Chapter 1

My husband Andrew and my best friend Andy went to the mountains to find inspiration for his new art exhibition, and they both went missing.

The rescue team was conducting a carpet search through the forest, and I had cried while running from one end of the mountain to the other.

Suddenly, a sparrow landed on a branch by my shoulder, tilting its head and chirping:

[Oh my! My eyes! Two humans naked and kissing each other, don't even know the cave is about to collapse.]

I froze. So this is what they meant by "finding inspiration"?

I immediately wiped away my tears, rushed to the rescue captain, and clutched my ankle with a pained expression:

"Captain! I twisted my ankle."

"Captain, my ankle... it hurts so much..."

The rescue captain was a dark-skinned middle-aged man. Seeing me collapse to the ground, he hurried over to help me up.

"Kristen, don't panic. Let me check your injury first."

He crouched down and gently touched my ankle. I immediately exaggerated with a sharp hiss, scrunching up my face.

"No, I can't move it at all. It feels like needles stabbing me when I move!"

The captain frowned deeply.

"If it hurts this badly, it might be a serious soft tissue injury. You can't walk anymore."

He turned to his team member and ordered, "Paul, escort Kristen down the mountain first and find her a place to rest."

My heart sank. Go down the mountain? How could that work?

I needed to stay here to make sure that cheating pair got buried good and deep.

I grabbed the captain's arm and shook my head, crying.

"No! I won't go down the mountain! Andrew hasn't been found yet. How can I leave!"

"I'll wait right here! I'm not going anywhere!"

My sincere appearance moved all the rescue team members and several kind-hearted villagers present.

"What a devoted wife. She's injured but still worried about her husband."

"Yeah, such a loving girl."

The captain couldn't persuade me otherwise, so he had someone find me a flat rock to sit on and brought over a first aid kit for simple treatment.

While pretending to groan in pain, I used the corner of my eye to survey my surroundings.

Perfect. This position gave me a clear view of the main route leading to that dangerous mountain area.

The forest here was dense and rarely visited by people.

From earlier until now, apart from our group, we hadn't seen a single soul.

As long as I delayed long enough, once the cave collapsed...

A sharp sound of brakes screeched through the air.

A brand new Maybach roughly stopped by the mountain road. The car door opened, and Andrew's brother Tobias jumped out.

Andrew had bought him this car with my money. We'd even fought about it.

Tobias had posted on Twitter subtly accusing me of being stingy.

Tobias immediately spotted me surrounded by the crowd and rushed over in a few strides.

"Kristen! Why are you sitting here? Where's Andrew? Have you found him?"

I lifted my red, swollen eyes and pointed at my ankle. "I twisted my ankle..."

He raised his voice in disgust. "What's the big deal about a twisted ankle?"

"Andrew's life or death is uncertain, and you can't even put in more effort? All these people are searching, and here you are, taking a break!"

Everyone around was stunned. The rescue captain's face darkened.

Tobias completely ignored everyone's stares and barked orders at the rescue captain.

"What the hell are you all doing? It's been so long and you still haven't found anyone!"

"Let me tell you, Andrew is the breadwinner of our family! If anything happens to him, can you afford the responsibility?"

Seeing no one paying attention to him, he started with the moral blackmail.

"Now that Andrew is missing, I'm his only family member!"

"I'm ordering you, right now, immediately, increase the search and rescue efforts! No one is allowed to rest!"

That self-righteous look on his face made my stomach churn.

However, his timing was perfect. I needed someone to take the blame.