Burning Passion

CHAPTER 249: CHARITY BALL (MISSING)

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The moment they noticed that Nina disappeared from where she stood, instantly panic crept Albert's chest. Nina is wearing a dress with a real tiny emerald attached to the dress, which added diamonds on the chest part. It means the dress costs money and Nina herself. 

Albert wanders his gaze to the entire dance hall, but he cannot spot Nina, which will be easy to recognize because of her slender figure and her sheer gown is noticeable. 

Albert caught Steven looking around. He must notice as well that Nina was missing. Their eyes meet. This time, they have the same emotion. They worry about where Nina is. 

Without thinking twice, Albert excuses himself, even his mother glaring at him with a questioning gaze. But he won't feel relaxed if he will not assure that Nina was still at the party. 

"Greg!" 

At once, Albert and Steven call Greg. They shared a glance at each other. But it's not the time to act and treat each other with hostility. At this moment, they have the same purpose and that to know if Nina was not missing.

"What up!" 

"Where is Nina?" Together, Albert and Steven asked at once. 

Greg wanted to burst out laughing, but the emotion shown on their faces is indescribable. "Wait… Is it Nina missing?" said Greg, he walked toward the place where he left Nina to get some drinks. But then he met his professor, and he couldn't leave soon. Now Nina disappears?

"How about Jessica? Where is she?" he queried.

"I don't see her either." 

"Maybe they went to the powder room?" said Steven, praying it was the case. But the thump in his chest is unusual. He looked at Albert, with a frown face, he remarked, "Nina wears a gown with real gems. Why is no one guarding her?" 

Steven's tone is sharp, and Albert admits the guy has a point. But they are all inside the hall. Every guest was all known personnel, not to mention, half of the guests tonight are from royal families. The outside has tight security. So then, who will undertake to kidnap someone within the palace where they couldn't get out?

Unless it's someone from inside the palace? Is someone familiar with this place?

"How about Princess Sarah? Maybe she took Nina along with her?" Greg tried to think everything was fine. Because Nina truly kidnaps. It was his responsibility for not protecting her! 

Suddenly, Jessica showed up, carrying a plate of dessert. "Where is Miss Nina?" she asked them. The reaction on their faces gives her a premonition that something happened.

It was Albert who quickly came back to his senses, then asked Jessica. "You're not with Nina?" 

"I left her there to get something she could eat. She hadn't had dinner yet." 

The three men feel like a bucket of ice-cold water pours on them. 

"Sarah! We have to find her. Maybe Nina is with her!" said Albert before he turned around to search for a server. "Excuse me. Did you see my sister, Sarah?" 

"I'm sorry, prince Albert. I didn't notice her." 

"What do you mean?" Albert flinched and then calmed himself after realizing that his voice was raising. "Okay. Thank you." 

He needs to calm down, not let the guests notice that something is going on. Albert reminds himself. Meanwhile, Steven, who was casually looking around and trying to calm himself.

"What should we do now? Should we look around?" he asked Albert.

Albert sighed as he was trying to figure out. After a moment of pondering, he shared his thoughts. "This palace has several rooms. Might you will get lost. But several areas are close. So we first looked in the place that allowed for the guest to wander." 

Steven and Greg, who listen keenly, gaping at him, nodding. Jessica was getting nervous. Her Miss is wearing a cost of a hundred thousand pounds of gems. Is it the purpose why someone kidnapped her Miss is because of the dress? 

'Hope nothing happens to you, Miss!'

"Okay. Let us first try to find Sarah inside this hall. Till then, we started looking at the dining hall and the nearby lounges, and the guest took rest," said Albert to Greg and Steven. The two men nod at him. 

While they walked around, they did not forget to greet someone and chat a little, then resume walking again. Jessica nervously stands in the corner, praying it's not true that someone kidnapped her Miss. 

After ten minutes. The three men walked back to where Jessica was standing, waiting for good news. However, though bad news, no one can tell where Sarah is. 

Before Albert could speak, Val's assistant approached him. "Greetings, Prince Albert!" 

Albert recognized her. He smiled and asked what she needed.

"Mr. Val wants to talk to Prince Sarah, and your girlfriend." 

"Girlfriend?" Steven blurted out. 

Uninformed of the rivalry between Albert and Steven, Val's assistant casually answered. "Yes! The one who wears Val's sheer gown!" 

Before Albert could say a word, Steven spoke up. "Nina is my fiancée, not someone's girlfriend," firmly, Steven corrected the woman. 

Dumbfounded by Stevens' words, the woman smiled awkwardly and apologized. "I'm sorry, we thought…" Seeing that Steven and Albert exchange unfriendly stares, the woman quickly changes the topic. "Anyway, Val wants to meet them. He was in the lounge room. He is waiting." 

"Okay. We will look for them and relay your message." Albert forced a friendly, warm smile. 

Val's assistant nods and excuses herself. She felt that the atmosphere suddenly became gloomy, and they acted oddly. Well, she's done with her task. It's not her concern why they look stiff.

When Val's assistant leaves, Albert leans closer to Steven and whispers in an angry tone. "Stop claiming that Nina is your fiancée!" 

Furrowing his brows, Steven replied to Albert with a mocking grin, "Eventually, she will be my bride once the elders make the arranged marriage official." 

Albert gritted his teeth and then sneered at Steven. "Stop talking nonsense! Nina could only decide about it!" 

Before Steven could counter, Greg cut in. It annoyed him that these two had time to argue when both Sarah and Nina were out of sight. 

"If both of you want to fight? Do it on another day! I'll go start looking for Nina!" 

After his speech, Greg turned around and headed to the exit door of this dance hall. Jessica glanced at the two men, faintly smiling before she followed Greg. 

Realize that they made an idiotic action just now.. Both calm themselves and act as nothing happens. Most important is to find Nina and Sarah, who seemed to disappear as well!