“Never mind. Just keep investigating. Let me know the moment you have anything.”
“Got it.”
Leaving my friend’s house, I rushed to the Rocky Mountains.
By the time I arrived, night had already fallen.
I met Jessica at our agreed location.
She reported the past two weeks of searching: aside from a few animal carcasses, no body had been found at the base of the mountains.
I refused to believe it.
I stayed with them, searching for several more days.
Then my mother called, her voice urgent, not even asking where I was.
“David, you must come back tonight, no matter what.”
“What happened?”
“If you don’t come, Rachel is going to marry Mark tonight!”
I froze.
“Your father-in-law decided to marry your wife off to Mark. The wedding will be held tonight at the Green family mansion. This is your last chance to redeem yourself. If you miss it, you’ll lose her forever.”
“Why did you call that bastard? He doesn’t deserve Rachel!”
The line cut off abruptly.
“David, you’d better hurry back,” Jessica said. “We’ll keep searching.”
I nodded and drove home as fast as I could, speeding recklessly, ignoring every traffic law.
On the way, I called my friend again.
“Check Rachel’s circle of friends. Has anyone gone missing lately?”
“David, I was just about to call you. One of Rachel’s closest friends suddenly disappeared without a trace.”
“Who?”
“Sophia Lee.”
“It’s her?”
My frown eased instantly.
All the questions that had haunted me finally clicked into place.
“Good. Do me another favor—send people to…”
After giving my instructions, I hung up, went home, showered, and changed my clothes.
Meanwhile, my mother sent a dozen frantic messages urging me to hurry to the Green family mansion before it was too late.
By the time I arrived, darkness had fallen.
Just as I was about to enter, the Green family’s bodyguards shoved me back roughly.
“If you take one more step, we’ll kill you!”
“Let him in,” came Mr. Green’s voice from inside.
The guards stepped aside.
When I entered, Mr. Green glared at me, his eyes sharp as nails, pinning me in place.
“You bastard. What are you doing here? Regret it now? Want Rachel back?”
“Too late. Trash like you doesn’t deserve her!”
But my reaction was not what he expected.
I shook my head slightly and said calmly:
“I came to give her my blessing.”
“Don’t you dare talk in that mocking tone!”
Mrs. Green stormed over.
“My daughter deserves a man like Mark—someone responsible—not worthless scum like you!”
“A responsible man?”
I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
“What are you laughing at, you bastard?”
Uncle Mike strode over, a baseball bat in his hand—the same one he had used to break my rib two days ago.
“Brother, why did you let this piece of trash in?”
“He said he came to give his blessing to Rachel.”
“Ha! You must really have a death wish.”
Uncle Mike raised the bat, his face twisted with rage, ready to strike me down—
At the last moment, Mr. Green blocked him.
“Why are you stopping me, brother? This trash abandoned Rachel, and you still want to protect him?”
