5
Caleb Thorne had just left the hospital when he found Seraphina Hayes completely
unharmed.
Seraphina noticed his displeased expression and pouted, “I was just so scared, I wanted
you to leave that place quickly, you know?”
Caleb didn’t blame her.
Seraphina was spoiled rotten by him; it was inevitable she’d be a bit willful sometimes. But a faint unease still lingered in his heart.
He felt like he was overlooking something.
After settling Seraphina, Caleb asked the police for an update.
“How many people did you take care of this time? Which hospital room is Elara Vance
in?”
This time, he had intentionally used Elara Vance as bait, collaborating with the police to
set a trap for those people.
Only when they were all apprehended could he and Seraphina live a truly peaceful life.
Still, he had specifically told his men beforehand not to let Elara Vance die.
In fact, over these five years, he had never completely given up on Elara Vance. He
always remembered the resolute look in her eyes when she agreed to be his human shield.
She was a good girl, just too deeply in love with him, which made her change.
He couldn’t tolerate anyone harming his Seraphina, so he had to teach Elara Vance a
lesson. Surely, this time, she would learn.
But to his surprise, the police looked utterly bewildered. “We haven’t received any news about Elara Vance. Weren’t your people in charge of her rescue?”
Caleb’s heart sank. What was going on?
He called his men. “Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on Elara Vance? Where is she?”
His men seemed to be at a mall, not on lookout. They sounded completely unconcerned.
“Caleb, with you around, how would those guys dare touch her?”
“We’re picking out a bag for Seraphina. You always said Seraphina’s matters take priority.”
“Once Seraphina finishes picking, we’ll go save her.”
Caleb stood frozen. He remembered the harsh words he’d said to the kidnapper for the
sake of the act. He thought the police and his men would rush to the rescue…
His heart seized with panic. “What are you still picking? Go save her now!”
“If Elara Vance dies, all of you will go to hell with her!”
Caleb had never been so anxious. He called Elara Vance’s phone, but her parents
answered.
“Son-in-law, you promised you and Elara would come back to see us on your wedding anniversary. How come you’re still not here?”
Caleb was stunned. “Wedding anniversary?”
“Yes, Elara keeps your love token in the display cabinet. She talks about how much you two love each other every day.”
In Elara Vance’s eyes, they were actually deeply in love?
His mother-in-law sent him a photo of the love token. It was just an ordinary cap.
A note attached read: *The day we first met, it was love at first sight. I’ve counted the days since, growing up, because I wanted to love you.*
After a long silence.
Caleb Thorne finally remembered his first encounter with Elara Vance-he was on the run, disguised, and casually pulled a girl into his embrace, helped her deal with some thugs, and then casually gave her his cap.
The girl said she would repay him.
Was that person… Elara Vance?
Why had she never mentioned it?
No, that’s not right. She *had* mentioned it!
Four years ago, Caleb Thorne killed several infamous figures on the high bounty list. The son of one of them sought revenge and kidnapped Elara Vance.
He went to save Elara Vance. Elara Vance clearly had something to say then, but Seraphina Hayes messaged him, saying she had a fever and felt terrible.
Seraphina was most afraid of pain, so he entrusted Elara Vance to his men for rescue and rushed off to take care of Seraphina.
In reality, Seraphina only had a low fever. It was nothing like her claims of “rolling around in agony.”
After that, he asked his men about Elara Vance’s condition, and they said they had safely
sent Elara Vance home.
He didn’t ask again.
Although after that day, he noticed Elara Vance spoke less and had many inexplicable wounds on her body, he didn’t notice anything unusual.
Until just now, his men told him that every time Elara Vance was kidnapped, they would prioritize Seraphina, delaying Elara Vance’s rescue time.
Over five years, Elara Vance had been kidnapped nineteen times. He couldn’t even begin
to imagine what she had gone through!
And what had *he* done?
He had blamed her without question the moment she was free from the kidnappers’
torment, even hitting her…
As Caleb Thorne was consumed by self-reproach, Seraphina Hayes called, saying she had been hit by a car.
He dropped everything to find Seraphina Hayes. Pushing open the door, he was greeted by a bouncing Seraphina, who leaped into his arms.
She turned to her friends, showing off.
“See? My husband always keeps his word.”
It wasn’t the first time Seraphina had lied to him.
But now, Caleb Thorne kept involuntarily thinking of Elara Vance’s suffering.
Had Seraphina Hayes lied like this before, claiming Elara Vance had hurt her?
Thinking this, Caleb Thorne coldly asked:
“Seraphina, did Elara Vance really hurt you?”
Seraphina Hayes looked utterly bewildered. “Who’s Elara Vance? Is she your new
woman?”
Playing this trick again?
Caleb Thorne shook his head, for the first time shaking off Seraphina Hayes’ hand, and
stormed out, urging his men, “Have you found Elara yet?”
His men, however, countered, “Elara *who*? Who’s that?”
Caleb Thorne almost laughed in exasperation. Were they all ganging up to pretend?
He went to ask the police about their progress, and they too looked puzzled.
“We’ve never heard of this person. There’s no information about her in our records either.”
He searched every channel he could, but she was nowhere to be found.
Caleb Thorne even began to doubt himself.
He subconsciously dialed Elara Vance’s number. The moment her parents answered,
Caleb Thorne instinctively started to explain:
“I know you might not believe me, but please listen. I am Elara Vance’s husband, and you are Elara Vance’s parents.”
There was a long silence on the other end.
After a deep breath, Mrs. Vance said, “We know. Elara is our daughter.”
Caleb Thorne, battered by one blow after another, was overjoyed to hear this response.
But before he could speak, Mrs. Vance coldly stated:
“But Elara is dead. You killed her!”
