Fake heiress Real heroine

Chapter 81

Chapter 81

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The relentless sounds of gunfire echoed through the woods, signaling the enemy’s position and pushing Quinlyn and the others to run forward.

Quinlyn and Stanley each gripped Larry’s arm as they moved, but the group fell into a heavy silence, each person weighed down as if their feet were stuck in mud.

The Hill family members had red–rimmed eyes, the gravity of their situation showing. Then they hit a snag a landslide had blocked their path ahead.

“What do we do? They’re going to catch up!” A student, who had just been complaining about their exhaustion, began to panic like a fly in a hot pan.

There was no choice; they had to take a detour. The slope was steep, and the earth was too loose. They trudged slowly around the back of the mountain, and by mid–afternoon, they were still deep in the terrain.

At this point, even Stanley and Larry were struggling to keep going. Quinlyn led them to a clearing to rest and checked in with the walkie–talkie to confirm their search progress. “Ivan, did you find Michael?”

Static crackled through the speaker before Ivan’s voice came through. “No, the landslide is pretty bad. Our progress is really slow. Bennett is on his way to find you. We’re trying to catch up.”

The thunderstorm had wreaked havoc, nearly destroying the whole mountain.

Quinlyn bit her lip. “Any news on Michael?”

There was a long pause before Ivan replied, “No.”

That answer sank her heart. She instinctively glanced at Larry, who had his head down, a gloom settling over him once

more.

She moved back beside him.

“No news?” Larry turned to look at her, his eyes still puffy.

Quinlyn usually spoke her mind directly, but she didn’t want to give a definitive answer now. Instead, she whispered, “He only fired four shots; there’s still hope.” If it had been a last stand, Michael would’ve emptied the magazine.

faint smile, “You’re right. I can’t give

so painfully, tugged at Quinlyn’s heart. She

hair, his voice hoarse. “Don’t worry. I won’t be reckless like before. Grandpa is waiting

a lump in his throat. This version of

for only a short

Why

make it out alive to see our parents again…” cried

were all the pride of their families; none had ever faced such hardship, and their faces were pale, each of them looking frailer than

sat in despair, not

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Chapter 81

asked Stanley to distribute some water, and then she pulled out a large

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Given her enormous backpack, it was hard to imagine she’d

the contents were still warm.

little hands and carefully pulled out one

stunned by how heavy they

for me yesterday.” As she handed them out, her small hands were soon stained red

someone accepted an egg, they curiously

for a moment, recalling what Elowyn had said. “To calm fears and

carried these all this way for us. How could we say those things about you… I’m really, really sorry.” By the end of their apologies,

She understood their emotions in such extreme circumstances, but she didn’t think she should be

and Larry, she handed

joked, cracking his egg against his forehead and then shoving the peeled egg into Quinlyn’s

his own egg and gave it to Quinlyn, his gaze softening. “We’re older; we can deal with

reluctantly, ate all three eggs. After a full day and night of exhaustion, she felt her

about to continue their journey, the bushes rustled aside and Bennett arrived with a few team members. Seeing the armed investigation squad, the

voice as he took in the students‘ disheveled appearance. His

yet?”