Chapter 374

Olivia nearly stumbled, her vision swimming as her legs threatened to give way beneath her.

Alfred wrung his hands in distress. "Miss Sinclair, this is entirely my fault. I should have watched Mr. Kensington more carefully. Even with all the security personnel around, he vanished without a trace."

"One moment he was there, the next - gone. We've turned the estate upside down but found nothing. I came straight to inform you while the search continues. Please remain calm. Mr. Kensington couldn't have gone far. We'll locate him soon."

A cold numbness spread through Olivia's body, her inner turmoil threatening to surface. She'd been foolish to think she could protect Alistair alone. The bitter truth was she couldn't protect anyone now. How would she face Donovan if he learned what happened?

The sound of Isabelle's sobbing snapped Olivia from her spiraling thoughts. Kneeling, she gathered the trembling child into her arms. "This isn't your fault, sweetheart. It's mine. If I'd taken you to preschool today, none of this would have happened. Go rest now. I promise we'll find Great-grandpa Alistair."

Turning to the elderly butler, Olivia continued, "Alfred, you've served the Kensingtons for decades. You could have retired years ago, but your devotion kept you here. I'm truly grateful. Don't blame yourself - this is my responsibility."

Tears glistened in Alfred's eyes. "Mr. Kensington has always treated me like family. And yet I failed in this simple duty."

When the butler raised a hand to strike himself in anguish, Olivia caught his wrist firmly. "Alfred, we need you sharp and focused right now. Remember when Alistair wandered off to Eldermere during one of his episodes? It took Donovan weeks to find him then. We'll find him again. Now think - where would he most likely go? You know him better than anyone."

Wiping his eyes, Alfred quickly suggested several locations. Olivia and her team searched through the night but found nothing.

After twenty-four fruitless hours, Olivia filed a missing persons report with the police, providing detailed descriptions of Alistair's appearance, clothing, and last known whereabouts.

She also hired a specialized private investigation firm, instructing firmly: "Spare no expense. Use whatever resources necessary to bring him home."

Still, no leads emerged.

The professional search team offered their analysis: "An elderly gentleman couldn't have traveled far on foot in this timeframe. Even using public transportation, there would be traces. Our assessment suggests he may have been taken. Identifying the perpetrators will require police involvement. Ms. Sinclair, we've exhausted all options."

Olivia's knees nearly buckled. She bit her tongue hard, using the sharp pain to ground herself. Heartbreak threatened to overwhelm her, but she couldn't afford to lose control now. She needed to remain composed.

Handing the team leader an envelope, Olivia's voice turned steely. "Continue the search. Money is no object. But understand this - my grandfather's disappearance remains confidential. I've impressed this upon my staff. If word leaks, I'll hold each of you personally accountable."