on the way here."

"I don’t need him." He needs River.

"You can’t torture yourself like this," Noah sighed. "At first you need to admit that you have made a grave mistake by betraying River; only then can you accept Aubrey."

"Shut up." Arlo didn’t want to be lectured; he didn’t want to be told what he already knew. He couldn’t admit that he had done something wrong because he would be crushed then.

He had been telling himself that he had no future with River since she couldn’t give him a child. She was barren, and that was not a future family that he wanted.

Yet, he couldn’t think of someone else to be his future but her.

Even Aubrey couldn’t fit his vision of the future. Every time he thought of her, he only got mad because she was the one who had shot River. She killed his fiancé right in front of him. She shot her before his eyes, and there was nothing he could do to save her.

He was so mad; whether it was to himself or to her, he didn’t know.

He really wished it was Aubrey who was barren. It would make things easier. He didn’t need to come after River’s sister just to get another vision of her that was not ’broken.’

"Go back home." Noah patted his shoulder, but it was the wrong thing to do because it set Arlo off.

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT... UP!" Arlo roared; he stood up to face Noah. Thankfully, the loud music drowned his voice, and they were in a private room. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"

"Woah! Easy, dude." Noah raised his hand in a surrender gesture, but Arlo was too livid and drunk to think clearly, and the next thing that he did was punch Noah in the face.

And after that, everything was a blur for him, as rage consumed him.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