Sleeping With My Step Daddy-Chapter 55: "The Wedding That Ended in Silence"

Rico’s eyes widened. He quickly pushed Jeff away.

Rico (coldly): "None of your business."

He turned and walked off, muttering under his breath.

Rico (muttering): "Why did I even come to this wedding? What a frustrating day..."

Behind him, Jeff smiled and called out.

Jeff: "Wait—Mr. Rico!"

Rico stopped, clearly annoyed, and turned back.

Rico: "What?"

Jeff casually picked up the flowers from the table, stepped forward, and grabbed Rico’s hand. He pressed the bouquet into it.

Jeff (smirking): "Last time, you said you’d take me to dinner. So don’t forget the promise. I’m free today, Mr. Rico."

Rico looked down at the flowers in his hands, puzzled. Then he nodded once, quietly.

Rico: "Okay. Done."

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit.

—

Meanwhile, at the photo area, Kai stood beside Bast, posing with Miles and Ethan. The group laughed softly as the photographer clicked away. Just then, a waiter approached with a tray of drinks. As he reached toward Kai, his hand slipped, and the glass tipped—spilling red wine all over Kai’s shirt.

Waiter (panicked): "I’m so sorry, sir! Please, I didn’t mean—"

Kai held up a hand calmly.

Kai: "It’s okay."

He glanced at Bast.

Kai: "I’ll go to the restroom to clean up."

Bast nodded silently, his eyes following Kai as he walked away.

Ethan (grinning): "Now it’s your turn to get married, Bast."

Miles smiled playfully.

Miles: "Yeah, what are you waiting for?"

Bast (smirking): "Wait and watch. I’m marrying Kai soon."

The three shared a chuckle, but then Miles’s eyes shifted past the group, catching sight of someone approaching. His expression softened.

Miles: "Eden..."

Eden walked slowly into the venue, his steps hesitant. His eyes flicked around nervously until they landed on Miles.

Miles immediately stepped away from the others and approached him.

Miles: "I’m really happy you came, Eden."

Eden gave a weak smile, his voice low.

Eden: "Sorry I’m late. I was stuck at work."

Miles: "It’s okay."

Eden’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He looked away quickly.

Eden: "Congratulations, Miles."

Miles: "Thank you."

Eden hesitated, then asked without meeting Miles’s gaze.

Eden: "Where’s Kai?"

Miles: "He just went to the restroom."

Eden’s gaze fell to the floor, and he clenched his jaw.

Eden: "I... I have to go. There’s still some work left."

Miles frowned.

Miles: "Why? You just got here."

Eden (quietly): "I’m sorry."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and quickly walked away. His back was tense, and just before he disappeared, Miles saw the glimmer of tears in Eden’s eyes.

—

Inside the restroom, Kai stood at the sink, damp tissue in hand, trying to blot the wine from his shirt. He sighed, annoyed but composed. The door creaked behind him, and several boys stepped in.

Kai glanced at them in the mirror, then looked away, uninterested. He focused on cleaning his shirt.

The boys in the restroom exchanged strange glances, their presence becoming more unsettling. Kai glanced at them again, this time more sharply.

Kai (coldly): "Who are you? How did you even get into the wedding—"

Before he could finish, one of the boys lunged forward, grabbing him tightly. Another boy stepped in and quickly sprayed something against Kai’s mouth. A bitter, chemical taste hit his tongue as he gasped.

Kai: "Bast..."

His voice faltered, a weak whisper. His eyelids fluttered before finally closing.

Boy 1 (firmly): "Take him carefully. The boss said not a single scratch."

Boy 2 nodded nervously.

Boy 2: "If anything happens to him... we’re dead."

With cautious precision, they lifted Kai’s unconscious body and carried him out through the back exit. A black car waited for them with the engine already running.

—

Back at the venue, Bast was still chatting with Ethan, though his eyes kept flicking toward the direction Kai had gone.

Bast: "He’s taking too long. I’m going to check on him."

Ethan: "Alright. Let me know if you need help."

Bast headed toward the restroom, his steps quickening with each passing second. As he entered, he found the space eerily empty.

Bast (calling out): "Kai?"

No answer.

He looked around, his breath catching when he spotted something in the corner of the restroom—Kai’s phone. The ringtone echoed softly from where it lay, abandoned.

Bast rushed over and picked it up. His hands trembled slightly as his gaze dropped to the floor—Kai’s coat was crumpled beside the sink.

Bast (alarmed): "What the hell...?"

Panic surged through him.

Bast (shouting): "Kai?!"

There was no reply.

He immediately pulled out his own phone and dialed.

Bast: "Jeff! Activate full security. Lock the venue. Kai is missing—search every corner, now!"

Jeff (on phone): "Understood. I’ll alert the guards."

