Shattered Dreams Find Light by Niro Dane Frost 30

Shattered Dreams Find Light by Niro Dane Frost 30 Summary

In Chapter 30 of *Shattered Dreams Find Light*, Carter experiences a wave of unease as he meets Simone, who is visibly anxious after a troubling encounter with her friend Jasmine. The tension escalates as Simone reveals that Jasmine is missing, and Carter, feeling a deep concern for her, reassures her while trying to gather information. Their connection deepens as he takes charge of the situation, calling his cousin Trevor for help, showcasing both his protective instincts and growing feelings for Simone.

As they wait for news about Jasmine, the atmosphere shifts from anxiety to a tentative camaraderie during their drive to Garner Brown. Carter attempts to lighten the mood with humor, but the weight of their respective pasts lingers in the air. Simone’s formality in addressing Carter highlights the boundaries set by their professional relationship, yet there are moments of intimacy that hint at a deeper bond forming amidst the chaos.

Once at Garner Brown, their brief respite is interrupted by a phone call from Trevor, bringing urgent news about Jasmine. The tension escalates as Carter learns that a more serious threat looms in his professional life with the arrival of Mr. Wil-Douglas at the office. This revelation intensifies the urgency of their situation, intertwining Simone’s personal crisis with Carter’s professional challenges, forcing both characters to confront their vulnerabilities and the complexities of their feelings for each other.

The chapter concludes with a sense of foreboding as Carter prepares to face the challenges ahead. The shared experience of fear and uncertainty draws him and Simone closer, yet the specter of his unresolved issues threatens to shatter the fragile bond they have begun to forge. Both characters stand at a crossroads, grappling with their shattered dreams while finding solace in their connection, hinting at the potential for new beginnings amidst the chaos.

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**Title: Shattered Dreams Find Light by Niro Dane Frost**

**Chapter 30**

As Carter stepped out of his car, a wave of unease washed over him, akin to the sudden chill that precedes a storm. The air felt thick, laden with unspoken fears and worries that seemed to cling to him like a heavy fog.

There, by the curb, stood Simone, her eyes glued to her phone, her body tense and rigid. The sight of her, so visibly anxious, sent a jolt of concern racing through his heart. What had happened during her meeting with Veronica? Was it possible that something had gone terribly wrong?

“Hey,” he called out softly, his voice barely breaking the silence that enveloped them.

When she finally lifted her gaze, the worry etched across her brow and the flicker of anxiety in her warm brown eyes struck him like a physical blow.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” he pressed, his concern spilling over into his words.

“My friend… we were supposed to meet…” she stammered, her words tumbling out in a rush as she began to pace anxiously. “She’s… not…”

Carter instinctively placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, feeling a shiver run through him at the contact, but he fought to keep his composure.

“Take a deep breath, Simone. Just talk to me,” he urged gently, his tone a soothing balm against her rising panic.

She inhaled deeply, her breath shaky, before she handed him her phone, her hands trembling slightly.

He accepted the device, his heart racing as he glanced at the message lighting up the screen.

“Jasmine? Your friend?” he asked, piecing together the fragments of her distress.

“Yes,” she affirmed with a nod, her voice quavering. “We were supposed to meet today.”

He reread the message, confusion swirling in his mind. “Are you sure it’s real? Like she won’t be…” he hesitated, not wanting to further upset her.

“Absolutely,” she replied firmly, a spark of determination igniting in her voice. “We had it planned for five PM.”

Carter glanced at his watch, the seconds ticking away ominously, each one amplifying the urgency of their situation. “Okay. Have you received any calls?”

She shook her head, her expression darkening, fear creeping into her features.

“Have you called her?” he pressed, his worry deepening as the gravity of the situation settled around them.

“Yes, she’s not answering,” she admitted, her voice cracking under the weight of her anxiety.

“Hey,” he murmured again, reaching out to touch her arm, his voice low and steady. “We’ll find her. Call her again.”

Simone nodded, her resolve wavering as she dialed once more. She bit her lip, her fist clenching tightly as she awaited a response. After several attempts, her shoulders sagged in defeat.

“No answer,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with despair.

“Take it easy,” he reassured her softly, his heart aching for her. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Gratitude flickered in her eyes as she nodded, and he could see the trust she placed in him, a fragile thread binding them together in this moment of crisis.

He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed Trevor. His cousin answered almost immediately, his voice casual yet alert.

“Sup?”

“Hey, Trevor, I need your detective skills. Simone’s friend might have been kidnapped,” Carter said, urgency threading through his voice, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on him.

“Shit, when?” Trevor’s tone shifted, concern evident in his words.

“We’re not entirely sure yet,” Carter replied, glancing at Simone, who was still visibly shaken. “But she just got a text message?”

“Alright, I’ll call Detective Liam and get back to you,” Trevor said, his voice steady and reassuring, a lifeline amidst the chaos.

“Thanks, cous. I’ll be waiting for your call.” Carter ended the conversation, his heart racing as he turned to Simone.

“What did he say?” she asked, her eyes wide with anticipation, hope flickering in her expression.

“We’ll have to wait,” he replied, scanning the area around them. Her apartment still sat empty, and he felt an overwhelming urge to move, to escape the risk of being seen by his neighbors.

“Do you want to go somewhere else while we wait?” he suggested, hoping to ease her troubled mind.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her tone unexpectedly formal, as if she were addressing a superior.

The sting of her politeness hit him harder than he expected, but he was relieved that she trusted him enough to follow his lead. He opened the car door for her, sliding in after she did.

“Take us to Garner Brown,” he instructed Rex, their driver.

“Yes, boss,” Rex replied, starting the engine with a smooth hum.

Simone turned to him, her expression softening as they settled into the car. “Thank you, Mr. Wilde.”

“Carter,” he corrected with a smile, hoping to lighten the mood. “No need for formalities, please.” He placed his hand gently on hers, seeking a connection amidst the tension.

She allowed the touch for just a moment before pulling away, her voice firm. “You’re my boss; I have to respect you.”

The rejection stung more than he cared to admit, but he plastered on a smile, trying to mask the disappointment that gnawed at him. He should have grown accustomed to this by now, yet it still hurt.

His thoughts drifted back to the previous night, to the moment when she hadn’t opened her door, and his chest tightened at the memory.

What had he truly expected to achieve by going there?

“Technically, my mother hired you,” he said lightly, attempting to shift the focus away from his emotions.

“But I’m working for you,” she countered, her stubbornness shining through, a spark of defiance that he admired.

“Fine,” he relented, unwilling to engage in a debate that would only lead to frustration.

An awkward silence enveloped them until she broke it, “I have those questions ready.”

“About time,” he muttered, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.

If she heard his tone, she chose to ignore it.

Before long, Rex pulled up to Garner Brown. “We’re here.”

“Thanks, Rex,” Carter replied, stepping out of the car. He held the door wide, but Simone had already exited from the other side, her determination palpable.

A flicker of annoyance sparked within him, but he kept his thoughts to himself as he led the way inside.

Garner Brown was renowned as one of the finest dining establishments in town. Alongside their exquisite menu, the promise of privacy was an enticing feature that offered a brief escape from the turmoil outside.

They were ushered to a private chamber, and just as they settled into their seats, Carter’s phone rang, disrupting the moment. It was Trevor.

“Hey,” he answered, his heart racing, anticipation thrumming in his veins.

“Can I speak to Simone? Detective wants to talk to you,” Trevor said, urgency lacing his tone.

Carter passed the phone to Simone, who looked surprised but accepted it without hesitation, her resolve hardening.

He leaned back, listening intently as she recounted the events to Trevor, her voice steady despite the anxiety that hung in the air. When she finished, she handed the phone back to him.

“Thanks,” she said, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and relief. “Trevor is on it.”

“I hope they find her soon,” Carter sighed, just as a waitress approached their table, her presence a welcome distraction. “Just water for me.”

“Same,” Simone echoed, her smile brightening the dim atmosphere, a flicker of warmth amidst the uncertainty. Once the waitress departed, she turned her attention back to him. “Is this how you guys do things?”

He frowned, puzzled by her question. “Who?”

Her blush deepened, a hint of shyness creeping in. “Sorry, I just thought since you and Trevor had…”

“Oh, that,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “I apologize again for you having to witness that. Trevor and I are good; when he gets drunk, he tends to act up.”

“Okay,” she whispered, her expression softening, the tension easing slightly.

“Not that he said anything wrong, his delivery is just a bit off,” he added, trying to reassure her, to bridge the gap between them.

