Alice was certain last night hadn’t been a dream.
Wyatt Sterling had rushed over late at night, kissed her, and spoken to her. She had even fallen asleep in his arms for the rest of the night.
All she wanted to know now was where Wyatt Sterling was, but a maid inford her, "Miss York, your Third Uncle has already left."
Disappointnt washed over Alice. "He’s already gone?"
The maid nodded and turned to leave.
Alice despised herself for feeling so lost the mont she heard he was gone. She had never truly let go of this heartless man.
The sound of hurried footsteps from behind snapped Alice out of her daze. She saw William Churchill rushing out the door with several bodyguards.
"Uncle Churchill!"
Alice called out, but William Churchill paid her no mind.
By the ti she ran outside, the car William Churchill had gotten into was already pulling away. Nearby, a butler with an anxious expression paced back and forth.
"Excuse ," Alice said, approaching the butler. "Uncle Churchill left in such a hurry. Where is he going?"
The butler turned. Seeing it was Alice, he answered politely, "The young master is missing. The master searched the entire Churchill estate and couldn’t find him. He just received word of the young master’s whereabouts and is rushing over, frantic with worry."
Alice was puzzled. "The young master... is that Kyle?"
The butler hesitated for a few seconds before nodding. "Yes, our Young Master Kyle."
Alice asked, "Then where is he?"
The butler’s expression soured. "I’m not sure myself. We won’t know until the master brings him back."
Alice didn’t press further.
Kyle Churchill was missing. It was the strangest thing she had heard since waking up.
The Kyle she rembered from their first eting was rebellious and untad, impulsive yet moody. He ran wild on the streets of Washington and was said to often stay out all night. He was a thrill-seeker; it wasn’t unusual for him to disappear for days at a ti.
’And being gone for one day counted as missing?’
’William Churchill had been so tense just now. So, the one who was truly missing... had to be the *other* Kyle, right?’
To confirm her suspicion, Alice turned back and headed for Kyle’s room.
Right now, everyone in the Churchill household was frantic over ’Kyle’s disappearance,’ so no one noticed where Alice had gone.
She found Kyle’s room without any trouble and knocked on the door. There was no answer.
She had already decided on her way over. Even if Kyle wasn’t in the room, she had to get inside and look around. It would be best if she could find so proof that there were two Kyles.
After knocking three tis with no response, she simply tried the handle.
’It wasn’t locked.’
’Perfect.’
She pushed the door open, and a thick stench of alcohol mixed with so other chaotic sll hit her so hard she almost gagged.
’What a horrible sll.’
She frowned and stepped inside. A few steps in, she froze. Her eyes widened, stunned by the scene before her.
On the ssy king-sized bed lay two naked n, tangled together intimately. The floor was littered with tissues, used condoms, and clothes...
Alice’s mind went blank.
’What was she seeing...?’
Just then, the phone in her pocket rang, startling her. When she saw one of the n on the bed stir, she quickly backed out and shut the door.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her frantic heartbeat. Pulling out her phone, she saw it was a call from Wyatt Sterling.
She walked a little distance away before answering. The man’s deep voice ca through the receiver, "What took you so long?"
Her heart still hadn’t settled. "It was on silent," she answered hoarsely. "I didn’t notice. Is there sothing you need, Third Uncle?"
"Does your throat still hurt?" Wyatt Sterling asked.
"A little."
She wondered what he was going to order her to do now, only to hear him say, "Co outside."
’Outside where?’
’She didn’t understand.’
Before she could ask, Wyatt Sterling clarified, "Julian Dalton is waiting for you outside. Co out and get in his car."
Alice froze, silent.
"Didn’t you hear ?" Wyatt pressed.
A sharp pain suddenly shot through Alice’s throat. "Are you arranging for to accompany Mr. Dalton again, Third Uncle?"
"Accompany him?" The man on the other end of the line scoffed. "You’re taking his car to co to . I’m going to show you sothing spectacular."
’See sothing spectacular?’
Although she had no idea what kind of spectacle Wyatt Sterling planned to show her, he had given the order, so she had to go.
The mont she left, a man holding a cara slipped into Kyle’s room...
...
"Looks like my little niece hasn’t been having an easy ti at the Churchill estate. You’re even hurt. No wonder Wyatt was so angry."
Julian Dalton said, tutting as he looked at the bruise on Alice’s neck.
Alice regretted rushing out without grabbing a scarf to cover it.
Hearing Julian Dalton’s words, she retorted coolly, "What would Third Uncle have to be angry about? I’ve been keeping to myself in Washington. I haven’t caused him any trouble."
"You didn’t, but soone else did." Julian Dalton leaned a little closer, his voice full of aning. "And they crossed a line with Wyatt. Made him very unhappy."
Alice knew Julian Dalton ant no harm, so she didn’t pull away. "I don’t understand what you’re saying, Mr. Dalton."
"It’s normal that you don’t understand right now. No one in your shoes would."
With that, Julian Dalton sat back and gestured to the driver. "Speed up."
Alice turned her head to look at him.
Julian Dalton let her stare, crossing his long legs. "If we’re late and my little niece misses the grand spectacle, Wyatt will get angry, and I’ll be the one paying the price."
The more she listened, the more confused Alice beca.
「A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination.」
Ahead was one of Washington’s famous bridges. Alice had passed by it before and had a vague mory of it.
The car ca to a smooth stop. Julian Dalton prompted her, "Go to the car up ahead. Wyatt is waiting for you."
Though confused, Alice got out and walked toward the car in front of them.
As she drew near, an automatic door slid open for her. Wyatt Sterling sat on the far side, holding an iPad.
From her angle, she couldn’t see what was on the screen.
"Get in."
Wyatt Sterling said.
Alice got in. As the door closed, Wyatt Sterling handed her the iPad. She took it, dazed, but didn’t look at the screen. Instead, she asked uncertainly, "Didn’t you say you were going to show sothing spectacular, Third Uncle?"
Wyatt Sterling turned his head, his expression uncharacteristically gentle. "The wind on the bridge is too strong. You shouldn’t be out in it right now. You can see it just the sa on here."
He finished speaking and glanced down, indicating she should look at the screen.
Filled with questions, Alice followed his cue and looked down at the screen.
It was a high-definition live stream.
A large crowd had gathered on the bridge. Several police cars were arriving, and officers were quickly setting up a periter. Just as Alice was trying to make sense of it all, the cara panned slowly up toward the bridge’s structure.
Soone was tied up with ropes, hanging from the bridge.
The shot was too wide. Alice couldn’t clearly make out the person’s features, but she had a sinking feeling. Wyatt Sterling wouldn’t have told her he was showing her sothing spectacular for no reason.
Just then, her premonition was confird.
As the cara zood in, she finally got a clear look at the person hanging from the bridge.
It was... Kyle...
Reviews
All reviews (0)