Married 24 Times

My mother's calm expression crumpled into something that seemed mixed between anger and fear.

As the second son, I had been allowed more freedom when I was a child. I would have outbursts and as long as I wasn't in public, they were permitted. But ever since becoming the heir, I had to be ever controlled and behaved.

This was the first time I had actively shown any outrage towards my mother. Even when my father had opposed my engagement to Alice, rather than outwardly arguing and fighting over it, I had gone behind my parents to publicly solidify my engagement. I had used covert methods, the way they had taught me. My mother's fear most likely was from this fact. If I was outwardly causing a scene, it meant I was truly, undeniably upset with her.

We were the only guests outside for tea, but I could see inside a few guests near the windows were glancing at us curiously.

"J-Jules, there's no need to be so upset. I just gave her want she wanted."

"And what, exactly, do you believe my fiancee wants?" I asked, putting extra importance on "fiancee". I did not relax my hostile posture over my mother.

"I sent her away and gave your cousin my blessing."

My vision went red at the edges. Rather than burst out violently again, however, I calmly sat down. I waved for one of the waitresses to bring me another cup of tea. She approached cautiously due to my previous outburst, but I was given a fresh cup. My mother stared at me, unable to hide the nervousness in her eyes.

When I finally spoke, it was with an icy coldness that made my mother shiver.

"I'm going to say this only once. Alice is my fiancee and is one of the people I have decided to protect. I have been patient with you and dad because I understand she is not what you want for me, but I won't stand by idly while you harm her. I have made compromises. I have sacrificed my wants to uphold the family ideals. She is the woman I will marry, regardless of her social status, because I made a vow. Do not disrespect that vow again, or I will move against you and dad."

After finishing my speech, I could see my mother's hands were trembling. Yes, she had power. Yes, she had money. Yes, she had my father's backing more securely than I did. But she was not the heir. She could not inherit any of the money from my grandfather without my cooperation.

I had held off with this threat because I didn't have any of my own power. My pride hated using the power my grandfather had left me behind when it wasn't truly my own, but I would cast aside my pride if it meant I could save Alice.

"Now, while I am saying this politely, tell me where she is."

My mother did not need anymore threats. She quickly made a few phone calls and wrote out an address. It seems she had ordered some of our family men to "scare" Alice before handing her off to Eric, but she had no idea where they had taken her.

A fear gripped my heart that I would be too late and miss her.

I had to get to her before Eric carried her off to god-knows-where. If Eric did something to Alice... beyond just the trauma to her mental and emotional state, she would also most likely be forced into marriage with that scum.

"Julian." My mother stopped me with my name before I rushed off. "You will have to explain this to your father."

"Tsk. You will also have to do some explaining when this is all over."

I walked away without looking back. I knew my mother's statement was more of a threat than anything else. My retort was mostly empty. I was the second son, who through unfortunate circumstances, managed to become the heir. My father had never perfered me and never would. Both my mother and even my disgraced brother were more to his liking.

After calling some of my personal men to accompany me, I directed us to the address my mother gave me. The entire drive there I couldn't keep my body still. My fear and anxiety kept me on edge. If I was too late, I couldn't tell what I would do to Eric when I managed to find him.

The address led to what looked like a shipping facility. Large trucks and shipping containers stood in near rows in a large lot. There were vacant lots across the small one-lane road and a recycling plant nearby. Though it was early evening, the area was empty of people. All the workers had gone home for the day.

I ordered my men to fan out and we began sweeping the area. I spotted a black van that looked like a Leonhart company car. After calling for a few men to join me, we approached the containers nearest to the black van.

We found one open with two men cleaning up inside. There was a single chair and empty rope. I could see dark stains on the ground.

Alice wasn't there.

The rage that came over me when I realized I was too late drove me into the two men. Though they were my family's own people, I threw a punch at one of them without hesitation. All the training I had gone through as a youth for self defense came out. My men surged forward to restrain me. These were two people they recognized as coworkers and allies, after all. The man I punched clutched at his jaw.

"Young master, please calm yourself!" I could hear my men pleading with me to stop struggling against their restraining arms.

It took some time before they were able to pull me out of the container and away from those dark stains on the ground. Those had been the only things in my sight. After closer inspection, I realized those large stains couldn't be blood.

The man who had managed to avoid my attack explained things once I had calmed down enough.

"Young master, we had no idea who she was. We're deeply sorry. We were ordered to harm her, but she did not receive any life-threatening injuries. The stains on the ground are from the… liquid we poured over her. We…"

The man swallowed and couldn't continue after meeting my eyes. I could plainly smell the gasoline. They must have dumped it on her and threatened to burn her if she didn't cooperate. There was never any flames, but I knew Alice wouldn't have known that. She must have been terrified.

I struggled to remain calm enough to question them. As I feared, Eric had arrived before I was able to get there.

"Where did he take her?"