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.

managed a faint smile, “You’re right.

so painfully, tugged at Quinlyn’s heart. She moved closer, hoping

voice hoarse. “Don’t worry. I won’t be reckless like before. Grandpa is waiting for me to come back.”

lump in his throat. This version of

sitting for only a short while, they began to cry.

camping trip! Why is this happening?” one student

alive to see our parents again…”

hardship, and their faces were pale, each of them looking frailer than before

family members sat in despair, not even

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Thu, 20 Mar A

Chapter 81

some water, and then she pulled out a large thermos from her backpack.

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backpack, it was hard to imagine she’d been carrying it all

she opened the thermos, the contents were still warm.

wiped her little hands and carefully pulled out one egg at a time, passing

these?” Stanley asked, stunned by how heavy they might have

she handed them out,

egg, they curiously asked, “Why are the eggs red?”

had

beet red, clutching their eggs in shame. “You didn’t even eat last night but carried these all this way

choosing not to respond. She understood their emotions in such extreme circumstances, but she didn’t think she should be the one they vented

handed

me,” Stanley joked, cracking his egg against his forehead and then shoving the peeled egg into Quinlyn’s mouth. “You didn’t eat since last night. Are you trying

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

at them and, reluctantly, ate all three eggs. After a full day and night of exhaustion, she felt her strength returning with the

rustled aside and Bennett arrived with a few team members. Seeing the armed investigation squad, the student group

as he took in the students‘ disheveled appearance. His

my uncle… has he not been found yet?” Larry limped forward, hope in his