Grace wasn''t about to let Ed get his way, not with everything going on. She gently pushed him off, smoothed out her clothes, and stood up.


    "I''m leaving," she said.


    Ed didn''t try to stop her. He just sat there obediently, nodding like the well- behaved partner he was trying to be.


    Grace''s preferences in men had always been unconventional. She never thought strength had to mean dominance. A man like Ed, who needed her protection, wasn''t a deal-breaker-it was almostforting.


    She left the house and got in her car, entering Bensville''s location into the GPS.


    It was a long drive. Along the way, she munched on a couple of crackers to keep herself going.


    When she arrived, her first stop was Wyatt''s ce. He was outside in the yard, digging through herbs. When he looked up and saw her, there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes-then recognition.


    "You must be Grace, right?" he questioned.


    She wasn''t entirely sure how she''d found the ce. If it weren''t for asking locals along the way, she''d have missed it.


    Grace gave a polite nod. "Yes. My brother Liam came here recently to pick up some alternative medicine. His phone''s been off, and I''m getting worried. Is he still here?"


    "He left," Wyatt said.


    "Do you know where he went?" Grace asked.


    Wyatt pointed out the way. Grace turned back toward her car, ready to chase after him, when Wyatt suddenly called out behind her. "Grace."


    She turned, looking back with clear concern. "Yes?"


    Wyatt set the medicine down beside him. "I''ve got something that''s good for strengthening the body. Take it with you. Cook it with chicken."


    "Thank you," Grace said sincerely. "I''m sorry I didn''t bring a gift. I came in a hurry."


    Wyatt disappeared into his house and returned carrying arge jar, packed to the top with herbs. It looked heavy and valuable.


    Grace hesitated. In the modern world, wild herbs like this were expensive. She instinctively pulled out her phone to transfer money.


    But Wyatt reached out, took her wrist, and checked her pulse. Then he sighed and said, "No need. Just take it."


    Grace could feel he was holding something back-there was more he wanted to say. But she didn''t push the matter further.


    She returned to her car and was about to drive off when she saw Wyatt again, now standing in the snow outside the window.


    He looked like he''d been standing there forever.


    He said quietly, "Grace, even if you don''t have time to make the soup, don''t throw


    out the jar. The medicine inside canst for years."


    She nodded immediately. "Don''t worry, sir. I won''t waste it."


    Wyatt finally seemed reassured and turned to head back inside.


    Grace opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but she couldn''t<fn81a6> Th?s chapter is updated by FιndNovel</fn81a6>


    remember her history with him. She had no idea what to say.


    So, she simply drove off.


    She followed the direction he gave for two hours without finding Liam. Then, on a deste stretch of road, she spotted something troubling-deep drag marks that looked like something heavy had tumbled down a slope.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    She jumped out of the car and ran to the edge.


    The hill was steep, and she couldn''t see the bottom.


    She had no choice but to go on foot. As she descended, she called out loudly, "Liam!"


    This ce was over eight hours from Druville, and it was freezing. If something had happened to him, she''d never forgive herself.


    The snow was thick, and every step was a battle. She hiked for over an hour before she finally saw it—a mangled, half-buried car wreck in the snow. It looked like it had just barely made it here beforepletely giving out.


    Grace rushed to the vehicle, peering through the shattered window. But no one was inside.


    She let out a breath of relief-but now came the harder part.


    She scanned the area, trying to find any trace of him.


    That was when it started to snow heavily again.


    Thick kes piled fast. In an hour, this road could bepletely blocked. If she


    didn''t turn around soon, she might not be able to drive out of here.


    Still, she called out again.


    "Liam!"


    She called his name as she kept pushing forward.


    The trees around her were thick and wild-no signs of houses, no civilization.


    Why the hell had Liam driven this far into nowhere?


    After another 30 minutes of struggling through the cold, she finally saw a cave. Smoke was curling out of the entrance.


    She rushed toward it and stepped inside.


    And there Liam was-sitting silently by a fire, looking perfectly fine.


    Grace''s heart, already pounding from anxiety, now spiked with sheer anger. She''d been shouting his name loud enough to shake the mountains. And he''d just been sitting there the whole time?


    Was he being serious right now?