CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144: BETTER IF SHE CAN’T BE FOUND

Melody Thorne put down the phone to turn on the car’s air conditioning, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other adjusting the temperature, slowing the car to a crawl. Just as she got the temperature right and focused on driving, the car suddenly stopped, all power cut off.

The cold air from outside rushed in,

Melody looked down, thinking Jared Quinn’s car shouldn’t have such issues, only to find it had run out of gas.

She had been driving for days, including that race, without refueling, and she hadn’t even thought about it.

Melody thought of calling Hans Montrose, but it was so late, he was probably asleep. Besides, she was almost there, the rain wasn’t heavy, at most it would take her five minutes to run there from here.

She got out of the car, took a spare umbrella, and started walking, choosing the path closest to the old mansion. Melody walked quickly.

A car sped past her, splattering mud all over her.

As she got closer, a sharp pain suddenly struck her stomach, growing more intense, slowing her steps. Beads of sweat covered her forehead, and her face turned pale.

She crouched down, regretting eating all those crabs.

"Melody Thorne," a thunderous voice came from not far ahead, louder than the thunder itself.

Melody’s body trembled; she looked up, seeing the tall figure rushing through the rain, all too familiar to her. The faint streetlight elongated his silhouette, the menacing aura mixing with the rain.

"Melody Thorne," Jared Quinn strode quickly, his car driving faster, so he reached the old mansion first, but that damn woman still hadn’t shown up!

The man’s perpetually cold voice carried a hint of urgency.

He knew how to be anxious? That was a first.

The more anxious he was, the more Melody stayed crouched, refusing to stand, making him worry a bit longer.

Serves him right,

it would be best if he couldn’t find her!

She wickedly eyed the billboard nearby, wanting to hide behind it so Jared would keep looking for her. With that thought, Melody moved over, sitting in front of a store, umbrella in hand, watching the man anxiously searching for her.

"Melody Thorne!" Jared was going crazy because of that little woman,

frenzied and furious as he searched for her.

Melody observed gleefully, hand on her stomach, never before had seeing Jared Quinn anxious been so satisfying.

Just as Jared was about to stride away, he suddenly stopped, turning to look behind him...

In front of the store, a small figure sat quietly under an umbrella, head peeking out, watching him intently.

Damn, upon seeing her, Jared thought he’d be storming over in anger, but the emptiness in his heart felt filled instead.

"You saw me earlier?" Jared walked over in large strides, fury surging in his chest.

Melody propped her chin up with one hand, staying silent, looking at the man before her as if he were an idiot. Of course, she had seen him earlier, she’d been watching for a while.

Catching her small gaze, Jared’s brow twitched, and he reached out to pull her up.

"Ugh..." Melody covered her lower abdomen with her hand, the pain worsening, her face turning ghastly.

Hearing her pained exclamation, Jared finally noticed her whole body was cold, her clothes soaked and muddy, the ground at her feet stained red, it was blood.

Her foot was bleeding; she must have stepped on something sharp just now.