Free All the World by Rachel L. Vaughan Page A

And why was all of this happening in her apartment?
                  “Giulia,” Lexie said softly, “I can help you sneak downstairs if you want to see Theo. Don’t you want to keep this…private?”
                  Giulia’s hands tightened on the railing, a grin spreading over her face. “If Roses are so beautiful, then I should bear that name. Will you marry me, Theo?”
                  Lexie was close enough to see Theodore clutch his chest. “Giulia Dawn Terrace, nothing would make me happier than becoming your husband.”
                  Giulia giggled. “When and where? When can I renounce the name of Terrace?”
                  A car alarm startled Lexie and the star-crossed lovers. More quiet words were exchanged, but Lexie could not understand them because of the alarm. She thought there were mentions of a church and a clergyman named Lawrence Fryer.
                  “Good night, good night,” Giulia called sweetly, “a thousand times good night!”
                  “Good night until I see you tomorrow,” Theodore said before vanishing down Avon Road.
                  Lexie allowed Giulia a moment before touching her shoulder. The girl turned around with a smile.
                  “Oh, Theo and I are getting married!” she gushed.
                  Lexie forced a smile. “I saw the whole thing. You’re in my apartment.”
                  Giulia nodded. “Yes, I know. Mom and Dad took my phone and car and forbade me to leave the house. This was the only way I could see him…my fiancé! Oh, parting is such sweet sorrow! But don’t tell anyone! We want to keep it secret at the moment! Have a wonderful night, Lexie!”
                  The girl darted from the room before Lexie could say a word.
    ***
                  It was nearing midnight and Flora had yet to come home. Lexie called her several times, but there was no answer. Nickolas seemed to be away from his phone as well. She couldn’t find a phonebook and was very reluctant to search the café downstairs. She didn’t know if the Terraces had security cameras. She rummaged around the kitchen for about ten more minutes before spotting an address book.
                  Braedon might know what’s going on. Lexie found his number.
                  The phone rang several times, and she was worried that he wouldn’t pick up either.
                  “Hello?”
                  “Braedon, this is Lexie Stanley. How are you?”
                  “Oh, hey!” Braedon sounded pleased. “I’m doing pretty well. What about you?”
                  “I’m alright. It was a long day at work.”
                  “You work with Nickolas’s uncle, right?” he asked. “There was a man who had to close all his accounts because he lost his money. He made an appointment at Lindegaard Counseling and Therapy while still in the bank lobby.”
                  “Really?” Lexie wondered if the man sent to the psychiatric ward was the same one from the bank.
                  “Yeah, and the whole situation is really weird. This guy was rich and gave money to tons of charities. All of it suddenly vanished.”
                  Lexie sighed. “Well, I hope everything works out for him. Anyway, I’m calling about Flora. Have you seen her today? This morning she told me to pick up dinner, but she hasn’t come home. Flora has a ton of flowers, and they are stinking up the apartment. I tried her and Nickolas. They don’t answer.”
                  “Nickolas said Flora was staying the night with him. I saw her pulling in the driveway when I was leaving. I don’t know what the flowers are about. Nickolas didn’t send them though,” Braedon said.
                  The worry