Chapter 83
Chapter 84 Bodies in the Water
The younger man was still visibly shaken. When the wind rustled the leaves, he jumped.
73
Finished
“Hahaha, coward! What’s there to be scared of? Didn’t I make you dump one yourself last time? Still scared now p>
Yeah… scared. The admission was clearly reluctant.
“Alright, let’s go. I need to call the client and get the final payment p>
The van sped away.
Bianca, waiting anxiously at home, snatched up her phone the moment it rang. Shawn’s cheerful voice came through. “Bianca, relax. It’s done. I guarantee they’ll never bother you again.
“Shawn, thank you p>
“Don’t mention it. After last time… I owed you one. Consider it making amends. Don’t worry about a thing. Just focus on being Mrs. Jackson. I’ve got your back p>
After hanging up, Bianca’s face twisted into a smug grin. She muttered, “Don’t blame me. You were too greedy. You got in my way p>
Jasper sat in his study, staring blankly at the wedding plans. To mitigate the potential scandal of Tatiana running off, the wedding date with Bianca had been moved up significantly. It was now set for the 25th of the month – just seven days away.
Seven days.
A shadow hung over the groom–to–be. He rarely smoked, but the air in his study was thick with the lingering scent. He attributed this gnawing irritation to Tatiana’s betrayal and humiliation. She could have divorced him and then found someone else. Instead, she chose to run off with another man just before the cooling–off period ended, making a public spectacle of it. She did it deliberately.
He violently stubbed out his cigarette, stood, and left the study. As he passed the maid’s room, he paused, his gaze drawn to the door. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a familiar figure standing there. But when he looked again, there was nothing.
He clenched his fists and strode out of the manor.
A discreet black Maybach sped down the highway, eventually pulling up to the Funland Club.
1/3
11:40 Tue, Oct 28
Chapter 84 Bodies in the Water
As a valued patron, a private room was immediately prepared for him, but he declined, choosing instead a booth with the best view overlooking the bustling crowd below.
(73)
Finished
Word of Jasper’s arrival spread, and several acquaintances approached to greet him and offer drinks, only to be rebuffed. No one understood why Jasper, who typically avoided the nightlife scene, had shown up alone.
Several empty bottles littered his table, yet the irritation gnawing at him only intensified. His gaze drifted downwards. Suddenly, he sat bolt upright, eyes narrowing, scanning the crowd below until he locked onto a familiar silhouette.
The figure, the profile… it looked exactly like someone he knew.
A cold sneer touched his lips. “Tatiana. I knew you’d turn up p>
He shot to his feet and descended into the throng, pursuing the figure. With a sudden burst of speed, he grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around. “Tatiana! You p>
The words died on his lips.
“Sir? Can I help you p>
It wasn’t Tatiana. Not her at all. Just someone whose build and profile looked strikingly similar under the club’s deceptive lighting. Or perhaps, fueled by alcohol, he had simply imagined it.
The girl, flustered by the sudden attention from a handsome stranger, blushed. “My name’s not Tatiana, it’s Stacy. That’s a pretty old–fashioned way to hit on someone, handsome. We could exchange numbers first, though p>
Jasper’s expression turned to ice. “My mistake.” He turned and walked away. His pace quickened until he reached the quiet seclusion of the outdoor garden. He stopped, pulled out his phone, and made a call, forcing the words out through a tight throat:
“Find her.” ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ.net
She couldn’t humiliate him like this and just walk away. He wouldn’t let her go.
Two days later.
A group of hikers was passing by the moat. One of them knelt to wash his hands and noticed a burlap sack floating near the edge. Driven by curiosity, he pulled it open. What he saw made his
blood run cold.
“A body p>
11:40 Tue, Oct 28
Chapter 84 Bodies in the Water
Twenty minutes later, police cars swarmed the area, setting up a cordon and beginning recovery operations.
73
Finished
They pulled three burlap sacks from the water, all identical in shape and size. Inside were dismembered human remains. Through identification, two of the victims were confirmed to be Zion and Linda. The third body had been boiled, making identification impossible through conventional means.
The police tracked down Bianca to deliver the news. The shock sent her into cardiac arrest, and she was rushed to the hospital. The Lowell family was stunned, unable to believe two living people could meet such a grisly end.
Then, the police dropped an even bigger bombshell.
“Take a look at these. Do you recognize any of them?” An officer presented several photos showing bloodstained personal effects: a pale, blood–soaked hair tie, a cheap watch, and an unremarkable necklace.
They looked terribly familiar.
Lauren covered her mouth, her eyes welling up. “Th–those are Tatiana’s things… What happened to her p>
“Ma’am, are you certain p>
Xavier snatched the photos, staring intently, his face draining of color. He whispered, “That’s the necklace Tatiana always wore… Those are hers p>
120
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.