Chapter 505
The driver nodded, his plain, honest demeanor raising no suspicion. It wasn’t until the truck rumbled up to the kitchen door that the sound reached the ears of a woman confined in the dormitory.
She rose from the floor and stared blankly through the window. The truck’s headlights were off. Its doors opened from the middle, and several men unloaded a massive iron cage. In the dim light, the contents weren’t clear — only the faint gleam of silver against the rhythmic movement of brown fur. The cage was hauled away into the forest.
Rylie came down from the hillside as Melany arrived at the camp. They exchanged a few words about Dottie’s injury before heading to their respective rooms.
Connie shared a tent with Zaylee. When she returned, she found Zaylee curled up, silently weeping. The other classmates were nearly done setting up their tents, but their spot was still bare. Zaylee’s unwillingness to help irritated Connie, but with her family’s business aiming to enter the “Nexus Future” high-end business district, she forced herself to comfort Zaylee.
“It’s alright, Zaylee. I’ve already warned Rylie not to touch what’s yours,” Connie said, slipping an arm around her. “If she had any sense, she wouldn’t get between you and Admiral Morgan.”
Zaylee lifted her red-rimmed eyes. “Really? Then what did Rylie say in reply?”
Connie thought of Rylie’s defiant attitude and felt her anger spike. “She had the audacity to say she’s not afraid of Admiral Morgan — and dared him to bankrupt her family!”
“She really said that?” Zaylee asked.
“Of course.” Connie’s snort was sharp. “What right does she have to be so arrogant? Her parents still rely on the Morgan family’s three-hundred-million-dollar business district to survive.”
“What business district?” Zaylee frowned.
The question caught Connie off guard. “Your mom didn’t tell you? At the last gathering, my mom mentioned it to her directly.”
“My mom doesn’t really talk to me about that stuff. She just wants me to focus on school.” Zaylee’s stomach tightened. She had hired an actress to play her mother, who disappeared after that dinner. Had something happened without her knowing?
Connie’s tone softened. “Your mom agreed with mine and the other moms that we’d all get a spot when the business district opens. She’s so kind.”
She hugged Zaylee again. “If she can agree to this, she must have Admiral Morgan’s backing. He’s still looking out for you, so why not accept his proposal?”
Zaylee’s heart sank.
She had no idea what Connie was talking about. No wonder that woman ran after taking the money — that woman had dragged her into trouble she didn’t even understand. A business district? She had never even heard of it!
Pushing down her emotions, Zaylee stood. “Let’s drop it. We need to set up our tent before it’s too late.”
She barely slept that night.
At dawn, the teachers and students gathered. After breakfast, they prepared to enter the forest for a treasure hunt.
The woods were lined with dozens of cameras, streaming every move. Brad’s soldiers were stationed throughout, keeping watch.
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