Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

The person on the other end of the line said, "Ethan, your wife and mistress are with us. If you want them alive, come alone. Don't try any tricks. If you dare call the police, you'll find their bodies at the bottom of the cliff." I gripped the steering wheel tightly and got straight to the point while driving. "How much do you want?"

To my surprise, the other side snorted, "Money? Faris doesn't need money."

They gave me an address and hung up. The address matched the location shown on my phone.

The traffic finally cleared up. I tossed my phone aside and floored the gas pedal, racing to the destination as fast as I could.

The road up the mountain was winding, but I didn't slow down at all and sped straight to the top.

There was still unmelted snow at the peak, and the cold wind was howling.

Seeing Emily and Faye tied up together at the edge of the cliff, I knew that the taut string between us had finally snapped.

That was the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life.

They were given the freedom to speak, but Emily remained silent while Faye kept begging me, pleading for me to take her away.

At that moment, I was extremely conflicted. I didn't want either of them to die. If someone had to die to atone for this, I would rather it be me.

If Faye had fallen off the cliff, I would have broken down. After losing Fiona, I can't let her follow the same fate.

For Faris, he had just lost a loved one. I couldn't determine if someone who had just experienced such a loss was rational. But I had reason to believe he wouldn't kill Emily. However, with Faye, I couldn't take that gamble.

Faye kept begging me, saying she didn't want to die like Fiona. Her pleas disturbed my thoughts, while Emily's silence had already left me in turmoil.

I knew that making that choice would break Emily's heart and leave her in despair, but it was the only choice I could make.

From the moment I made the decision to the moment I left with Faye, Emily never looked up at me. I knew that the calmer she appeared, the more desperate she felt.

Years later, I let go of all my burdens. I was no longer Ethan, and my family with Emily and our two children was my everything. I often thought back to that choice, and I believed that no matter who was in my place, it would have been a difficult decision.

Because no matter what I chose, it was wrong. I would be blamed and scorned.

But for me, maybe this was the only way for Emily and me to find a way out of a desperate situation.

I tried to keep my emotions in check, glanced at my watch, and realized the time for the Rhyns deal was coming up. I pulled out my phone to call Dennis, but it was dead.

I couldn't waste any more time, so I took Faye down the mountain, driving like a maniac.

It wasn't just because I was in a hurry, but also because of the self-loathing I felt for hurting the person I cared about the most.

Faye screamed in fear, "Ethan, slow down!"

I didn't ease up and kept driving like a madman.

The mountain was in the western suburbs, while the Rhyns deal was at a farm in the eastern suburbs, completely in the opposite direction.

I said coldly, "You begged me to take you, so if I'm going to hell, you're coming with me."

I focused on the road ahead, gripping the steering wheel tightly, and said in a deep voice.

Faye trembled and said, "Ethan, what's wrong with you? I don't want to die."

I fell silent.

When we reached the city center, I pulled over to the side of the road.

"Get out." I unlocked the car door.

Faye, still in shock, hurriedly got out of the car. "Ethan, where are you going?" she asked cautiously from outside.

I didn't answer or look at her again. I started the car and sped towards the destination.

As I neared the farm, a woman staggered towards me from a distance. When she got closer, she suddenly lunged at my car and started vomiting.

I rolled down the window, and the cold air rushed in, bringing with it the stench of vomit.

"Don't go, it's a trap!" the woman whispered, then raised her voice apologetically, stammering, "Sorry, I threw up on your car. I'll pay for the cleaning."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a few hundred-dollar bills. She placed her hand on the window, and the money slipped into my car.

She took a few steps back, and I decided against getting out. I started the car and quickly left the scene.

In the rearview mirror, I saw a man walking towards Dakato, steadying her with one hand. The man said, "Dakato, what's going on? Did you and Faris have a fight? You're drunk all by yourself?" "Don't, don't mention him to me," Dakato said and waved her hand drunkenly.

The man laughed, saying, "Looks like you two really had a fight. Come on, get inside. Don't stay out here in the cold. Faris will be worried if you get sick."

I quickly left the scene, and they became smaller and smaller shadows in the rearview mirror.

