The Royal Contract

On the way back home, Ethan and Laura sat quietly, side by side, on the plane. The couple was lost in their thoughts, thinking of the fate of the two important people in their lives.

It was the break of dawn when they were informed of the situation. All the investigator could say was that the plane lost communication. They also did not reach their destination.

"I think it would be better if we join our forces in searching for them." Fred appealed to him when he learned that they were leaving.

He believed they could find their kids faster if they had one base to work on. The palace had many resources that they could use to search for them.

"I appreciate the offer, but we can always communicate in many ways. I can better function if I am home, but we can always share information and coordinate our plans." Ethan suggested, unable to comply with his offer.

Ethan decided to leave early despite his insistence that they should stay. He believed that he could work better if he was back in his territory with his men and resources.

After a while of being in the air, the silence was broken by the buzzing of his phone. He immediately answered the call, but it was not the call he was waiting for.

"Please cancel all my previous arrangements until further notice. I will not be accepting any calls or appointments." He instructed his secretary, not giving her any more details why.

He had to contain the situation before the press started sniffing on the incident. It would be mad chaos once the media was alerted of the missing newlyweds.

He wanted answers before anybody else found out about the accident. His mind was already formulating different scenarios that might have caused the aircraft's disappearance and its passengers.

Still, he thought it was not wise to jump to any conclusion. However, being prepared for any eventuality was better than being stunned by the outcome.

"What is the update?" Ethan asked his man, concerned that they still had no concrete news of what happened to the plane that flew his daughter and son-in-law to their honeymoon destination.

His team and the authorities had tracked the black box of the plane. But, he still had to receive the updates of the said mission. It appeared that the aircraft crashed near the island of their destination.

Still, the team had to investigate the actual situation. Until the plane was found, that would be the only time the team could assess the current condition of the passengers.

"We are still looking for it, Sir." The team leader reported to him, disgruntled that he had no better news to tell his boss.

They were the first to track the site. But the authorities were following them closely, so they had to hurry before they arrived and took over their investigation. By then, they would have no access to the plane.

A team of divers checked the surrounding area, assuming that the accident happened around the vicinity. At least that was where they located the ping of the flight data recorder came from.

"How can you not see a damn plane?" Ethan shouted, finally losing his temper.

He did not understand how his team could miss a large jet. It just did not make any sense unless the incident was not an accident. It could be the only explanation, but he needed confirmation.

He could handle losing the jet or even millions, but when it came to his daughter, he would go to war if he had to. Whoever was responsible for this would have to face his wrath.

"Rest assured, Sir, that we are working hard to figure this out." His man answered, understanding the sentiment of their employer. Then, ending the call.

"What?" Laura was on his side as soon as he dropped the phone on the table. "What did he say?" She repeated when Ethan did not answer right away.

She could not take even a second of waiting anymore for any news about her daughter. It felt like her heart was about to crack and explode from her agitation and worry.

"They still did not find them or the plane." He reluctantly told his wife. He wished he could tell her some good news, but there was nothing else he could do right now.

He held her hands on his as he tried to console her. He knew that this situation could not have been easy for her. He could only imagine the pain she was suffering, not knowing the condition of their daughter and her husband.

She suddenly felt all her strength being sucked out of her body upon hearing his words. It meant that their children were still missing. She could not bear to think of what they were going through at the moment.

"Come on. Why don't you rest for a while? I will take you to the room." Ethan immediately stood up from his seat, ready to assist her to the private room at the back of the plane.

He felt that she would be more comfortable resting on the bed while they waited for any news or until they landed. He could not bear to see her so fragile when she had always been the source of his strength.

"No, I don't want to leave your side. I want to stay here with you." Laura refused to move from her position.

She knew she would not be sleeping until she had heard that their children were ok. Well, she did not want to think of any other outcome.

She decided to look outside the window instead and pray for the safety of their children. She thought of the happy times she had spent with her daughter and the beautiful future she was about to create with her husband.

"Darling, please try to close your eyes and rest," Ethan said, a bit concerned with her sudden silence.

He had not seen her in this condition before. Even when he was sick and almost dying. She was emotional then, but now, she seemed to be lost.

He stared into her face, but he could not read what was going through her mind. He believed that this was far worse than anything they had encountered before.

"I just can't." She whispered, barely audible as if she was talking to herself than him.

Her ears could hear her husband, but her thoughts were far from his concern. She only wanted to hold her daughter, to tell her that everything would be alright.

But she could not reach her. She could not even see her in the vast ocean before her. It was all blue and a tinge of green with occasional white created by the rough waves. But no sign of a missing plane.

"Everything will be alright." He decided to pull Laura into his arms, giving her the solace he hoped he could provide. "I promise we will find them." He wished he could also find relief in his own words.

He turned his head to the window, gazing at the view outside. He never made promises lightly. He swore to find Dani and Alex, and he would make that happen even if he had to scout every nook and cranny of the world.

He just had no idea what to expect when he did find them. He could not promise Laura that he would find them alive. He was a man of facts, and at the moment, he had to consider every aspect of this situation.

"Ok." She automatically answered as if it was just instinct. But she hardly understood what he was saying to her.

She rested her head on his chest, allowing her husband to envelop her in his embrace. Her eyes continued to gaze into an empty space.

The sky was a clear blue with partial clouds sporadically spread around her, but the turmoil in her mind was like she was in the eye of the storm. It was calm until...

A scene played in her mind. A horror that she had tried to suppress. Now, it came in surges, rolling in her mind like a tidal wave. There was no stopping it.

Tears came down her cheeks, raining havoc in her silence. Eventually. "No, no, no..." She kept repeating, feeling like a hand was choking her, unable to breathe.

She could not withstand the fear that took hold of her, gripping her mind and heart, squeezing the life out of her. She struggled against it. She tried her utmost best to control her emotions, but she knew she was failing miserably.

"Laura, hey. Are you ok?" Ethan held her by the shoulder, checking her condition. "Laura, talk to me. What is going on?" Now, he was starting to be alarmed, seeing the pale face of her wife. However, she was barely responding to him as her breathing became labored.

In his assessment, his wife was, hopefully, not having a heart attack but only experiencing a mild panic attack.

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