Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 423

Chapter 423

Exhausted, Josiah stumbled as he stepped out of the narrow wooden hut, nearly tripping over the threshold.

"Mr. Evans." A bodyguard swiftly reached out to steady Josiah, eyes scanning his pallid, grim face with concern. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine..." Josiah shook his head, then suddenly turned to the bodyguards

flanking him. "Why are you all standing here? Go find him."

"Mr. Evans, we have to protect you," one bodyguard said.

"Do I need it?" Josiah asked angrily, his gaze filled with sarcasm.

"Get out there and find Conner."

"Mr. Evans..." The bodyguards were hesitant.

"Go now," Josiah instructed.

"Yes, sir." The bodyguards exchanged glances but ultimately obeyed Josiah's orders, swiftly scattering in all directions.

After shouting himself hoarse, Josiah felt a sharp pain throbbing in his temples. He raised a hand to rub his temple, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

The mountain had no streetlights, and the recent rain had left the paths muddy and treacherous. The longer they delayed, the worse things would get.

One more person searching meant one more ray of hope. Josiah gripped his flashlight tightly and plunged into the search himself.

The sounds of voices faded into the distance, and only the steady beam of his flashlight illuminated the path ahead. Josiah glanced at his phone from time to time, afraid of missing any incoming calls or messages.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Josiah's feet gave way! He thought, 'Damn it!' By the time he realized what was happening, it was already too late. His center of gravity plummeted, and his entire body plunged downward in free fall.

"Ethan, help," Josiah's pupils shrank as he shouted.

However, the descent was too rapid. Josiah's cry was swallowed by the abyss along with him.

"Ugh." As his body tumbled down, scraping against jagged rocks, Josiah gritted his teeth and let out a muffled groan. His flashlight had long been lost. He was now engulfed in an endless void.

it for me?' "Ah," Josiah screamed.

to a sudden halt. The pain was excruciating, enough to make him momentarily shut his eyes, his breath coming in ragged

away slick with something warm and wet-blood. The sharp, metallic scent of it filled his

against his clothes to rid himself of the sticky dampness. He then reached into his pocket, looking for his phone. He needed to

have been flung away when I fell. Perhaps it's nearby?' All that remained in Josiah's pocket

fallen off a cliff, but no cliff was this shallow. The place looked

is this? Wait!' Just as Josiah's hand had withdrawn, he moved back again. That dark shadow earlier resembled a person. Josiah directed its glow toward the murky silhouette after flicking the lighter off,

seems to be a person. In this deep mountain, could it be... Conner?' His throat tightened. A wave of emotion surged through him as he struggled to his feet.

up from the wound on his left leg, a sharp, blinding agony

Josiah forced himself to endure it, shoving the pain aside as he rushed toward the shadowy figure on

reached out and flipped

tightly shut. He was still wearing a hospital

hoarse with urgency. As the realization hit him, a surge of emotion welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over. "Thank God!" He had found Conner. That meant Joyce could

his tears. He reached out to help Conner up and patted his face. "Wake

wasn't looking good. Conner had been given sedatives, and then he had

no guarantee that Conner is faring any better. I could stay here and wait for Ethan to bring reinforcements,

I can't sit

his feet. He wondered, 'But what next?' Josiah struck the lighter and continued to survey his surroundings. The tunnel stretched endlessly ahead, an eerie Wind rushing toward them. He had his suspicions-this must be some kind of underground passage. And if there was wind, there had

in tow, turning back was impossible. Their only option was to

his jacket and tossed it onto the ground where he had fallen earlier. If Ethan and his men arrived and saw

Josiah winced, a muffled groan escaping his lips as his knee nearly buckled beneath him. He barely

have been a

the flesh of Josiah's left leg now.

steadied himself. Then, he took

to Conner,

up here

escaping, of going back to save Joyce, weren't you? Right..." Josiah trailed off

Conner saving Joyce had nothing to do with Josiah, Joyce was

However, Conner remained unresponsive.

crept into

voice. "Conner, show some

are you

is waiting for you

around them, picking up