Chapter 1159:
“Impossible,” he muttered, shaking his head. “This shouldn’t have gone wrong. The wind, the trajectory — all accounted for. Even if it shifted, the backup nets were in place. Where is she, Rylie?”
He had never spoken with such raw severity. Panic had hollowed out his voice, leaving nothing but desperation. “You’re hiding her, aren’t you?” he growled, stepping toward Rylie.
Brad rose sharply, cane in hand, and blocked his path. “This isn’t Rylie’s fault. Stop shouting at her. You need to focus on what went wrong on your end.”
“I never intended for this outcome,” Rylie said evenly, stepping slightly from behind Brad. “The wind shifted unexpectedly — forty percent beyond forecasts. Canyon turbulence. Even the weather station didn’t anticipate it. The airbag was displaced fifteen meters. She went into the rapids.”
“Then find her!” Deandre’s voice cracked under the weight of it. “Search downriver! Check both banks! Mobilize every available team — now!”
C𝘩ine𝗌e 𝗇ov𝖾𝗹𝘀 𝘵𝗋𝖺𝗻𝘀𝘭𝖺𝗍𝘦𝗱 о𝗇 𝘨𝘢𝗅𝗻𝘰𝘷𝖾𝗹ѕ.𝖼𝘰m
“We’re already on it,” Lochlan replied steadily. “From the point she fell, we’ve covered twenty kilometers downstream. Teams are stationed at every possible landing zone, all equipped with drones and trained search dogs.”
Deandre staggered back slightly, his chest tightening as though a hand were slowly crushing his heart. Each breath felt thick and painful.
“No,” he muttered, his voice trembling. “This can’t be happening.”
Without another word, he called in a professional diving team, strapped on his own gear, and launched himself into the turbulent rapids below — the water surging and thrashing violently around him.
Rylie remained on the riverbank, anxiety etched across her face, her hands tightening as she watched him disappear into the frothing current.
Brad’s low voice cut through the tension beside her. “Are you thinking about whether to be honest with him?”
Rylie exhaled slowly, the weight of it pressing down on her shoulders.
“Doesn’t this all seem eerily familiar?” Brad continued, turning his gaze to her, a faint, knowing smile at the corners of his lips. “I’ve stood where he stands now — followed the same path. You can see it in him. Regret has already begun to weigh heavily on his heart.”
“Regret is a poison for which there is no remedy in this life,” Rylie said quietly.
Brad reached out and clasped her hand, his grip firm yet gentle. “And yet, you’ve given him a taste of that pain. Don’t carry guilt for it. Sometimes, one must endure the sting of loss to understand the depth of what — and who — they truly value. To learn to listen. To truly see. By the time he and Melany reunite, I believe Deandre will no longer be so recklessly obstinate.”
A quiet warmth seeped into Rylie’s chest, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly as his words settled over her like a balm.
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