Semua Bab Unveiling the True Match: Bab 581 - Bab 590

Heading back, Yaslyn and Xoan found Tyler and Zyra had sparked up a roaring fire with the twigs they had found."You two okay? What took so long?"Zyra rushed over, giving Yaslyn the once-over, relieved to see they were fine."Don't wander off too far for firewood next time. We've got plenty here.""Sure thing," Yaslyn replied with a smile.They added their twigs to the pile and joined the others by the fire. As the flames danced, they chatted and enjoyed their grilled fish.Xoan, beer in hand, nudged Tyler. "So, when are you two tying the knot?"Zyra blushed at the question. "Oh, marriage? That's a way off. I'm just getting my career off the ground, and Tyler's firm is brand new...""I never said we were rushing things," Tyler said with a dismissive edge to his voice."But I'm only twenty-two. Isn't it a bit early to think about marriage?" Zyra's voice betrayed her underlying fear. "Besides, I'm not ready.""Don't worry, I'll give you all the time you need." Tyler dropped th

Zyra stared at the treacherous mountain path ahead, and her mind was flooded with scenes from novels she had read. One story, in particular, haunted her: a college girl kidnapped to a remote village and was forced into marriage with a local man. She bore his children and lived a nightmare chained in a pigsty.A shiver ran down Zyra's spine. Could that be her fate?Beside her kidnapper, Zyra trembled with fear.However, the man escorting them only chuckled softly. "Relax, kiddo," he spoke in a deceptively calm tone. "I'm here. You have nothing to worry about." His words, however, did little to alleviate Zyra's anxiety. Instead, they highlighted the helplessness of her situation.She was powerless, and she only prayed that Yaslyn and the others would find her soon. As the danger grew, so did her longing for Tyler. Regret taunted her foolishness. Why had she insisted on separating from Yaslyn? If only they stayed together, none of this would have happened.The journey seemed endless.

"No, that won't be necessary. Just untie them. I'll take them back myself."Mr. Wafford barely finished speaking when his gaze landed on the girl passed out to his right, his brow creasing ever so slightly. "Actually, could you take the one on the right over for me?"Lila's smile widened as she nodded eagerly. "Sure, sure, whatever you say."Just like that, the ordeal seemed to fade away like a bad dream. Zyra's wrists and ankles were freed, and the girl next to her was likewise liberated. "Thank you," Zyra whispered, her voice barely above a breath.The other girl, however, barely reacted, her eyes void of any real gratitude. She simply stretched her wrists and stood motionless.With a sigh of relief, Zyra took the chance to really look at the girl before her. She had a short, practical haircut and a plain but pleasant face, exuding an air that felt oddly familiar to Zyra, though she could not quite understand why."Don't worry, you're all coming with me."Mr. Wafford was not o

"Life imitates art, doesn't it? This story's got to be drawn from reality." Yaslyn ran her fingers along the bark of a roadside poplar, convinced. "Your buddy must've been here."Xoan's brow furrowed with concern. "Haven't spoken to him in ages. Let's see if I can still get through."He fished out his phone, but the mountain signal was a lost cause. They moved closer to a signal tower before finally snagging a connection.Staring at the number he knew all too well, Xoan made the call.A moment passed before a voice answered. "Hey, Xoan. What's up?" The voice was steady, detached.Xoan's brow furrowed. "That book of yours, 'Village Wilderness'—where did the idea come from?"The question caught the person across from him off-guard, a flicker of confusion crossing their face. "What made you think to ask about that?""A friend of ours was taken to a mountain village that's the spitting image of the one in your story."The revelation seemed to drain the color from the voice on the o

"And you think you can keep it a secret every time? Look, we've already been busted this time."Colt was gearing up to lay into the responding villager when a man from the corner brushed off his jacket and stood up. It was Charlie Lach, and Colt recognized him to be quite a character.Charlie was quick-tempered, a known bully around these streets, and a school dropout since the third grade who had been causing trouble ever since. Despite his flaws, people seldom crossed him, mainly because he was built like a tank.Charlie smirked. "Mr. Wafford, maybe we should be asking you some questions.""What's that supposed to mean?" Colt shot back, eyes narrowing.Charlie cleared his throat and spun to face the crowd. "Listen up, everyone! We've pulled off this kind of thing plenty of times before without a hitch. Why did things go south this time?""Why?"The crowd was a bit slow on the uptake, staring blankly."It's because we've got a rat. I'd bet my last dollar that rat is none other