My spirit was on a mission to find Max, but a trip to the hospital left me empty-handed. I had no clue where he lived. So, without much thought, I drifted back to the vi where ude and I had exchanged vows, the Silverwood Estate. When I first saw the term "meteor shower," I thought ude had chosen this ce for our wedding because of his fascination with the stars.


    Initially, I believed it was just a matter of him adjusting to being my husband, that deep down, he still harbored feelings for me. But all those illusions shattered one morning.


    Kate came knocking on ude''s door early in the day.


    Our rooms were close, so I overheard her excitement.


    "ude, there''s a meteor shower tonight. You can finally use that telescope you bought. I just love watching shooting stars."


    Frozen in bed, I realized then that all of ude''s affections were for Kate, never for me.


    Facing the words "meteor shower," my spirit felt a burning sensation in my eyes, like I was about to cry, even though I didn''t have a physical form to do so.


    Entering the garden, I heard Kate and ude setting up the telescope,menting the possibility of not seeing the meteor shower.


    "I''m so bummed we might miss it," Kate said.


    Ever so doting, udeforted her, "We''ll see them. Be patient."


    Their world seemed unperturbed by my missing, their minds preupied with celestial events.


    As Kate cooed, her phone rang. A nce at the caller ID made her panic, and she silenced the call quickly.


    "What''s wrong?" ude asked, noticing Kate''s flustered state.


    "Just some scam call," Kate replied, shaking it off.


    ude didn''t press further, their attention returning to the stars.


    A momentter, Kate typed a quick message on her phone, turning to ude My brother wants me home tonight. It''s not right to stay over every day before we''re officially family."


    ude held her hand without suspicion, "I''ve been too eager. I''ve missed out on so many years with you."


    Kate leaned on ude''s shoulder and abruptly announced her departure, "I should go. It''s gettingte."


    "I''ll drive you," ude offered.


    "No need!" It was the first time Kate had ever refused ude. Quickly, she backtracked, "Or, you could drive me. That''s fine." Another message buzzed her phone, and she didn''t have the guts to check it.


    Upon reaching the Goodwin


    Mansion with ude, I spotted Scar Man''s car parked not too far off. Shocked, I covered my mouth. Was


    it


    ate who had arranged for Scar


    Man to kidnap me?


    toFindNovelBelonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Kate, too, saw the car, her body tensing at the thought of ude driving any closer, possibly recognizing the faces inside.


    She clung to ude. "There''s something I''ve been hiding. Can we pull over so I can tell you?"


    Worried for Kate, udeplied, "What''s wrong? Have I been too focused on finding ire to notice something''s bothering you?"


    Tears streamed down Kate''s face. "Do you see that car up ahead? It''s been following me. I''ve been too scared to go home, only doing so tonight because my brother insisted." ude''s gaze turned icy toward Scar Man''s vehicle. "I''ll take you home first."


    I knew ude well enough to tell he was scheming how to handle these creeps, figuring out ways to get Scar Man thrown in jail.


    But why was Scar Man following Kate? Confused, I watched ude''s car enter the Goodwin Mansion, and Scar Man''s vehicle drove off.


    Fearing for Max''s safety, I followed Scar Man''s car, which returned to a cabin and settled into silence, lighting a fire and boiling water.


    The cabin, the scene of my initial


    crime, filled me with dread. It was there where the viins had stripped me of my valuables, including a bracelet my parents had left me, carelessly thrown on a wooden table. My wedding ring, which they couldn''t remove, was brutally cut off during one of my escape attempts.