“Mr. Scott… still no connection whatsoever!”
Eric’s decision crystallized instantly. “We’re driving directly to Tidebourne!”
“Understood!”
“Wait!” Eric’s attention snapped to Megan as he commanded the driver, “Stop the car immediately.” His finger jabbed toward her. “You—exit now!”
“No!” Megan’s startled cry pierced the air as she clutched his arm with desperate strength, her grip unbreakable. “Wherever your path leads, I’ll follow! I refuse to be abandoned! I won’t allow it!”
“Release me!”
Eric wrenched himself from her grasp with brutal efficiency, then exited the vehicle, circled to her door, and hauled her from the car.
“I’m not going anywhere, Eric!”
“Megan!” Eric’s voice erupted in a roar as familiar pain began pounding behind his temples. “Listen carefully—I’m going to find Hadley! I love her! She’s the only woman I’ve ever truly loved in this entire lifetime! I have no time for your games! Countless attractive men exist in this world. Go pursue one of them. Would you like me to help you? I’ll arrange all the handsome companions you desire—just leave me in peace!”
With those final words, he released his grip and dove back into the vehicle. “Drive! Immediately!” he barked.
On their way to Tidebourne, Phillips finally managed to reach Tamara.
“How are things on your end?” he asked.
“Not great… Hadley’s gone missing!”
Phillips froze, the color draining from his face as he glanced at Eric, speechless. It was the one thing they hadn’t prepared for—the nightmare scenario unfolding in real time.
The training program site was located on the western outskirts of Tidebourne—unfortunately, also the epicenter of the tremor. The quake wasn’t particularly strong, so the hotel where the crew was staying emerged unscathed, with no reported casualties. But fate had other plans. The crew hadn’t been at the hotel when it struck. They had arrived around noon, barely settled in before being rushed off to their first meeting—held not at the hotel, but at a nearby residential area.
I@te$t ￠#@pter$ In g@!novel$.c0m
In theory, there should have been enough time to evacuate. But nature, relentless as ever, compounded disaster upon disaster. Just like in Srixby, Tidebourne had been drenched in continuous heavy rain. And during the tremor, that saturation proved deadly—triggering a landslide that buried the residential site.
The ruins crumbled. Some were trapped. Others were swept away.
Phillips recounted the details with a grim expression while Eric listened in silence, tension knotting his brow. He pressed his fingers against his temple, breath sharp.
“Mr. Scott…” Phillips said carefully, concern etched across his face.
Eric didn’t respond. He reached into his coat pocket, retrieved a small bottle, and shook out a pill. Phillips quickly handed him a bottle of water. Eric took the pill without a word.
“Step on it,” he said hoarsely. “Drive faster.”
.
.
.