After entering the city, I found a spot to park by the roadside, rolled down the window, and started chain-smoking.

Most of the snow in the city had melted, but tonight felt exceptionally cold, like the coldest night of the winter.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

By the time I finished an entire pack of cigarettes, the passenger door opened, and Dennis got in, bringing with him a damp chill.

Dennis spoke in a low voice, "Today, they were indeed at the farm, but there was no deal. Rhyns turned it into a dinner gathering at the last minute. It seems he's starting to suspect Lonehawk. This was likely a fake tip to test Lonehawk." So, for this fake tip, I left Emily, the woman I loved most, on the mountaintop.

At that moment, I suddenly thought of Emily's extremely calm expression when I made my choice. It was the calm of a broken heart. Thinking of this, I felt a twist of pain in my heart, an indescribable ache spreading through my chest. I slumped forward, resting my forehead on the steering wheel.

Dennis continued, "Lonehawk probably didn't know they changed plans. By the time Dakato got the news, it was too late. They had the place to themselves tonight, so there was no one else there. Rhyns is a suspicious man; any stranger entering would catch his attention. Luckily, a distant relative of mine works as a cook there. When I went in, he saw me and greeted me, which helped cover for me. Not long after, there was a commotion outside, and Dakato pointed to a plate of seafood, saying it smelled fishy and had it removed. When she said that, I was standing at the kitchen door. I understood her meaning and texted everyone to retreat. I tried to call you, but your phone was dead. Luckily, you arrived a bit late. Since we didn't act tonight, Rhyns probably won't suspect Lonehawk anymore. Rhyns will likely make his move in the next couple of days; he won't drag it out for long."

Dennis spoke quietly, and I listened quietly.

"By the way, did you find Emily?" Dennis asked.

I lifted my head, leaning back in the seat with my eyes closed.

After a long while, I swallowed hard and said wearily, "I lost her."

When I opened my eyes, there was a faint mistiness, making everything in my vision a bit blurry.

"I'm sorry, it was my oversight today," Dennis said sincerely.

I shook my head lightly. "It's just as well. Emily being away from me means she's away from danger."

After a while, I calmed down, squinting at the bustling traffic outside, and said, "For the next couple of days, don't contact Lonehawk proactively. To avoid causing him trouble, wait for news from him and Dakato." After parting ways with Dennis, I drove back to the mountaintop.

But there was nothing there except broken glass, cigarette butts, and the biting wind.

Back home, I opened the door to the room filled with Emily's scent. Her nightgown was still on the bedside table.

I walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and reached for the nightgown. The silk fabric felt cold and lifeless in my hand.

Without Emily, the entire room was filled with a sense of emptiness.

I thought to myself, 'Honey, I'm sorry! I'm about to end it all soon.'

Dennis was right; Rhyns didn't drag it out. He set the deal for the next night at the same farm.

After dark, I changed clothes and tucked a handgun into my waistband.

I didn't drive my own car but waited for Dennis to pick me up. He was driving a Citroën, which didn't attract attention.

The police had also set up an ambush around the area, hoping to catch him tonight.

We stopped about 300 feet from the farm.

The deal was set for 1 AM, but Rhyns was a cunning man and might have given a false time, so we had to be prepared early. Most of the staff inside the farm had been replaced with our people, ready to act. At 11 PM, it was still noisy inside, with people singing karaoke and having a great time.

At midnight, two black cars drove past us and went straight into the farm.

I looked through the binoculars and saw a few people get out of the cars. After cautiously looking around, they went inside.

At 12:25 AM, gunshots rang out from the farm, piercing the night.

Soon, two people rushed out in a panic and sped away in one of the cars.

"It's Rhyns," Dennis said in a deep voice.

Immediately, several plainclothes officers chased after them in a police car.

"Follow them," I said.

Dennis drove, and we joined the chase.

The police fired several shots at the car ahead, and it seemed the tires were hit, causing the car to veer off the road.

I saw clearly that the people inside opened the doors and rolled out before the car even stopped, tumbling down a nearby slope.

I got out of the car and ran in the direction Rhyns had fled.

All the officers followed suit.

I shouted, "Rhyns, stop resisting and surrender!"