CHAPTER 186: CHAPTER 186: RUSHED BACK

Vera steadied her staggering body, looked up, her brows filled with frustration, "Ian Kane! What do you want?!"

He wanted her to stay, he wanted her forgiveness, he wanted her to turn back!

But he couldn’t utter these words.

To say them would be to grovel, to humiliate himself.

Once, when Ian Kane was a stranger to Vera, he could whisper sweet nothings, play the victim, kneel to coax her, morally manipulate her...

But after his true self was utterly exposed to her, what remained was only a bare, unguarded self in front of her.

And the only way to keep face while being that vulnerable was a facade of pride.

The air was stagnant, their eyes met, she glaring, he gazing, the corners of his eyes gradually turning red...

Ultimately, Ian Kane gave in, slowly releasing his grip, raising his wrist to show her his watch, "In the dead of night, still the Ghost Festival, there’s nowhere around here, are you planning to go and see ghosts?"

Vera choked.

On the way here, she recognized this as the mountainous area of Tristone, the villa hidden deep in the mountains, with the famous Caelan Lake to the north of the mountain.

If she went out now, she couldn’t even hail a car.

Ian Kane walked to the coffee table, his back to her, "Sit down and eat."

Vera’s tone was calm, "I’ll ask Owen to pick me up, give me back my phone."

She just wanted to leave.

Ian Kane’s jaw tightened, he turned and sat down, slightly tilting his chin, glancing at her a short distance away, "Your phone was thrown into the lake by Justin!"

Vera, "..."

Under the light, the man appeared calm, as if he wasn’t lying.

She clenched her teeth, "Please lend me your phone for a moment!"

Ian Kane’s gaze locked on her, and he said in a light voice, "No."

Vera clenched her hands tightly, turned decisively, walked to the door, opened it, and quickly went downstairs.

Before she reached the first floor, a few thugs playing cards in the hall saw her and immediately stood up to block the stairs.

"Move!" she snapped coldly.

The thugs were unsure if Ian Kane let her go or if she had escaped. They feared offending her, yet were also afraid of letting her go, exchanging uncertain glances.

"Where are you going in the middle of the night?"

"It’s dangerous around here at night; wild boars and wolves roam the mountains... Who knows if there’s someone hiding there intending to harm you!"

Vera remained unfazed, "Move aside!"

Still, none of them seemed inclined to move aside.

At this moment, Ian Kane appeared by the railing on the second floor.

Looking down from above, the man said in a deep voice, "Let her go."

They immediately cleared the way.

Without hesitation, Vera went down the stairs without looking back, directly walking out of the villa.

The autumn mountain wind immediately hit her with a chill, sending a shiver through her. She did not pause, did not look back, her slender form resolutely stepping into the pitch-black night.

Ian Kane watched in the direction her figure disappeared, his fingertips almost embedding into the wooden railing, his nails turning white.

Frozen for a few seconds, he suddenly turned and went down the stairs, "Prepare the car."

...

In the desolate night, a blood moon hung high, casting its glow on the nearby towering peaks, like restless spirits.

Vera walked alone along the mountain road, with no phone, and no cars or people in sight.

The mountain wind swept past the treetops, making a wailing sound, each whisper sending chills down her spine, as if countless eyes watched her in the dark.

She couldn’t help but recall the man in a raincoat who suddenly emerged at the cemetery earlier that day, instinctively tightening her suit jacket, her fingertips ice-cold.

Only now did she feel the fear after the fact.

A vague hope rose in her heart, perhaps Noah Grant realized she was missing and was rushing back from Bernheim to find her?

Or maybe, Owen had definitely reported to the police, and they were searching for her.

Taking several deep breaths, she quickened her pace.

At this moment, lights appeared behind her. Vera turned around with joy, but in the glaring light, she glimpsed the Rolls Royce "R" emblem and the numbers "622," her heart that had just lifted suddenly sank again.

She could only turn around and continue to walk forward.

Not long after, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed clearly from a short distance behind her.

She did not turn her head.

Under the moonlight, Ian Kane followed at a steady pace, not too fast, draping a long trench coat over his shoulders. The faint glow of a cigarette flickered between his fingers.

The flame engraved itself in his deep, dark pupils, reflecting no warmth.

She did not know how long she walked, blisters already forming on her soles, every step like stepping on pins.

The stiff shoe edge repeatedly rubbed against her heels, and the seeping blood stuck to her stockings.

Her pace inevitably slowed, each step laden with heavy pain.

The night deepened; it should be past midnight by now. Her injured feet worried her about tomorrow’s finals.

Vera’s brows furrowed, her mind filled with anxiety.

Seeing her stumbling, Ian Kane’s brows knitted tightly as he strode forward, "Vera, get in the car!"

Vera did not respond, biting her lip and continuing forward.

Ian Kane stepped forward with two large strides, grabbed her arm, his voice simmering with anger, "Do you want to ruin your feet?"

Vera fiercely shook him off, her determined silhouette silently telling him that she would rather ruin these valuable feet than have any more ties with him!

Ian Kane felt as if his heart had been twisted by a knife, his chest heaving violently, his last thread of sanity snapped. He rushed forward, scooped her up in his arms.

Her feet suddenly suspended in mid-air, the world spinning. Vera was shocked, then struggled fiercely in his arms.

Ignoring her kicks and punches, Ian Kane firmly carried her to the car!

"Back to the villa!"

Closing the car door, he coldly instructed the driver.

Vera shrank back, avoiding his touch, her clear eyes glaring at him, "Ian Kane, I’ll charge you with kidnapping!"

In the dim light, Ian Kane paused for a moment, then in an instant, his long arm swept her into his embrace.

"Fine." He lowered his head, his hot breath on her ear and neck, his voice deep and cold, "Then I might as well make the charge stick. You can accuse me of one more—"

Vera tensed all over.

The next second, his presence engulfed her.

...

Meanwhile, at Ardendale International Airport.

Noah Grant, looking travel-worn, moved swiftly through the VIP passage, phone pressed to his ear, jawline tense.

"Confirmed the last signal disappeared in the mountain area?" His voice was cold and deep, revealing no emotion.

The oppressive aura around him intimidated the bodyguards meeting him, leaving them afraid to utter a word.

"Yes, Noah. The police search has made no progress yet... The mountain area is quite vast." On the other end, Owen’s tone was serious.

"Additionally, I’ve received information that Ian Kane also returned from Valdania tonight. I suspect it’s his doing."

Upon hearing this, Noah paused, his long fingers tightening around the phone, his dark eyes fixed intently on a point. After a while, he replied to Owen.

As soon as he hung up, he immediately dialed another number: "Nicholas Grant, deploy a task force for me..."