Facade of Love

Chapter 313 Maxwell Digs Up the Past

“Zip it!” I fired back, whirling around to shoot daggers at Maxwell with my eyes. “Push me further, and I swear I’ll make you regret it.

He threw his hands up, feigning shock as he clutched his heart. “You’re terrifying, you know that? Here I have been, pining away for you, and you’re ready to tear out my tongue. They say there’s nothing scarier than a girl who’s been crossed.”

Words failed me, and the hall was eerily quiet. Slumping into the couch, I shot him a look.” When did you come back?”

He plopped down in the armchair beside me, his skin sun–kissed and his grin as charming as ever. “Just got here. What’s with the cold shoulder? This is not exactly the welcome I was hoping for.”

I ignored his joking around and cut to the chase, “What were you snooping around for in Lorrell?”

He stiffened for a moment, then put on a grave face and clamped his mouth shut, “Nothing…” “Maxwell,” I insisted, my tone unwavering, “It’s been barely a month since we last saw each other, and you are already shutting me out?”

you getting at? Stop

a

you dig up in Lorrell?” I

breath and then hit me with it. “My parents‘ death years back was no accident.” My heart did a somersault. Deep down, I had always

mean it wasn’t just some

disaster ten years ago? It happened because they dug too greedily

on his face, wondering just how much he had figured out. I pressed him, “Look, it’s been a decade. Everyone was convinced it was just the earth doing its thing, that those caves were natural. How can you be so certain the

been some mining action a while back, but that was over ten years ago. Nature was usually a champ at bouncing back–it should have been all green and lively again. Time had ticked on, yet it was still a dead zone. Plants could not seem to take root, and the creeks were still a mess. This kind of mess has over–mining written all

kept silent, biting back my words. Mr. Zachary had let the cat out of the bag about the past. Old man Young had stripped Snakehead Mountain bare, hauling away anything he could get his hands on. Now, it is likely just a barren wasteland. If the lifelong locals had

had dedicated everything to uncovering its secrets.

his voice so low it was almost lost, “They’ve all bought into the ‘natural disaster story, but if this wasn’t an act of Mother Nature, then we’re talking about a crime. And if it is a crime, then those responsible should not be out there