Chapter 7 - When the world shattered

Three days later, the biggest and most devastating news struck. Luna was at her university, buried in her duties as the school's vice president. She had always been alone — partly because she was introverted, partly because her wealth made others see her as distant. That morning, she was in the principal's office, quietly distributing documents during an important meeting with teachers. Then her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, but something about the call froze her in place. The voice on the other end was from the hospital. Words blurred in her mind — "heart attack… critical… come quickly." It was Mrs. Jones. Her world collapsed. Mrs. Jones — the only grandmother she had ever known, the woman who loved her after her own daughter's betrayal — was about to die. Luna's phone slipped from her trembling hands and clattered to the floor. Without a word, she ran — out of the meeting, out of the building — leaving behind her phone, her jacket, everything. She burst into the hospital, lungs burning, heart pounding. And there she saw her grandmother. Mrs. Jones lay in the hospital bed, frail, pale, her eyes closed. The slow, mechanical hiss of the breathing machine filled the room, feeding her fragile breaths. The doctor met Luna outside the room. His voice was low, heavy. "I'm sorry… we've done everything we can. It's only a matter of time." Luna felt herself breaking apart. But when she stepped to her grandmother's side, Mrs. Jones stirred and slowly opened her eyes. With surprising strength, she reached out, pulled Luna close, and whispered: "Luna, my dear… you weren't just a part of my world. You were my world." Hot tears streamed down Luna's face. Mrs. Jones brushed them away with a weak smile. "No, my dear. Never lose hope. If the whole world turns against you, my soul will always be with you. Always." Moments later, her breathing slowed… and stopped. The woman who had been Luna's anchor, her only family, was gone. While Luna's world was crumbling, somewhere across the city, Alex was fighting his own battle. His secretary — whom he cared for like a younger sister — had been assaulted. Furious and determined to seek justice, he knew he had to act. And he remembered: Luna was studying law. She could help guide him toward the right lawyer, the right legal steps. He tried calling her. Once. Twice. Ten times. No answer. A gnawing worry began to take root. Luna was alone in a huge city. The only person she had for support was her grandmother… and Alex didn't know she had just passed away. Determined to find her, he went to her house. The maid opened the door. "Is Miss Luna here?" he asked urgently. The maid shook her head. "No, sir. She hasn't been home since yesterday. We tried to call her too — nothing." Alex's unease deepened. He contacted the university, hoping to track her down. The principal told him about Mrs. Jones's death… and how Luna had run out, leaving her phone behind. The principal handed him Luna's phone. Alex stared at it, feeling the weight of the situation. Where could she have gone? He decided to check Mrs. Jones's house — the same place Luna had lived. As he searched, he found something curious: Mrs. Jones's old phone. Digging through it, he discovered a hidden function — GPS tracking. And then the truth clicked. Mrs. Jones had placed a GPS tracker inside Luna's favorite black earrings — the ones she always wore. It was her way of making sure Luna was safe, especially if anything happened to her. When Alex checked the tracker's location, his heart skipped a beat. Luna was still in Bangkok… but more than a hundred kilometers away from her home. And according to the GPS, she was inside a club. His car roared to life, speeding through the night. Streetlights streaked past in blurs of gold. He called the club — no answer. His mind raced. What was Luna doing there? Was she safe? He pressed harder on the accelerator. When he finally reached the place, the real plot twist was waiting for him.