Chapter 114: The World Searches For Liliana

Twenty-four hours.

It had already been twenty-four hours since Liliana Sterling St. Claire disappeared.

Twenty-four hours without a single confirmed sighting, without a ransom demand and twenty-four hours without a clue.

For Chris, it felt like twenty-four years.

The temporary command center established by St. Claire Entertainment had become a hive of activity.

Maps covered the walls. Photographs were pinned to large boards. Every movement Liliana had made over the past week had been reconstructed.

Police officers came and went. Private investigators worked alongside German authorities. Interpol had officially joined the investigation.

Victor Reyes and Sarah Clifford had arrived from the Philippines only a few hours earlier.

Matthew looked exhausted. He hadn’t slept. Neither had Amanda. The daughter they had sworn to protect when her parents died was gone.

Robin continuously answered phone calls from media outlets, government officials, and business partners.

Every luxury brand that had signed Liliana immediately suspended their campaigns. Not because of contracts. But because they were worried.

Chris sat silently in front of the investigation board. He hadn’t changed clothes since yesterday. The coffee beside him had long gone cold.

Victor quietly approached him.

"You should eat."

Chris didn’t even look up.

"I’m not hungry."

Victor sighed.

"You won’t be able to help her if you collapse too."

Chris slowly clenched his fists.

"I promised her..."

His voice cracked.

"I promised I’d pick her up."

Silence filled the room.

Victor placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We’ll bring her home."

Chris nodded.

But his eyes remained fixed on the photograph pinned to the center of the board.

Liliana.

Smiling.

Completely unaware someone had been watching her for years.

The disappearance quickly became international news. Every major television network interrupted regular programming. News anchors spoke with unusually serious expressions.

"International model Liliana Sterling remains missing after disappearing yesterday in Germany."

"Authorities believe suspect Harry Finn used the alias Carl De Vera while infiltrating St. Claire Entertainment."

"Interpol has joined the investigation."

The story spread across every continent.

Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, The Middle East, and Africa.

Millions of people followed every update.

Outside police headquarters, reporters crowded together. Camera flashes lit the streets.

One journalist spoke into the microphone.

"Public concern continues to grow. We have just received confirmation that several international volunteer organizations have offered assistance in the search."

Nobody expected what happened next.

Within hours, social media exploded. Not with rumors. But with volunteers. At first, it was thousands. Then tens of thousands.

People from different countries posted online.

Airport workers, taxi drivers, hotel employees, railway staff, and restaurant owners were seen searching for Liliana. Even tourists, university students and professional photographers helped.

Everyone shared the same message.

HELP BRING LILIANA HOME.

Search groups quickly formed online..Fans translated announcements into dozens of languages. Maps were created and possible routes analyzed.

One volunteer from France wrote,

"She smiled at us during the Paris campaign. Now it’s our turn to help her."

Another from Italy posted,

"Liliana helped Chris sing while being sick because they didn’t want to disappoint us. We won’t disappoint them either."

A grandmother in Germany uploaded a short video.

"I don’t know her personally."

"But if she were my granddaughter..."

"I’d pray someone would search."

"So I will."

Within a day, the internet had transformed into the largest volunteer network Europe had seen in years.

At St. Claire Entertainment, every schedule stopped.

Robin gathered every artist.

"Effective immediately..."

He looked around the room.

"Everything is postponed."

Their concerts were postponed. The fashion shows were cancelled. The commercials were being rescheduled. Their television appearances were substituted by others. Luxury campaigns and interviews were also on hold.

Everything.

Nathan quietly nodded.

"We shouldn’t be performing."

River agreed.

"Not while Lily is missing."

Even Rhythm unanimously canceled every activity.

Hailey quietly spoke.

"We’ll help search instead."

Audrey nodded.

"Wherever we’re needed."

"Are you sure?" Emily asked.

Everyone nodded.

"We won’t be able to focus knowing Liliana is missing." Leo answered.

No one argued. There were more important things than careers.

Later that afternoon, German police officially released Harry Finn’s photograph to the public.

Not the fake Carl De Vera identity. But his real face. Black hair, black-framed glasses.

His real name.

HARRY FINN

With detailed information including his age, height, known aliases, possible disguises, and even languages spoken.

Interpol immediately distributed the bulletin across Europe.

His photos were posted in every airport, seaport, border crossings, train stations, hotels and even in car rental companies.

Every law enforcement agency received the same instruction.

Locate immediately.

Matthew stood before dozens of microphones during another press conference.

His face looked older than it had only a week ago.

He took a deep breath.

"First, I would like to thank every police officer, investigator, volunteer, and citizen helping us."

He paused.

His voice remained calm.

"But today, we are taking another step."

Robin handed him a document.

Matthew looked directly into the cameras.

"St. Claire Entertainment, together with our family..."

"...is officially announcing a reward."

The reporters immediately became silent.

Matthew continued.

"The reward is..."

He named an amount large enough to make the room collectively gasp.

"...for verified information leading directly to the safe recovery of Liliana Sterling and the arrest of Harry Finn."

The amount was extraordinary.

One reporter couldn’t help asking,

"Chairman..."

"Isn’t that too much?"

Matthew answered without hesitation.

"No. Again, for me and my wife, she is our daughter and if whatever brings her home, there is no amount too large."

The room became silent.

No one questioned him again.

Meanwhile, outside the hospital where Chris had once recovered, fans gathered once more.

This time, not to wish him well. But to pray. White ribbons covered the fences. Candles were lit after sunset. Flowers surrounded a large photograph of Liliana smiling during her Gucci campaign.

People held hands. Some quietly cried. Some prayed in silence. Others simply waited.

One little girl placed a handwritten letter beneath the photograph.

It read:

Dear Miss Lily,

Please come home soon.

Everyone misses you.

Chris needs you.

Love,

Emma

That night, Chris quietly stood alone on the balcony of the hotel. The city lights stretched endlessly before him.

Normally, he would have been texting Liliana after rehearsals. Or listening to her tell him about her latest photoshoot.

Now, only silence answered him. He slowly removed his wedding ring from the necklace he always wore.

Holding it tightly in his hand, he whispered into the cold night air.

"You waited for me for five years."

A tear finally escaped despite all his efforts.

"So this time..."

He closed his eyes.

"...I’ll wait for you."

Behind him, the search continued without stopping.

Across Europe, millions refreshed the news every few minutes. Volunteers continued walking the streets. Police continued chasing leads. Investigators continued connecting clues.

Because by now, Liliana Sterling was no longer just a missing international model.

She had become someone the world wanted to bring home.