Chapter 598
Devin looked at the bloodshot eyes fixed on the water ahead and let out a quiet breath. If only everything had been handled differently from the beginning. A single honest conversation could have changed everything. Instead, Kyson had chosen silence to avoid pain, and that silence had grown into something far worse.
All Devin could do now was hope that fate wouldn’t be so cruel. If Kailey didn’t make it back, Kyson wouldn’t survive it either.
The search went on for three full days.
Kyson hadn’t closed his eyes in three days.
From the river, they had recovered only two things: a phone and one white shoe.
The police took the phone immediately for data recovery. The last call on Shawn’s device had come from Candice.
Officers brought her in for questioning. She denied everything. She said she had only called to ask why Kailey hadn’t shown up for the engagement banquet — she had no reason to hurt Kailey.
When that update reached Kyson, the color drained from his face. He shut his eyes. Red veins stretched across the whites, and the quiet authority that had always defined him was replaced by something colder.
Devin stood nearby, watching carefully. After wrestling with himself for a long moment, he finally spoke. “Sir, the teams have searched the entire river. There’s nothing. Ms. Evans wouldn’t want to see you like this.”
He had chosen his words carefully. Even the police had already hinted that the odds were close to zero. Worse still, the weather service had issued a warning that morning — heavy rain was coming, and with summer storms building, another downpour was expected soon. Continuing the search wouldn’t change anything.
Kyson said nothing. He pushed himself to his feet, but his tall frame swayed slightly.
Devin rushed closer, afraid he might fall. For three days, Kyson had barely eaten and hadn’t slept at all. The fact that he was still upright was already beyond reason.
The only person who had ever been able to stop him was Kailey.
They were still near the temporary tent set up by the riverbank. Rain began to fall in scattered drops. The sky hung low and dark, thick with clouds that looked ready to collapse.
Devin opened an umbrella and hurried to keep up.
“Sir…” His voice shook with urgency, and he forgot to keep his usual distance. “What are you doing to yourself? If we do find Ms. Evans and you’ve worn yourself out like this, how are you going to stand in front of her? It’s not worth destroying yourself.”
He kept talking as they reached the car, unable to hide his alarm.
Kyson’s eyes turned cold as they landed on Devin. “Drive. Now.”
“Huh?” Devin blinked. “Where are we going?”
“To Candice’s place.” The words came out rough and low. Kyson pulled the back door open and got in.
Devin let out a breath. Fine. As long as his boss stopped throwing himself into the river, anywhere else was better. He shut the umbrella, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine.