Page 43 of All The Pretty Little Lies

The words hit me like a physical blow. Two years. Two years of my life, gone in what feels like the blink of an eye. I grip theedge of the table, my knuckles turning white as the room spins around me.

"That's impossible," I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. "It can't have been that long."

But even as I say it, I know it's true. The changes in the men around me, the unfamiliarity of my own body. It all speaks to the passage of time. Two years of my life, stolen away.

"What happened?" I demand, my voice rising. "Where was I? Why didn't you come for me sooner?"

Oscar takes another step forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Vesper, I know you have questions. We all do. But now might not be the best time to-.”

"Not the best time?" I interrupt, anger flaring hot in my chest. "When is the best time, Oscar? After another two years have passed?"

I push myself to my feet, ignoring the way my legs tremble beneath me. "I want to know everything. Now."

Oscar's jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "It's complicated, Vesper. A lot has changed while you were gone."

"Then un-complicate it," I snap, taking a step towards him. "I deserve to know what happened to me."

For a moment, Oscar looks like he might argue. Then his shoulders slump, defeat written in every line of his body. "You're right," he says quietly. "You do deserve to know. But Vesper, please understand that the truth is going to be painful to hear. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

I straighten my spine, squaring my shoulders despite the trembling in my limbs. The room seems to shrink around me, the air growing thick and heavy. I can feel the weight of their gazes. Oscar’s piercing blue eyes, Zaire's silver ones, Talon's concerned stare, and Alex's wary glance. Their silence is deafening, filled with unspoken truths and hidden pain.

"I've survived two years of God knows what," I say, a hint of steel creeping into my voice. "I can handle the truth."

Oscar's eyes cloud with pain as he begins to speak, his voice low and strained. "It was supposed to be simple," he says, running a hand through his hair. "We had everything planned down to the last detail. We were on our way to get you, to bring you to safety."

I lean forward, my heart pounding in my chest as I hang onto his every word. The kitchen seems to fade away, replaced by the vivid images Oscar's words paint.

"We were so close, Vesper," he continues, his voice barely above a whisper. "But when we got there, all we found was the wreckage of your car. It was a nightmare. The vehicle was completely destroyed, twisted metal and shattered glass everywhere. And you were gone."

I feel the blood drain from my face as I remember flashes of that day. The screech of tires, the sickening crunch of metal, and the world spinning out of control. My hands begin to shake, and I grip the edge of the table to steady myself.

"We searched for you," Oscar says, his blue eyes intense with desperation. "For two years, we turned over every stone and followed every lead. We never stopped looking, Vesper. Never."

Zaire steps forward, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "It was like chasing a ghost," he adds. "Every time we thought we were close, you'd slip through our fingers again."

"Then, about a week ago," Talon interjects, his face grim, "we got word about an auction. A secret, high-stakes event for the elite of the underworld."

My stomach churns as I begin to piece together what they're saying. "An auction," I repeat, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "For people?"

Oscar nods, his jaw clenched tight. "We didn't know for sure if you'd be there, but it was the best lead we'd had in months. We couldn't pass it up."

"So, you...bought me?" I ask, my voice trembling with a mix of gratitude and horror.

"We couldn't let anyone else get their hands on you," Zaire says fiercely. "We had to bring you home. It was the only way."

I close my eyes, trying to process the flood of information. Two years of my life are gone in what feels like the blink of an eye. Two years of captivity, of fear, and pain, and loneliness. All the while, these men had been searching for me, never giving up hope. But a nagging thought tugs at the back of my mind, a question I'm almost afraid to ask. I open my eyes, fixing my gaze on Oscar.

"My family," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "Did they...did they even try to look for me? My father wanted this alliance so badly. Badly enough he bowed down to your uncle’s demands, as you said he would. He wouldn’t just let me disappear without at least trying…"

The silence that falls over the room is deafening. Oscar and Zaire exchange a look that speaks volumes.

"Vesper, there's no easy way to say this," Zaire begins, his eyes never leaving mine. "Your father...he's dead."

The words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. I stumble backward, my legs hitting the chair behind me. I grip the back of it, my knuckles turning white as I struggle to process what I've just heard.

"Dead?" I repeat, the word turns to dust on my tongue. "How? When?"

Oscar takes a step towards me, his hand outstretched as if to offer comfort, but he stops short. "It happened about a month after you disappeared," he says softly. “He was gone, and yourUncle Mario took his place. Our uncle told us that he took his own life out of the grief of losing you.”

---