Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 117 Don't Compare Your Body with Mine

In the early winter dawn, under those dim streetlights, my breath was turning into little puffs of frost.

I hunched my shoulders, keeping an eye on the car creeping up.

Inside, Ethan had a cigarette dangling from his lips, looking beat and seriously stressed out.

Guess he hadn't found Faye either.

The car just slid past me without even slowing down, and I watched it disappear into the distance.

He looked so worried; maybe he didn't even see me.

I could've grabbed a cab, but nah, I hoofed it back. By the time I got to the villa, it was already pretty bright out.

Ethan's car was parked in the yard, and the villa door was wide open.

When I swapped my shoes, I noticed blisters on my feet. The pain hit hard once I stopped walking.

A bunch of car keys were tossed on the coffee table. Ethan was sprawled on the sofa, not moving an inch. Couldn't tell if he was out cold or just lost in thought, but the exhaustion on his face was real. Searching and worrying all night, no wonder he was wiped out.

I tiptoed around, not wanting to wake him, but he still opened his eyes.

His bloodshot eyes locked onto me. "Where'd you go?"

His voice was super raspy.

"I went to look for her," I said.

He didn't say anything else; just closed his eyes and stayed still.

I watched him for a bit, feeling a pang in my chest. I felt bad for his exhaustion and sad that he cared so much about another woman.

I went upstairs and started tidying up the messy room. I cleaned and put back the makeup stuff Faye had trashed, as long as it was still usable.

Maybe Faye could use them when she came back.

Right then, I really hoped we'd find her. Otherwise, Ethan's frown would never go away, and the rift between us would never heal.

After tidying up the room, I went back downstairs. Ethan was still in the same spot, like he hadn't moved at all.

I made breakfast and set it on the dining table, then called out to the sofa that breakfast was ready.

He still didn't move; his hoarse voice came. "You eat by yourself."

Staring at the steaming breakfast on the table, my eyes started to mist up.

He didn't eat, and neither did I.

long for the hot breakfast

sat down beside him. I felt like I had to

and that's why she didn't win. But I didn't. Now she's pissed at me. I didn't hit her, didn't yell at her, and didn't break anything. Do you believe me?" I tried to

silence, he just said, "Finding her is the most important thing now. Faye's only been to Starlight City twice, and that was when she was a kid. She's not familiar with this

be jealous. He was right; finding her was

with them. Also, we could check with the contestants who rehearsed with her at

must've thought I made sense because he immediately got up,

pain in my feet, I quickly changed

Ethan called Oliver and Jason, but neither had seen Faye. Finally, we went to the hotel

outside the door, and a few girls were inside. They all said they hadn't seen

the one who had eavesdropped on

squeezed through the door and grabbed

pull away, glaring

other girls looked at me in surprise, then at

grip, trying to

do you

gaze, twisting her

talking about?

know what I

she couldn't pretend

Aurora. If you had spoken up for Faye, she might have gotten the vote. But Aurora came back from the restroom and voted for Connie without hesitation. Didn't you tell her

key

You need to be responsible for your words. Have you thought about the consequences of stirring up trouble?

scared out

hadn't thought things would get this serious

with them,

to drive. He rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and looked super

I was getting more and more

call

Ethan. He said, "The police only file a report if

totally lost, with no direction

longer we waited, the worse it would get.

how many cigarettes Ethan had smoked when I looked at the mall building not far ahead and suddenly

swallowed and said, "There's something I think I should tell

intently with a hint

I briefly told him about the day Lacey and I ran into Faye at the mall and saw her spending

where her money came from and still

person notice? If we don't

printed a bunch of paper copies and got a large group of people to put them up. We went back to the villa to wait for news. Later, Oliver and Jason showed up. They asked what

cool and said, "Faye's not a kid anymore. It's not a big deal; she should be

comfort us; we all

linked to me, even though it wasn't my

seem optimistic. Ethan sat in the middle of the sofa, with Oliver and Jason on either side, while

anxiety and circled my feet to comfort me. I stood still, staring at