Chapter 4

When I woke again, I found myself back in the familiar bedroom.

Ethan Miller was keeping watch beside me.

Seeing me awake, he touched my face and asked: "The doctor said your body is even weaker now, even less than the weakest Omega. You..."

He didn't finish because his phone rang.

It was Ivy calling.

He gave me an apologetic glance, stood up, and went out to take the call.

The door wasn't fully closed. Through the gap, I heard his voice.

"Ethan, I have another new idea. That abandoned obsidian mine area at the northern state border. How about you trick Ava into going there and abandon her in the next couple days?"

"Just thinking about her unable to find you in that kind of place, not daring to wander around, trapped and helpless—it seems so interesting."

Ethan Miller clearly hesitated:

"Ava just came out of the wine cellar. She's still sick. The doctor said she's very weak. Going to that kind of place... shouldn't we wait a bit?"

Ivy immediately became unhappy:

"Are you feeling bad for Ava now? I knew it. All that talk about me being your true love was a lie."

Hearing Ivy say this, Ethan Miller immediately gave in:

"How could it be a lie? I'll agree to it."

Listening to Ethan Miller's voice, my heart felt desolate.

When Ethan Miller used to love me, he'd feel bad even if I accidentally bumped into a table corner.

But now, under Ivy's arrangement, he'd made me so sick in the wine cellar, yet was about to send me to an even more dangerous place.

If that's the case, Ethan Miller, let this time become your unforgettable memory.

I synchronized the information with the death staging agency. They quickly responded.

After reading the reply, I deleted all records related to the death staging agency from my phone.

After resting for a day, Ethan Miller came to me:

"Avy, I see you've been unhappy lately and your illness is recovering slowly. How about I take you out to get some fresh air? I know a stargazing spot near an abandoned mine pit. It's especially peaceful, and the air is good."

I nodded indifferently.

Ethan had originally thought I'd be unwilling and had prepared words to coax me. He hadn't expected me to cooperate so readily.

He froze, an inexplicable unease growing in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it, smiling as he stroked my head:

"You'll like it there."

Feeling the familiar warmth on my head, I felt no joy whatsoever.

After lunch, Ethan Miller took me out.

The car headed north all the way. At red lights, Ethan Miller looked over at me several times, seeming to want to say something but stopping.

I asked him: "What's wrong?"

His gaze stopped on my still somewhat pale face. When he spoke again, he said:

"Nothing, just remembered you said you prepared a surprise for me. The date seems to be tomorrow."

Hearing this, I managed a smile:

"You still remember. Don't worry, it'll definitely be a surprise you'll like."

I was clearly smiling, but I felt my eyes growing hot and quickly turned my head.

Unease surged in Ethan Miller's heart again.

The car soon reached the abandoned obsidian mine area at the state border. Looking at the desolate landscape outside the window with its danger warning signs, my heart still stirred.

I knew about this mine area. There had been accidents here before, and the security wasn't good now either.

Ivy really knew how to pick places.

What about Ethan Miller? Did he know how dangerous it was here?

Just as I turned to look at Ethan Miller, a jarring creaking sound of metal being blown by wind came from the distance.

Hearing the sound, Ethan Miller only frowned and said:

"Avy, I think I forgot the hand warmer and blanket in the car. You look at the scenery here. I'll go back to get them. I'll be right back."

With that, he actually turned and walked back the way we came.

I watched his retreating figure as the last trace of affection for Ethan in my heart completely dissipated.

I really did stand there waiting for a while, then walked toward an abandoned vertical shaft deep in the mine area.

By the time I reached the shaft, the sun had already set.

There seemed to be suspicious figures and sounds in the distance. The wind blowing through the mine tunnels made a whimpering sound. I still hadn't seen Ethan Miller return with the items.

When the agreed time came, without thinking, I leaped toward the bottomless dark shaft.

...

When Ethan Miller drove back, the unease in his heart grew stronger.

What was that sound just now? Leaving Ava alone in that place—could she be in danger?

He tried to sense Ava's condition through the Mate Bond but found he couldn't sense Ava's presence at all.

When he reached the apartment he'd agreed on with Ivy, he pushed open the door to find several friends already there.

But he had no mood to chat with his friends. He came up and grabbed Ivy's hand:

"That mine area you picked—there's no danger there, right?"

Ivy pulled her hand back in dissatisfaction: "What danger could there be? It's just some ruins. If you're worried, go back and keep Ava company."

Ethan Miller immediately hugged Ivy to placate her.

After he'd calmed her down, he started talking with his friends again.

This was clearly something he always did, but today, Ethan Miller felt restless, as if something was about to happen.

Time moved forward minute by minute. Ethan's phone received several calls, but Ivy hung them all up for him.

"It must be Ava trying to call you for help. Don't bother with her."

Ethan didn't bother, but his heart was already full of unease.

After another urgent phone call rang, Ethan answered before Ivy could.

But the voice on the other end wasn't Ava. It was an unfamiliar male voice:

"Is this Alpha Ethan? We found your wife's belongings at the obsidian mine area and... traces of a fall into a shaft. Please come to the scene as soon as possible."