Aleksis and Lauriel in Singapore

Jadeith knocked on the door carefully. Caspar, who was typing something on his laptop, raised his face and signaled his guard and nephew to enter.

"What is wrong?"

"There is bad news. Ms. Sophia disappeared from the safe house we prepared for her. We tried to track her down, but without success."

Caspar frowned. He had not seen Sophia for several months because he did not want to meet anyone. Last week Sophia begged to meet him, but he refused, and now suddenly the girl had disappeared.

"Did the Meier family take her?"

"We suspect so..." Jadeith said quietly. "What should we do?"

"Alexei is friends with Ned. Maybe if Ned asks, Alexei will listen to him. He can't possibly kill his own sister," Caspar said. "But I can't bother Ned now, he's getting married soon. This is a very big event."

"Alexei hasn't surfaced for several years. I suspect he is preparing a new plan," Jadeith said.