Liam was up early the next morning.
Wyatt noticed the dark shadows under his eyes the moment he stepped out of his room. It was clear that Liam hadn''t slept a wink.
Wyatt started, "Liam, you..."
Before he could finish, Liam forced a small smile and quickly rubbed at his face like he was trying to stop himself from crying.
"Dr. Coleman, I''m heading out now. I''ll skip breakfast. Take care of yourself, okay? I''ll see you again."
He left in a hurry, as though he had something urgent weighing on his chest.
Wyatt stood there watching him disappear into the snowy path, the words he wanted to ask still stuck in his throat. He wanted to ask if he had seen the words on the wood que.
Back in Druville, Grace received a call from Andrea the day after Liam left.
Andrea was a mess, sobbing on the other end of the line.<fnf906> Find the newest release on Find[?]ovel</fnf906>
"Grace! Liam''s missing. I''ve been calling him, but I couldn''t reach him. He said he was going to Bensville to get you some medicine. You''re responsible for his safety. If the baby inside me is born without a father, I swear I''ll never forgive you." Grace frowned and ended the call without a word. She tried dialing Liam herself. A mechanical female voice answered on the other end, cold and emotionless.
Her heart skipped a beat. She tried calling again, several times, but it was always the same.
She told herself it was probably just bad reception. After all, it had snowed heavily two nights ago, and he was up in the mountains.
But by evening, she''d called more times than she could count. She''d also sent messages, but Liam never replied.
Grace took a deep breath, hastily shuffled through a few work obligations, and then got in her car, heading toward Bensville.
Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she froze. She figured she''d head over to Andrea''s first.
Andrea hadn''t expected her toe here first. The moment she opened the door and saw Grace standing there, her face paled.
"Grace? W-what are you doing here? Weren''t you going to look for Liam? Why haven''t you left yet?"
Andrea could act well under pressure sometimes, but most of the time, she was just sloppy.
The panic in her eyes said everything.
Grace didn''t even need to ask to know she did something. "Andrea. Do you know why I can''t get in touch with Liam?"
Andrea lowered her gaze and cradled her stomach. When faced with Grace, she couldn''t fully hide her bitterness. Her eyes brimmed with resentment.
"How would I know? What are you trying to say? That I made Liam disappear? He''s the only one I can count on right now. Why would I do anything to hurt him?"
Grace narrowed her eyes-maybe she was right.
Without another word, she turned and headed for the car.
Andrea watched her drive away, a smug smile creeping onto her face.
But as Grace sped down the road, several dozen miles out, something felt off. She was being followed.
She mmed her foot on the gas and checked the rearview mirror.
At least three cars were behind her, all keeping pace.
To get to Bensville, she''d have to pass near where Ed was staying. And right now, she was strangely grateful she''d kept his location a secret. No one knew he was living somewhere that remote.
She pulled out her phone and called him. He picked up almost immediately.
"Grace?"
"I''m being followed," she said calmly. "I''ll be at your ce in ten minutes. I''m heading there now. Do you have anything useful to fight with when I get inside?"
There was a pause. His voice dropped low. "Where are you?"
She sent her live location before she heard him chuckle quietly.
"What the hell are youughing at?" she snapped.
"I''m happy," he said simply.
"What?"
"You asked me for help. That makes me happy."
Grace rolled her eyes, but she couldn''t help the smile tugging at her lips. "You''re
my boyfriend. Who else would I ask?"
She nced at the rearview again. The cars behind her were speeding up.
"Ed, get ready."
"I''m always ready," he replied.
Grace couldn''t help butugh.