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Chapter 4
We followed the teacher’s instructions to set up tents on the beach.]
River was playing with the other children nearby.[]
Zane hurried over, trying to take the tent from my hands.]
But I didn’t loosen my grip, so he couldn’t pull it away and just stood there awkwardly watching.]
Drawing on the camping skills I’d learned with River at our parent–child activity classes, I expertly set up the tent.[]
Zane quickly jumped in to hammer the stakes, and after securing them, he looked at me. “Is this good, honey?”]
I didn’t respond.
He leaned in closer, his blue eyes glistening.
“I’m sorry for ignoring you both on the ferry.“]
“Vivienne has a congenital heart condition. When she said she felt seasick, I was worried, so I…“]]
I looked up, cutting him off.[]
“Zane, you have your own child. Do you really need to go out of your way to care for someone else’s?”
Zane bent slightly, enveloping me.]]
“My fault. I promise it won’t happen again.“]]
“Daddy!” River came running over. “Look at the ladybug!“]
Zane walked over and scooped River up. “Wow! My little man found something amazing!“]
Seeing father and son putting aside their earlier tension, I let out a resigned sigh.
The field trip lasted five days.
As promised, Zane spent the following days helping River complete various challenge tasks assigned by the teacher.
Sometimes Vivienne would approach him, speaking French with a pitiful expression, but he would firmly correct her: “Vivi, if we want to fit in with everyone, we need to speak English.“[]
Scarlett also came looking for Zane several times–either her tent wasn’t stable or she needed water. Each time, Zane would instinctively look at me before either delegating to someone else or taking me along to check the situation.[]
I felt somewhat reassured.[]
At least he wasn’t completely clueless and could be taught.
Until the fourth day after our afternoon rest, something terrible happened–I couldn’t find River.[]
Zane was also missing.
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Chapter 4
At first, I thought he had taken our son out to play.[]
I asked several parents nearby, but their expressions were hesitant.[]
“That Ms. Channing seems to have her eye on your husband.“]
“She came over earlier and said something to him, and he went with her. Maybe check if your son went with them?“]
I first informed the teacher to help look for River, then ran in the direction the parent had pointed.[]
I didn’t see my son, but I spotted two figures standing side by side behind a rock.[]
Scarlett’s head was slightly tilted against Zane’s shoulder, her voice hoarse with tears.[]
“Eighteen years of knowing each other means nothing compared to a woman you met through an arranged match?“]
“Zane, haven’t you ever suspected that Vivienne might be your child?”
A sea breeze swept by.[]
Despite the summer heat, it made me shiver all over.
Tears rolled down my face without me even realizing it.[]
Watching their silhouettes pressed together, my heart shattered into a million pieces.[]
But finding my son was the priority now–otherwise, I swear I’d have grabbed a rock and smashed it over Zane’s head.
“ZANE! Where’s my son?!“]]
My shout shattered their intimate moment. Both turned around sharply.
“River? He… he’s not with me.“]
Suppressing my rage, I spoke through gritted teeth. “Then FIND HIM!“[]
I searched frantically along the shore, my anxious heart feeling like it was being roasted on an open flame.
Soon, a parent came running to tell me they’d seen something on the security cameras.
I immediately rushed back to the monitoring room.[]
The footage showed Vivienne leading River away, in a direction that extended beyond the school’s designated safe zone.[]
There was no time to waste. I quickly led a large search party in that direction, while Zane contacted the search and rescue team.[]
“RIVER!”
Shouts echoed back and forth throughout the crowd. Scarlett was among them, her eyes already red with tears.[]
Soon, someone heard crying from the woods.[]
Everyone rushed over–it was Vivienne, who had fallen into a pit.]
Vivi!” Scarlett cried out, immediately rushing forward. With everyone’s help, they pulled Vivienne out.
I pushed through the crowd and shouted.]
“Where’s River?! WHERE IS HE?!“]
“Don’t scare the child!” Scarlett clutched Vivienne to her chest, crying dramatically.[]
Vivienne spoke in broken English. “Little brother want play… I lead… but here, he say no allowed… want call daddy… then fight… I fall in hole… he run away.“]
“I… I don’t know where he!“]
“Think harder! Which direction did he run?” My voice was urgent, almost out of control.[]
Just as I reached out to grab Vivienne, someone held me back.[]
“Aurora, stay calm. River will be fine.” Zane’s furrowed brow somehow looked calmer than I felt.]
Before Vivienne could answer, her face suddenly turned pale, and she began struggling to breathe.[]
“It’s her heart condition! Where’s her medication?“]
Scarlett’s face was frantic as she rummaged through her bag.[]
After turning it inside out several times and dumping everything on the ground, she still couldn’t find it.
Finally, she clutched Zane’s hand desperately. “Zane, please save Vivi!“]
“Stay calm! We have medical staff here.” Zane lowered his voice, his tone filled with reassuranc
and dependability.
The medical personnel immediately performed basic first aid, then urgently said, “She needs to go to the hospital right away!“[]
“Zane!!” Scarlett looked at him, her eyes filled with helplessness.]
“Zane, we still haven’t found River. You’re not seriously thinking of going to the hospital with her, are you?” I glared at him, anxiously awaiting his response.
“Vivi, if anything happens to you, Mommy won’t want to live anymore!” Scarlett’s voice was hoarse from crying, painfully shrill.]
Emotions churned in Zane’s eyes as he picked up Vivienne. “The ferry will be here soon. This is an emergency–I’ll take them to the hospital.”
“Zane!” I watched his rapidly retreating figure, my voice nearly breaking. “Are you abandoning your
There were so many people who could have taken Vivienne to the hospital.
Why did it have to be HIM?!]
son?!”
But he still didn’t stop, leaving me with only a parting sentence: “The search team will be here soon. River might not be in immediate danger, but Vivienne can’t wait.“[]
And then his silhouette disappeared into the dusk.[]
Trusting someone with your heart is always a gamble.]
I just lost mine.
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Heart–broken and numb, I wiped my tears and faced the uncomfortable expressions of those around me.
“Please help me find my son. I’ll be forever grateful, whatever it takes!“[]
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