Chapter 3

The weather changed in an instant.

Just moments ago there were only dark clouds. In the blink of an eye, rain the size of beans came pouring down.

No wonder the sparrow said there would be a collapse. Turns out there's a rainstorm today.

The few rescue team members who stayed behind and I quickly found a temporary shelter.

The wind grew stronger, carrying the rain and beating against us at an angle. It was actually getting cold.

The sparrow also flew to the beam at the top of the shelter, shaking its wet feathers.

[It's raining hard! The cave entrance is starting to gush water!]

[The woman is crying out, saying she's cold and wants to leave.]

[The man is holding her tighter, saying it's raining heavily outside and she'll get sick if they go out. Wait a bit longer.]

Ha, how considerate.

The rain grew heavier, and the mountain roads quickly became muddy.

The squad leader who stayed behind looked at the dark sky in the distance, deeply worried.

"With such heavy rain, the mountains are very dangerous. Landslides and mudslides could happen at any time."

"I've already notified Mr. Tobias and his group, suggesting they immediately stop the rescue and take shelter nearby."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tobias's roar came through the walkie-talkie.

"Take shelter from what rain! Scared of a little rain, and you call yourselves a rescue team!"

"Andrew is still waiting for us to rescue him. Anyone who dares to stop, try it!"

"It's just getting a little wet. No one's going to die! Everyone keep searching!"

The squad leader's face changed. He shouted into the walkie-talkie:

"Mr. Tobias! This is no joke! The mountain could collapse at any time. Everyone will be in danger!"

"I'm in danger, my ass!" Tobias cursed on the other end. "If you don't find Andrew, I'll make sure none of you get away with it!"

The walkie-talkie transmitted some commotion, as if other team members were trying to persuade him.

I suppressed the smile on my lips.

Tobias, you truly are my good helper.

Less than half an hour later, Tobias returned with his team in a sorry state.

He and the search and rescue members behind him were all soaked through, covered in mud. Obviously, they found nothing at Lover's Valley and had been drenched by the rainstorm, looking like drowned rats.

Tobias's face was darker than the bottom of a pot.

As soon as he saw me sitting leisurely in the shelter, he flew into a rage.

"Didn't you say they were at Lover's Valley? Where are they!"

He rushed over in a few strides, pointing his finger at my nose and cursing:

"Now it's raining so hard, we've wasted the golden rescue time. If anything happens to Andrew, I won't let you off!"

I timidly shrank back, tears flowing at just the right moment.

"I... I only said maybe... I didn't know it would be like this..."

"You didn't know?" Tobias was shivering from the cold. "I think you did it on purpose!"

He looked at me, dry and comfortable, then at his soaked self.

Suddenly he grabbed my arm. "Stop pretending! You must know other clues! Get up! Take us to find him!"

My ankle "timely" sent a sharp pain. I screamed and my whole body went limp.

"Ah! My ankle! It hurts so much!"

"Let her go!"

The rescue captain, who had been silent all along, finally couldn't bear it anymore. He knocked Tobias's hand away.

"Mr. Tobias! Please calm down! Kristen is injured!"

Several young team members also gathered around, glaring at Tobias.

"How can you put your hands on a woman?"

"Exactly! Her husband is missing, she's injured herself. She's miserable enough. What more do you want?"

The villagers also started pointing and whispering.

"What's wrong with you? How can you treat her like this?"

"Looks decent on the outside, but has such a cruel heart."

Tobias, accused by everyone, turned red and white, but still stubbornly retorted.

"What do you all know! This is our family business!"

I huddled to the side, watching the people about to break into a fight, with only one thought in my mind.

Fight. Fight even louder.