?Chapter 1096:


    Two names surged into Jarrod’s thoughts at once—his little sister, Rosanna, and Maia.


    “Yes… I need to contact them right away.” Jarrod’s voice trembled with a desperate kind of relief as he fumbled for his phone, clinging to the thought like it was his final lifeline.


    Before he could press the first button, the ranger’s voice cut in, halting his movement. “Oh, almost forgot. I brought you a phone.”


    Confusion flickered across Jarrod’s face as he lowered his gaze, startled by the interruption.<fn06c9> Find the newest release on find?novel</fn06c9>


    In his hand, the ranger ced a phone, its screen cracked and edges scorched, and Jarrod instantly recognized it as Richard’s.


    “It died right after I finished the call with you and couldn’t be turned back on,” the ranger said, leaning his chin on one hand as if reying the scene in his head. “Still, I managed to check the call history just before it went dark. The timing lines up with the ident. Looks like your father was on the phone while driving, probably distracted. Rain makes these cases all toomon.” With a dismissive shrug, he added, “Maybe track down the person he was talking to—you might get some answers.”


    The words struck Jarrod like a blow, and his voice cracked as he raised his head. “You mean… my father was on a call right before the crash? Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? Who was he speaking to?” His tone erupted, sharp and uncontrolled.


    “It only came back to me when I saw you reaching for your phone. And give me some credit—it wasn’t easy dragging your parents out in the middle of a storm.” His hands spread wide in frustration.


    Already, he regretted offering Jarrod so much detail, especially when this young man showed nothing but hostility toward him, who had saved two lives.


    “Please, tell me who was on the call with my father.” Jarrod’s voice was raw, his eyes burning red as he cut off the ranger’s rambling, consumed only by the need for answers.


    “Alright, but this is thest thing I’ll say,” the ranger said, his tone sharp with impatience. “The name on that log was ‘Maia.’ That’s it. You’ve heard everything I know.”


    Pressing his lips together, he hesitated, then added as if something else had resurfaced in his mind. “One more thing—the authorities already ruled it an ident. A truck driver even reported your father before the crash, iming he was driving recklessly on the mountain road and nearly caused a collision.”


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    “What name did you just say? Maia?” Jarrod’s voice cracked as his eyes locked on the ranger, his expression twisted between disbelief and fear.


    All the other words the man had spoken blurred into nothing, his mind clinging only to that one name.


    “Tell me you’re certain! Are you saying thest person my father spoke to before the crash was Maia?”


    The ranger gave a weary shrug, his tone t. “That’s what the log showed—’Maia.’ If you need the rest of the story, ask the police. I only happened to be there when I pulled them out.”


    Turning his back without hesitation, the ranger walked away, no longer carrying the pride of a savior but the heaviness of wanting to be done with it all. Jarrod remained frozen in ce, hisplexion drained as he fought to contain the storm surging inside him.


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