But just as their lips were about to meet, the abrupt ring of the phone shattered the tender atmosphere.

Rosalynn turned her head, skillfully avoiding his Lips.

"Back off. I'm suffocating."

A shadow crossed Brian's features, prompting him to consider strategies to shake off this streak of bad luck.

Was it not peculiar that each attempt to be intimate with his wife was thwarted?

Internally, he cursed and fought to quell the surge of longing within him. Rising, he strode over to fetch Rosalynn's phone from the nightstand. Seizing the phone with a scowl, his dark eyes narrowed upon seeing the caller ID.

It was Sanford!

What could possibly lead Sanford to call Rosalynn so early in the day?

With a press of a button, Brian activated the speakerphone.

"Hello?" he called out.

Rosalynn, who had propped herself up, shot him a questioning frown for answering her phone without consent. But before she could voice her objection, Sanford's voice resonated from the phone.

“Brian, is Rosalynn there? Have her pick up."

Sanford's voice conveyed urgency. Rosalynn's surprise preempted her irritation.

"Sanford, I'm here. What's the matter?"

"Rosalynn, Maggie's gone missing. Did she mention her plans to you?"

Maggie was missing?

The news struck Rosalynn silent for a moment.

"She informed me last night that she was heading to Wragos. Hasn't she returned?"

"No, she did return. But she disappeared by morning! She left a message wanting to end our relationship and pleaded with me not to search for her." Sanford's voice wavered with restrained emotion.

Stunned, Rosalynn exchanged a look of shock with Brian.