The venue erupted into chaos as Bast stormed out of the restroom, his face pale with dread. Security guards scrambled in every direction, guests unaware of what was unfolding behind the scenes.

But it was already too late.

Kai was gone.

The wedding celebration had ended.

The last of the guests had already left, the music faded, and the once-vibrant venue was now blanketed in tension and dread. Guards and security staff moved in every direction, their radios crackling as they coordinated the search. The festive glow had turned cold.

Miles stood beside Ethan near the now-empty stage, his hands trembling. His eyes were wet with unshed tears.

Miles (voice shaking): "Where’s Kai...?"

He sank into one of the chairs, his gaze locked on the entrance, silently praying that Kai would appear.

Nearby, Bast was a storm brewing.

He stood in a tight huddle with Jeff, his jaw clenched, his fists tight by his sides. The anger on his face was barely contained—dangerous, volcanic. If the world stood between him and Kai, he would burn it down.

Jeff, standing at attention, nodded silently and ran toward the main exit, calling the guards to tighten the perimeter.

They checked all the security footage—every hallway, every exit—but Kai wasn’t seen anywhere.

Jeff (low voice): "Sir... it’s like he vanished."

Bast’s eyes narrowed with fury. Ethan approached and gently placed a hand on Bast’s shoulder, his voice calm but urgent.

Ethan: "Bast, don’t lose hope. We’ll find him. I’ve already filed a police report, and my people are searching the surrounding areas."

Bast didn’t respond, but his eyes burned with determination.

Just then, Jeff came running back, holding a tablet in his hands. His face was pale but focused.

Jeff: "Sir—we found something. Look at this."

He turned the tablet toward Bast. The screen showed a recording from one of the parking lot cameras. A sleek black car pulled away from the venue during the party, unnoticed by the guests.

Jeff: "This car doesn’t belong to any guest. It left just before you went to the restroom."

Bast’s eyes locked onto the footage, his voice low and deadly.

Bast: "Find this car. I don’t care how long it takes."

Jeff nodded and sprinted off to give the command.

Meanwhile, Miles still sat in the chair, clutching his hands together tightly, head bowed. His lips moved silently.

Miles (praying softly): "Please let Kai be safe... Please bring him back."

The night had taken a cruel turn—and the only thing that remained now was the desperate chase to bring Kai home.

Despite hours of relentless searching, the guards had found nothing. The trail was cold.

Bast sat inside an old, dimly lit building that served as a temporary command post. Shadows clung to the cracked walls, the air heavy with silence and tension.

His voice was firm, ice-cold.

Bast: "Search that car. I don’t care what it takes. I want results. No matter what you do—find it."

The guards immediately obeyed, scattering in every direction. Jeff remained, fingers flying across his tablet, tracking camera feeds and location data.

Meanwhile, miles away, Rico sat in a restaurant, waiting alone, completely unaware of the storm brewing in the distance.

As night slowly faded into morning, the first traces of sunlight slipped over the city. But Bast hadn’t closed his eyes once. He sat motionless, staring into the distance like a man carved from stone. Ethan was beside him the entire time, watching over him in silence.

Finally, Jeff returned—out of breath, sweat on his brow, holding his tablet tightly.

Jeff: "Sir... we found the car."

Bast shot to his feet immediately.

Bast: "What?! Where?"

Jeff hesitated only a second before answering.

Jeff: "In an abandoned area. But... sir, the car—it’s completely burned."

Bast’s expression froze.

Bast: "Burned?"

Jeff nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir. There was no one inside. We’re still trying to trace the owner, but... the number plate was fake. It’s unregistered. A dead end."

In a sudden outburst, Bast hurled his phone across the room. It shattered against the concrete wall.

Ethan (softly): "Bast, calm down—"

Bast (angrily): "How could I calm down, Ethan?! I didn’t protect Kai!"

There was a deep silence. Then, Bast narrowed his eyes.

Bast: "Rico. I think Rico did this."

Jeff’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden accusation.

Bast turned sharply toward him.

Bast: "Jeff. Bring Rico here. Now."

Jeff didn’t respond with words. He simply nodded and walked out.

—

At Rico’s house, the doorbell rang.

Rico opened the door, blinking sleep from his eyes. He was confused to see Jeff standing there—and even more alarmed by the armed men behind him.

Before Rico could react, one of the guards raised a gun at him. His eyes went wide.

Rico: "What the hell are you doing?!"

Jeff didn’t answer. He simply grabbed Rico by the wrist and pulled him forward.

Rico: "Hey—what the f*ck?! Let go of me!"

But Jeff didn’t stop. The guards surrounded them as Rico was dragged to the waiting car.

The calm before the storm had passed.

Now it was time for answers.