Page 17 of Sebastian.

Once toasts are finished and everyone has taken their seats, the servers begin to bring out the appetizers, which are plates of different croquettes and a fresh green salad. I can’t help but pick at my food here and there, not feeling hungry in the slightest.

Considering excusing myself until dinner concludes, I'm about to stand when someone settles into the empty chair next to me. Turning, I see my mother effortlessly joining the conversation as if she hasn't been absent for half an hour.

"Where were you?" I whisper, trying not to draw undue attention. "You missed Andries's speech!”

"Don't worry," she replies with a serene smile, adjusting herself in her chair. “I'm sure someone recorded it. Besides, I caught the essence of it. He’s such a wonderful young man.”

“Mom, you were gone quite a while. Where did you go?”

"Just attending to a few things," she replies, sipping her champagne.

I frown, but we’re too close to the bride and groom for me to interrogate her further. Mom is never just away; if she’s disappeared, she’s up to something. However, I know better than to press her for more details now.

Deciding not to push further, I sigh inwardly and follow her lead, placing my white napkin back on my lap and resuming picking at the salad in front of me. Then I partake in casual conversation with her, discussing the wedding, the decor, and the splendid venue that has been made out of her family estate. Her answers are vague and nonchalant, leaving me to wonder what truly occupies her mind.

We continue our meal, and as the main course is served, my attention shifts to searching for Hannah and Johan. My maternal instincts are nagging at me. Johan might have been good for Elise, but for Hannah? It's worrisome.

My eyes scan around the venue, but all they can find is Aleida and Joris busy playing with their younger cousins at the kids’ table. I try to focus on something else, like the conversation and laughter around me, the clinking of glasses, and the melodious music from the live orchestra. Yet, my mind keeps drifting back to my mother's uncharacteristic behavior and my missing teenage daughter.

All of a sudden, though, I spot Johan returning inside the tent, causing my heart to skip a beat.

He takes a seat beside Dan, and my eyes dart around the table, searching for Hannah. Elise is there, but the other chair is empty. Hannah is still nowhere to be found. A pang of worry grips my chest, and I can feel my anxiety rising.

I excuse myself from the table, giving a half-hearted smile to my son, Roxanne, and the guests around me. “Excuse me, everyone. I just need to check on something,” I say, my voice strained.

I make a beeline for Johan, Elise, and Dan’s table, trying to maintain a composed demeanor. “Hey, have any of you seen Hannah yet?” I ask, trying to sound casual even though my mind is racing with concern.

They all look up at me, and my heart sinks as I notice the genuine happiness in their eyes. Elise and Dan, wrapped up in each other's company, seem to be lost in their own world of a new relationship. Johan, on the other hand, appears relaxed and carefree, enjoying the night.

“No, I still haven't seen her,” Elise replies, furrowing her brow. “She should be sitting here with us, though. That’s strange.”

I don’t expect Elise or Dan to know where she is, though. So I turn to my target. “What about you, Johan? Have you seen Hannah anywhere?”

Johan seems a bit guarded in his response. “I think she went back inside the house to go use the bathroom, but I'm not sure,” he says, avoiding eye contact. I can’t help but notice the way Elise sits up straighter in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she rakes them over Johan, like she knows something I don’t. I file away that observation for later, when my oldest daughter and I can have a private conversation.

I nod, trying to hide my concern and not jump to conclusions. I don’t quite believe him, but I haven’t pinpointed why yet. “Okay, thanks.” Giving Johan a polite smile, I turn to leave.

It’s tempting to simply run back into the house, considering how much I want to put the mystery of Hannah’s whereabouts to rest. But I control myself, walking back into the grand estate, casual and controlled. I can hear the sounds of the wedding reception still in full swing behind me, and how the air is filled with laughter and chatter among the twinkling lights. I feel such a sense of isolation among it all.

Once inside the hallway of the house, I pass by the living room and check the other nearby rooms, but there’s no sign of her. As I near the staircase, I consider asking the staff if they've seen her, but I don't want to cause unnecessary commotion.

My mind races with worry, conjuring up all sorts of scenarios. What if something happened to her? What if she’s hurt or lost? I try to push away the worst-case thoughts, reminding myself that my mother’s estate is one of the safest places in the world for Hannah. She has to be here somewhere.

Then, as if guided by instinct, I follow a faint sound of voices back to the entrance, and finally find my daughter talking to one of her cousins. I stride towards her, my heart pounding from the relief of finding her safe. I try to mask my concern with a stern expression, which Hannah immediately takes note of when she hears my heels on the marble floor.

“Hannah! Finally! Where have you been?” I gush, hoping that my voice doesn’t betray how worried I’ve been.

Hannah, looking annoyed and unapologetic, offers a typical teenage response. “I just went to the bathroom.”

Worry is quickly replaced in my mind by exasperation. “Hannah, there are bathrooms designated outside specifically for the wedding. You didn't need to come all the way in here.”

“Yeah, but they were full,” she retorts, rolling her eyes dismissively.

Suppressing a sigh, I remind myself that she's only fifteen, prone to moments of rebelliousness. “Alright, just let someone know next time. We were worried about you.”

Hannah lets out an impatient huff, clearly not in the mood for a lecture. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Sorry. Can we just get back to the party now?”

I clench my jaw, but I decide to let it go for now. There's no point in escalating the situation. “Fine, let's go,” I say, trying not to sound too frustrated.

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