Before Stella could process the situation, the kidnapper angrily hurled the phone into the river. "You lying bitch! How dare you trick me?!"Stella panicked. "I didn't lie to you! I wouldn't dare to deceive you when you're holding him hostage!"Vermont was still on his way. The approaching vehicle was clearly not him.'We're in the middle of nowhere. Who would venture here in the dead of night? Could it be that the police had tracked our location?'As the vehicle drew nearer, the kidnapper grew increasingly agitated. He held onto Keegan tightly, and his hands were trembling. It was evident he was terrified that the approaching car might belong to law enforcement.Keegan had lost a lot of blood at that point. He was ghastly pale and barely able to stand on his own.Stella's heart ached for him. She feared that the kidnapper might impulsively push Keegan off the bridge. "I swear I didn't lie to you! Please release him. He's too injured to escape. Use me as your hostage. Please..."
Landon froze. He instinctively refused to accept the fact his ex-wife was only trying to help him. "That's impossible!"Tears welled up in the woman's eyes. "Why didn't you just ask me when you saw us together? Why would you rather believe those so-called friends of yours than your own wife?! I didn't divorce you because I was in love with someone else. I divorced you because you changed!"A hint of confusion flashed across Landon's face. It took a while before he mumbled, "Could it really be my fault?"Marshall gave the woman a subtle nod. She took a deep breath and softened her tone. "Let's leave the past behind. Stop hurting innocent people. Let them go, and I'll go home with you."Landon was taken aback. "Are you really willing to come home with me?" he asked in a low voice.The woman concealed her fear and nodded. "Of course."Landon stared at his ex-wife for a few seconds, as though he was evaluating the truth behind her words. Suspense was hanging in the air. After a momen
Keegan was also swept about six feet away by the current.With determined effort, Stella swam over and grabbed ahold of his collar.It was impossible for them to communicate in the water. Moreover, it was extremely difficult for Stella to support the weight of an adult male like Keegan alone. She strived to keep both their faces above water as they followed the current, trying to find a way to save themselves.Fortunately, luck seemed to be on her side. It was not long before she came across a branch floating in the river. With Keegan in her arms, Stella struggled toward the floating piece of wood. In the end, they managed to grab ahold of it and catch their breath."Keegan..." Stella's voice quivered. She held back her tears and called out urgently, "Keegan, don't close your eyes! Stay awake! I can't do this alone. Hold onto the branch, and I'll support you. We'll climb up together."Keegan coughed out some water. His body was weakened by his injuries and the cold. Nevertheless,
Keegan closed his mouth and remained silent. Both he and Stella were conserving what little strength they had left in the freezing night. Stella was drained of energy. Her lips were turning into a bluish hue from the cold. Her mind was starting to blur, but she clung to the branch with sheer determination.All of a sudden, a noise echoed from the shore. Stella snapped back to reality and said, "Keegan, they're here! They're here!"She turned her head, but the person behind her had vanished without her noticing.The bitter cold seemed to intensify. Stella's face grew even paler, as she shouted Keegan's name into the empty stretch of water. Yet, all that met her cries was the relentless sound of the flowing river.Stella released her grip on the branch, intending to swim away. However, she discovered that she was tethered to the branch. Before letting go, Keegan had mustered the last ounces of his strength to secure her in place with a belt. Even if she was weak, the belt would provi
"Is there any chance he's still alive?" Felicity's voice trembled, as she asked.Vermont didn't know what to say. Although he was adept at comforting others, he did not feel as optimistic as usual at that moment. The odds of Keegan surviving that night were slim. First, he did not know how to swim. And, secondly, the conditions of the water were nearly impossible to swim in, especially while injured.The body of the man who had plunged off the bridge with Keegan was recovered the next afternoon. Yet, there was still no news about Keegan.Vermont let out a sigh. "No news might just be good news. Stella didn't suffer any severe injuries when she jumped into the water. But she's been unconscious for a long time. Meanwhile, Marshall told us that Keegan was heavily injured. It's possible that someone saved him, but he's still out due to his injuries."Felicity's face turned pale. "What will Stella do when she wakes up?" she asked.For the past few days, Stella had been in and out of fe
"What's that?" Felicity asked."It's commonly known as facial blindness. It's a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. This means that the perpetrator can't distinguish people, especially strangers. So, he would rely on people's clothing, body shape, and voice to identify them. His previous doctor said he developed this condition because of a tumor in his brain. This all started after he got surgery to remove the tumor," explained Vermont.He continued, "The police have checked with his family, friends, and colleagues. He indeed had this condition. And, because he couldn't recognize faces, he became paranoid and developed a peculiar personality. He even developed bipolar disorder. Due to this, he wasn't prosecuted after the assault but was sent to a mental hospital instead."His ex-wife and friends mentioned that his temperament was unpredictable. He was intensely possessive, especially after falling ill. He would suspect that he was being cheated o
Marshall picked up on Felicity's change in demeanor. He lowered his gaze and asked, "How's Stella doing?""Her fever has subsided, but she hasn't regained consciousness yet," Vermont replied, as he assessed Kayla's presence.Marshall noticed his gaze and clarified, "Ms. Wilson got wind of Stella's situation and wanted to visit her. She got in touch with me, and I gave her a lift since I was on my way here."Vermont nodded. "Please come in, Ms. Wilson."Kayla stepped in while carrying a gift.Meanwhile, Felicity was meticulously tending to Stella's hands with a towel. When she saw Kayla approaching, she nodded at her in acknowledgment before resuming her task.Stella was on the hospital bed, looking pale. Her cheeks seemed slightly sunken, and her features looked sharp. Her current appearance was quite different from the perpetually cheerful and eloquent young woman they knew.After hearing the entire story from her father, Kayla could not fathom just how deeply Stella loved Keeg
Marshall was taken aback by Felicity's remark. He felt guilty and murmured, "There's no doubt that my actions have led to what happened here, but I really didn't foresee that taking on this case would lead to such consequences..."Felicity felt even more frustrated upon hearing that. "What do you mean you didn't foresee this? You literally took on a divorce case. Are you telling me you didn't know about the condition that your client's husband was suffering from? Did you not know what kind of person he was? How many years have you been in this profession? Do you just charge into cases with only passion? It's fine if you don't fear for your life, but don't let your actions drag others into it! How dare you claim you never saw this coming when someone is unconscious while the other is nowhere to be found? You will have blood on your hands if Keegan is found dead!"Marshall's face darkened, as he listened to Felicity's harsh words.Vermont thought that Felicity had gone a bit too far a