Chapter 8
After two unsuccessful phone calls, Brook grew increasingly agitated, his eyes filled with anger. “Drive faster!” he snapped.
The driver acknowledged with a grunt, pressing the accelerator harder.
Janis nervously tugged at his sleeve. “Brook, please don’t be like this. I’m scared.”
If it had been any other time, Brook would have softened, pulling her into his arms and soothing her gently. But now, he merely glanced at her with indifference before furrowing his brow again.
A heavy sense of unease surged in his chest. Janis, looking vulnerable, asked in a soft voice, Brook, do you think something really happened to Erica? She’s always so obsessed with her looks and afraid of pain.
Brook let out a cold laugh. “You’re right. She’s fragile and scared of pain. That’s why she’s just trying to trick me again.”
Janis leaned against him, her voice quiet and delicate. “She only cares about you two so much that she lost her head. Please don’t be angry with her. It’s my fault… I can’t seem to get her to like me…”
But Brook acted like he hadn’t heard her, offering no response.
His face remained calm, but there was a storm brewing beneath the surface, as though a heavy rain was on its way.
Janis’s heart skipped a beat at the change in his demeanor. She dared not speak again.
The car made the last turn, and they reached the villa district in the southern part of the city. Brook couldn’t believe his eyes as he stepped out of the car.
It was the familiar old place, but now, all he could see was a pile of ruins.
ralone
The fire had clearly burned for a long time, and many things had been reduced to ash. The
ashes had been doused with water, seeping into the charred earth.
Amid the destruction, Alex was kneeling, his hands hanging by his side, blood dripping onto the ground.
Suddenly, Brook remembered the news he had seen on the cruise ship.
It turned out that everything his friend had said was true.
The call from the police about Erica was also real.
Brook staggered forward a few st
Brook staggered forward a few steps. He looked at Alex, whose face was pale, and whispered, ”
Chappe8
What happened? How could everything turn into this after just a few days?”
“Erica wasn’t lying to us… the house really did burn down?”
Alex suddenly stood up, his eyes bloodshot. He swung his fist and struck Brook hard across the face.
Caught off guard, Brook stumbled and fell heavily to the ground.
Janis gasped, rushing forward to help, but Brook shoved her away and began struggling with
Alex.
Soon, both of them were covered in bruises, their strength draining as they were pulled apart.
Alex collapsed onto the ground, his face gray. “Why did I believe your lies?”
“Why didn’t I answer her calls that day…?”
“If I had believed her, I would have come back in time…”
“No… Erica must still be inside. I need to go dig her out.”
Alex, seemingly frantic, crawled toward the ruins digging wildly at the rubble..
His friends begged him to stop, but Alex didn’t listen.
Brook wiped the blood from his face, stood up, and began walking away.
“They said they didn’t find a body, so Erica must still be alive.”
“She’s just angry. She set the fire on purpose to make us think she’s dead…”
Alex’s eyes suddenly flickered with hope. “Right, you’re right. Erica’s not dead. I’ll send people to find her right now….
He scrambled to his feet, stumbling toward the exit.
“Brook, brother… ah!” Janis cried out, desperate to follow.
But in her rush, she missed her step and crashed heavily into the scorched ruins.
Alex, seemingly unaware of her cry, continued on without a second glance.
Brook didn’t stop either. He instructed his assistant to take Janis to the hospital before getting into the car, without turning back.
The two cars sped off, quickly disappearing from sight.
