The third point of view

He had run like crazy, Niklaus didn't know what happened next but all he recalled was the fact he abandoned all of the projects at hand and took a flight home.

He had seen the news on his phone, it wasn't hard to find; it was all over the internet.

"A controversial actress who goes by the name Maya Octavia has reportedly fallen off a bridge during a faceoff with anger fans. A search and rescue operation is ongoing and though her body has not been found as at the time of the report, the police are investigating for an indication of foul play or that she had taken her own life,"

Niklaus didn't stay to hear the rest of the news, he had heard enough. There was no way Maya would have taken her life, it was absurd. The Maya he knew was a stubborn, strong woman who never buckled under pressure.

This wasn't the first time she had had scandals and none had knocked her down. So why now? Why would Maya give up now, especially now she had their child?

The thought of his child made anxiety grip his heart like steel iron. It wouldn't have been a surprise if he had gone crazy at that moment

But Something was fishy, the timing was too coincidental. Why would such a scandal come out just after a day he left? There was no doubt that Tina or his father had a hand in this or both were in cahoots.

They should pray nothing happens to Maya or his child else he would bring down hell on them. Father or not, he had crossed the line and he would pay for that.

"Sir Niklaus," Lucas called after him as soon as they landed at the airport.

"You're wearing the wrong shoes!" Lucas pointed out the fact he had worn his shoes wrongly plus the buttons on his shirt too.

But Niklaus was far gone, he wasn't interested in his haggard state. His hair was messy with deep dark circles around his eye- he hardly slept a wink last night.

The moment he saw that news, he had ordered the pilot back and the journey home began notwithstanding his tired gaze,

All that mattered was finding his unborn child and his mother.

Lucas had already made arrangements so when he had stepped down from the jet, a car was already waiting for him.

"Sir, perhaps you should take a small bite," Micheal, his chauffeur, handed a paper bag to him.

The smell of mouthwatering food wafted into his nose but Niklaus couldn't stomach it. His alimentary canal was knotted from anxiety.

"I can't," he refused right away.

"You haven't taken anything since yesterday and that was a long ride from Country B plus the fact you haven't shut your eyes for a minute, "His chauffeur complained.

"Just drive," Niklaus said. The only thing that could calm him down was seeing Maya safe in his arms.

Niklaus tried to think positive but the evidence was fairly conclusive and pointing to the assumption that Maya was dead. According to the information, there had been current in the river last night and the bottom of the Nillan River was steep.

Niklaus couldn't tell if Maya was a good swimmer since he never asked and the occasion never called for it. But the report from the search was suggesting that the water might have been too

strong for her last night and she tired out and drowned and was swept away by the current.

Hours after the report, the search for her had begun last night but the obscurity of the dark had made it hard.

Yet Niklaus chose to have faith, he wouldn't give up until he saw her body and confirmed with his eyes that.

Niklaus already had the fans who cornered Maya into that situation arrested - they would all pay for what they did to her.

The moment they arrived, Niklaus didn't even wait for Micheal to park properly and was out of the car.

The police had secured the area with their do- not- cross yellow duct tape but Niklaus tossed it aside amid watching spectators.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be in there," an officer hollered.

"Where is your deputy?" He questioned fiercely.

The officer was flabbergasted, "I don't know what's up with you but you need to leave or I'll have arrested for messing up a crime scene," was his threat.

"Where the fucking hell is your deputy?!" Niklaus treated his words like air.

The officer suspecting Niklaus to be high on drugs tried to incapacitate him but was shocked when he ended up being manhandled instead.

"You just assaulted an officer of the law," he stated, amid his painful moans. The officer was just about to speak into his walkie-talkie and call for reinforcement when he saw more of his people coming in their direction.

"You're in trouble now," he grinned at Niklaus who let go of him," Now, not only would be charged for tampering with a crime scene, you'd charges for assaulting a police officer and I bet you're high on something; your life is finished" thinking about it made the officer sneer at that fool.

But he was mystified when his partners set their sight on Niklaus, ignoring him. What the fuck.

"We are so sorry for the inconveniences," one of them bowed to Niklaus who grumbled a reply.

"Where is he?"

"He's down the river for the search," he answered.

"Take me to him,"

" Of course sir,"

"Wait a minute, " the officer who had shamed him rose to his feet but Niklaus had no time for him and had already taken his leave.

"What are you doing?" His fellow policeman held him back.

His expression was livid, "Didn't you just see what he did -"

"Unless you want a death sentence, I'd advise you not to go there," the other policeman cautioned him.

Of course, the officer wasn't dumb. That man must have power else his mates wouldn't have respected him to that extent. Unlike what the public thought, even the security forces could be controlled by a powerful figure.

Niklaus was led down the river shore where the search was ongoing with full force; helicopters were scouring the area with citizens being held off.

"You're welcome, sir Niklaus" The deputy sheriff enveloped his hand in a firm handshake.

"What are the results?" Niklaus went straight to the point.

"So far, our divers and teams are searching the area with sonar equipment but haven't come up with anything," he explained.

"Then search harder," Niklaus hissed.

"We are doing our best here and are putting every available resource into this search. But so far, I don't think this woman has a high chance of surviving, the current here is no joke," the deputy confessed.

Niklaus' heart skipped a beat but he refused to give up until he saw her body, that notion kept him going.

"What are you trying to say?" His eyes narrowed.

"We started this massive search from last night, yet there's no trace of her. I'm suggesting we switch this rescue operation to a "search and recovery operation' what do you say?" The sheriff proposed.

Niklaus' face darkened," So you're saying that I should accept the fact that the mother of my child is dead?"

The deputy was taken aback, the mother of my child? It was no wonder, all had been put into this search. Helicopters, sniffer dogs, divers, submarine vehicles with cameras, you name it.

The sheriff lowered his shade," I'm so sorry-"

"Your sorry is useless in this situation but your hard work might give her a chance to survive," Niklaus said harshly.

The deputy sheriff didn't say anything, he understood the reason for Niklaus' hostility. He would be the same if he was in his shoe.

"Fine, we would expand the search and hang onto the fact that her body had somehow swept to shore,"

"That's a lot comforting," Niklaus knew that was a blatant lie but he needed positivity right now. He wasn't going to admit that he had just lost two loved ones- Maya and his child.

That news would devastate him, it would crush him. He wasn't going to acknowledge it yet until he saw the evidence. Maya must be somewhere.

Niklaus looked up that period and saw Eden with his assistant, talking to one of the police officers, and anger like no other coursed through him.

He strode towards them and before Eden could sense the impending danger, a powerful punch that knocked him to the ground met his face.

"This is all your fault!" He roared, pushing aside the police officer who tried to hold him back. He would kill Eden today.

Eden shook out the stars from his eyes, he never saw that one coming. He felt a metallic taste in his mouth and spat out blood, he saw red.

With a feral growl, he lunged at Niklaus and tackled him to the ground and they began to roll.