LOGIN"I've taken great care of her," I cut Jack off. "With your money, she's in the best facility, living the calm life she deserves. And you… You'll stay here and repent for what you did to her."I slipped the photo back into my bag. Under a gaze that teetered on the brink of breaking, I set the intercom phone back in its place. Following that, I headed to the next visitation room. Dakota appeared even more pitiful than Jack. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She looked at me as if she had seen a ghost. "W-What are you doing here? I've suffered enough already! What else do you want from me?"I picked up the phone and got to the point. "I burned your limited-edition hiking boots and discarded all your precious cosmetics. Oh, and another thing."I stared into her terrified eyes, enunciating my next words. "Jack told the court that you seduced him. Apparently, you did whatever it took to climb up, no matter the cost."Her face was drained of all color.I hung up with a quiet s
Under everyone's anticipation, I passed a USB to the court clerk, who then played a refined version of the audio file from the miniature body camera for everyone to hear.Jack's face flickered with a barely noticeable panic. The next second, crystal-clear, amplified audio filled the solemn hearing room. First came Dakota's high-pitched, whiny complaints."This box is huge and hard. It takes up too much space!"The sound of her throwing the medical box off the cliff was quickly followed by her gloating voice. "See? Problem solved… My cosmetics are way more valuable than that stupid box."Next came the confrontation between Jack and me. "Isn't it just some ordinary supplies? Who knows if we'll even need them? For that useless item, you're willing to hold up the whole team and make everyone wait for you?"His cold, impatient tone reverberated through the room. Finally, the most damning exchange inside the cave rang out.A young team member exclaimed, "Willow, don't you have the asth
Jack let out a long, heavy breath, as if a massive weight had finally been lifted from his chest. That very afternoon, with all the property now in my hands, I acted immediately.The first thing I did was use the newly acquired funds to contact Nancy's birth mother, Sophia Leppard. I hired the nation's top team of lawyers to handle both civil and criminal lawsuits against Jack and Dakota.Of course, I paid the legal fees in full upfront.Sophia cried uncontrollably over the phone, repeatedly thanking me. I said, "Don't thank me. This is what he owes Nancy."Then I moved on to the second agenda. I went straight to the office of the joint investigation team responsible for the case. I didn't cry or plead for sympathy. Instead, I methodically submitted a complete set of evidence to the lead investigator.It came from the miniature body camera I wore on every rescue mission. It was small, discreet, and known to almost no one, but it had captured everything from the moment we set out u
Jack, desperate to lessen his guilt, began begging me frantically.Suspended from the rescue team and under a storm of public outrage, he looked like a lost, wounded dog. He knelt at my doorstep, ignoring the neighbors' shocked stares, his face streaked with tears and snot.He slapped his own swollen, reddened face repeatedly, each strike landing with a dull thud."I'm sorry, Willow. I'm sorry, Nancy!" he screamed hoarsely. "I'm not a human! I'm a monster! I was blinded by that calculated woman and did unthinkable things…"He tried to grab my hand, but I coldly pulled away. "Willow, believe me—I still love you and Nancy the most. T-This whole thing was a lapse. Just one chance… Please, just give me one chance!"Faced with my unmoving expression, he pulled out his bargaining chip. "Willow, as long as you could put in a good word for me with the investigators and prove that it was purely a lapse on my part…"A sly glint flashed across his eyes. "I'll transfer all my properties, my
The moment the words left my mouth, the air in the cave stilled. Everyone's gaze landed squarely on Dakota. My stare ignited the panic and fear inside her, and her face instantly paled. She dodged our eyes, instinctively retreating."W-What are you guys looking at me for? I-I didn't know that stupid box carried something so important…" she argued, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her. "Besides, it was J-Jack who told me to throw it. He said they were useless—""Shut up!"Jack let out a ferocious roar, like a provoked beast. His eyes were bloodshot as he lunged toward Dakota like a madman. The next second, a crisp but harsh slap landed on her face.He had put so much strength into that slap that she went flying, landing in a tangled, humiliating heap on the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips."You discarded my daughter's life-saving medication?" he questioned her rabidly, then pinned her down, yanking a handful of her hair as punches rained across her face."Wh
Years of experience kicked in instantly."Landslide! Everyone, move against the rock wall—now!" I shouted, my body already reacting, pressed tight against the hard stone.Although the team's morale had been crushed by Jack and Dakota earlier, their training still held. At my command, they immediately found safe positions.The ground where we had just stood gave way. Huge rocks and dirt tumbled down, swallowed instantly by a cloud of dust.Everyone broke into a cold sweat. One second later, and the consequences could've been disastrous."Shit! That was close!"Dakota panicked, slipping and falling toward the edge of the cliff. Jack, nearest to her, lunged like lightning and caught her in his arms—the classic scene of the hero saving the damsel in distress.Pathetic. I watched with icy eyes."Willow, what were you doing scouting ahead?" Jack, holding the trembling Dakota, roared at me like an enraged lion. "Didn't you sense the danger ahead? Is this how you're supposed to lead th