Simone raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “So everything he said was true?”

He laughed quietly, aware of her inquisitive nature—she was a journalist after all, always seeking the truth.

“Yes,” he admitted, studying her reaction. “Including the part about Alexa.”

Her lack of surprise intrigued him, and he felt a pull to share more, even though he knew he shouldn’t.

“We got into an arrangement… five years ago,” he began cautiously, his voice low as he chose his words carefully. “It was…” he paused, contemplating whether to reveal the complexities surrounding his father’s clause.

“It’s okay,” she encouraged, her smile warming him, breaking through his defenses. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”

But he did want to. He didn’t want her to think he was flirting with her while still being tied to someone else.

“Well,” he started again, folding his arms as he gathered his thoughts. “It was fake; I needed something, and her father needed something. Our mothers were friends, so it made sense at the time.”

His mind wandered to his engagement party, and for the first time in ages, he thought of the lady in red. Her face had faded from his memory, but he hoped she was faring better than he was.

“An arrangement. Got it,” she said, nodding as she processed the information, her understanding deepening.

An awkward silence settled between them until he murmured, “It’s a little complicated.”

“I get it,” she replied, her understanding evident, a connection forming in the shared vulnerability of their truths.

There was no way to delve deeper without discussing the mess that was Alexa, and he wasn’t ready for that conversation now.

“It’s complicated,” he reiterated just as the waitress returned with their water, breaking the tension momentarily.

“So what’s the deal with Gwen and Trevor?” Simone asked, taking a sip from her glass, her curiosity unabated.

He chuckled, the question catching him off guard, a lightness breaking through the heaviness of the day.

She frowned, her curiosity unwavering. “What?”

“Nothing, just funny how interested you are in my rather mundane family dynamics,” he replied with a smirk.

“If I’m going to work with you guys, I might as well know you all,” she shrugged, her demeanor earnest, a hint of determination in her voice.

“Fair enough,” he conceded. “Gwen and Mark have been together for quite some time, and as you might expect, Trevor despises it. He still does.”

“Uh-huh.” She sipped again, her mind clearly working through the implications, her eyes bright with interest.

He found himself wanting to elaborate, to impress her with more details, but he held back, aware of the complexities that lay beneath the surface.

Instead, he reached for his glass, taking a sip to steady his thoughts, to anchor himself amidst the chaos. “I know you think we’re strange… it’s—”

“You don’t have to explain, Mr. Wilde,” she interrupted gently, her voice soothing, yet firm. “I get you perfectly.”

Her formality grated on him, but he nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating her attempt to understand.

After a brief pause, she stood, determination etched in her posture. “I think I should get back.”

“Sure,” he replied quickly, masking the disappointment that bubbled within him as he paid for their drinks. He followed her out of Garner Brown, the weight of the situation hanging heavily in the air, a palpable tension lingering between them.

Just as he opened the car door for her, his phone rang again. He reached for it as Simone slid inside, her expression a mix of concern and anticipation.

It was Nicole on the other end.

“Hello, Nicole.”

“Hello, Mr. Wilde…” she said, her voice laced with urgency, a hint of panic creeping in. “We have a… situation.”

Carter’s stomach dropped, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach, a sense of foreboding washing over him. “What kind of situation?”

“Mr. Wil-Douglas is here. In the office.”

Carter’s jaw clenched, anger coursing through him like wildfire, igniting a flame of determination.

“I’m on my way.”

**Conclusion**

As Carter and Simone navigated the tumultuous emotions of the day, the weight of uncertainty hung heavily between them. The urgency of finding Jasmine had transformed into a shared experience that drew them closer, yet the undercurrents of their personal struggles remained palpable, a delicate dance of vulnerability and resilience. Carter’s determination to protect Simone and his growing feelings for her battled against the barriers of professionalism and his complicated past. The moments they shared in the car, filled with tentative laughter and lingering touches, hinted at a connection that neither could fully acknowledge, yet both desperately craved.

As they arrived at Garner Brown, the sanctuary of their private chamber offered a brief respite, but the looming presence of his unresolved issues with Nicole and the specter of his engagement to Alexa threatened to shatter the fragile bond they had begun to forge.

In the face of adversity, both Carter and Simone found themselves at a crossroads. The urgency of the situation forced them to confront their vulnerabilities, revealing layers of strength they had yet to fully acknowledge. Simone’s trust in Carter became a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, while Carter’s desire to protect her ignited a flicker of courage within him. As he prepared to face the challenges ahead, the weight of his past began to shift, allowing for the possibility of a new beginning. They were two souls intertwined in a moment of crisis, each grappling with their own shattered dreams, yet finding solace in the light of their shared journey. With the shadows of their pasts looming, they stood on the precipice of something profound, ready to embrace whatever lay ahead, together.

**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**

In the next chapter of *Shattered Dreams Find Light*, readers can expect the tension to escalate as Carter faces an unexpected confrontation with Mr. Wil-Douglas at the office. The stakes are higher than ever, and the simmering anxieties surrounding Simone’s missing friend will intertwine with the looming threat posed by Wil-Douglas. Will Carter be able to navigate the complexities of his professional life while simultaneously addressing the urgent personal crisis at hand? The pressure is mounting, and every decision he makes could have far-reaching consequences.

Simone’s role will also evolve as she steps into a more active part in the unfolding drama. With her friend’s safety on the line, her determination to uncover the truth will push her boundaries, forcing her to confront not just the external threats but also the emotional turmoil brewing between her and Carter. Their relationship, already fraught with tension and unspoken feelings, will be tested as they grapple with their fears and uncertainties. Will they find the strength to support each other in the face of adversity, or will the weight of their circumstances drive a wedge between them?

As the chapter unfolds, expect revelations that will challenge Carter’s understanding of loyalty and trust, while Simone’s investigative instincts may lead her to uncover secrets that could change everything. The intertwining paths of personal and professional conflict promise to create a gripping narrative, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to discover what lies ahead.

Conclusion

In the aftermath of the tumultuous day, Carter and Simone found themselves standing at the crossroads of their lives, each grappling with the weight of their fears and the flickering embers of hope that had ignited between them. The urgency to find Jasmine had forged an unexpected bond, a fragile connection that pulsed with unspoken emotions and unacknowledged desires. Carter’s instinct to protect Simone, coupled with her unwavering trust in him, illuminated a path through the darkness of their respective pasts. The moments they shared—filled with tentative laughter and fleeting touches—hinted at a deeper understanding that both longed to embrace, yet hesitated to claim fully.

As the shadows of their pasts loomed larger with the impending confrontation with Mr. Wil-Douglas, the stakes grew ever higher. The sanctuary of Garner Brown had offered a brief respite, yet the looming crisis threatened to fracture the delicate bond they had begun to build. With Simone’s determination to uncover the truth about her friend and Carter’s struggle to reconcile his complicated history, they stood united in their vulnerability. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a transformative journey, where shattered dreams could either bind them together or drive them apart. As they prepared to face the challenges ahead, the possibility of a new beginning shimmered on the horizon, igniting the hope that perhaps, together, they could find the light amidst the chaos.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

In the upcoming chapter of *Shattered Dreams Find Light*, readers can anticipate a whirlwind of emotions as Carter confronts Mr. Wil-Douglas in a tense showdown at the office. The stakes are raised significantly, with the urgency of Jasmine’s disappearance weighing heavily on both Carter and Simone. As Carter grapples with the implications of this unexpected encounter, the tension will escalate, forcing him to navigate a precarious balance between his professional responsibilities and his growing feelings for Simone. Will he be able to protect her while confronting the ghosts of his past, or will the confrontation unravel everything he has fought to build?

Simone’s character will take center stage as she transforms from a passive participant to an active force in the search for Jasmine. Her determination to uncover the truth will lead her into uncharted territory, challenging her to step beyond her comfort zone. As she delves deeper into the mystery, the emotional stakes will rise, testing her bond with Carter. The unspoken feelings simmering between them will be put to the test, as the pressures of the situation force them to confront their vulnerabilities. Will their connection deepen amidst the chaos, or will the weight of their circumstances drive them apart just when they need each other the most?

As the chapter unfolds, expect startling revelations that will not only challenge Carter’s loyalties but also illuminate hidden truths about Simone’s past. The intertwining threads of their lives will come to a head, promising a gripping narrative filled with suspense, emotional depth, and unexpected twists. Readers will be left breathless, eagerly awaiting the next turn in their journey as they navigate the shadows of their shattered dreams in search of the light that lies ahead.