Chapter 1 Find the Girl

• "Mr. Marcus, I've discovered something. The girl who rescued you in Hawthorn six months ago is actually the Summers' only daughter."
• Seated in the front, Julian Conrad turned slightly and passed a stack of documents and pictures to the man behind him.
• Without realizing he'd interrupted the man's memories, Julian went on, "The Summers relocated to Merryvale two years ago, but they're originally from Hawthorn. Ms. Summer returned there for a family gathering late last year and happened to be there during your incident."
• The man in the back seat stayed quiet, his dark gaze fixed on the girl's photos, examining each one carefully and then looking back at them.
• The air felt heavy, and Julian nervously wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. He glanced uncomfortably at his older brother, Andrew Conrad, in the driver's seat, almost as if asking for support.
• Andrew watched the man's expression in the rearview mirror, then cautiously spoke up. "Mr. Marcus, the last time, you were framed and ended up in the reservoir because of your eldest and second brother. Ms. Summers was just there by chance and saved you. She gave you CPR only because the situation was urgent, not out of disrespect. Plus, it's no small feat for a young girl to rescue a grown man from the water. Isn't it time to let it go?"
• It's widely known that the Farleys, the wealthiest family in Glenbrook, have four sons, all remarkable and distinguished. However, the fourth son, Marcus Farley, is known for his unpredictable temper, his reserved nature, and his fear of water, making him the hardest to serve!
• Andrew and Julian had been by Marcus' side since childhood, so they naturally understood that when the girl gave him CPR, she also took his first kiss.
• In private, they even speculated that Marcus' determination over the past six months to locate her was all about settling this matter.
• "Mr. Marcus, even though the Summers haven't been in Merryvale for long, they now hold a significant position, and Ms. Summer is their only daughter. If you really want to confront her, I'm afraid ... "
• Julian suddenly cut his sentence short.
• The man in the back seat suddenly raised his chin, his dark eyes intense and questioning, studying him as if he were some strange creature. He asked, "Who said I wanted to confront her?"
• Andrew was so startled that he almost lost his grip on the steering wheel, while Julian stared in disbelief, his mouth hanging open.
• When was the last time Mr. Marcus had spoken?
• It had been so long since he'd spoken that no one could recall the last time!
• Seeing the stunned expressions of his subordinates, Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of danger flashing in his sharp gaze, yet it emboldened Julian to ask, "Then ... why are you looking for her?"
• Marcus gave a slight smile, closed the photo he was holding, and glanced out the window.
• Rain poured heavily, and though it was a summer afternoon, the sky was gloomy, shrouded in mist. Through the dark car window, visibility was minimal.
• "I'm not sure," Marcus remarked shortly.
• Once again, the Conrad brothers were left in shock.
• Startled, Andrew abruptly turned the steering wheel and stepped on the brakes.
• The sudden stop thrust all three passengers forward, though thankfully, their seat belts held them back, causing Marcus' forehead to press hard against the leather of the driver's seat without any real harm.
• "Mr. Marcus! Are you okay?"
• Julian's heart pounded as he came to his senses, scolding his brother while unbuckling his seat belt to check on the back seat. "Why are you driving like this? It's raining—you should've slowed down!"
• "I ... " Andrew stammered, his face pale. "Someone hit us!"
• Julian shouted, "This is the ring road highway! Who could've possibly hit us?"
• Andrew responded, "I'm serious! Someone did. We nearly hit her!"
• "Mr. Marcus, are you alright?"
• As the two brothers scrambled to manage the situation, a small white figure suddenly dashed past Julian and slipped swiftly into the car.
• Her quick, practiced movements made it seem as if she'd rehearsed this escape countless times.
• Water dripped from her clothes, dampening the seats and floor mats, as she crawled close to Marcus, curling up beside him and shivering slightly. "Drive, please! Quick, hurry!" she urged, her voice shaky.
• Andrew glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
• In the back seat sat a trembling figure dressed in a long white dress, her clothes and dark hair soaked by the rain, clinging to her form and highlighting her well-proportioned figure. She certainly had features any woman would be proud of. Droplets continued to fall from her, her pale face making her expression hard to discern.
• Yet her flawless profile, with a refined nose and elegantly contoured chin, hinted at true beauty.
• She clutched a small bag tightly against her chest, holding onto it with visible unease.
• From her voice and her delicate and youthful skin, she seemed to be no older than 18—a rather unfortunate girl, especially considering the circumstances.
• Caught in such heavy rain on a high-speed road like this.
• Waving down cars so recklessly—what a strange girl!
• Julian's lips twitched as he opened the back door of the car, not to assist anyone else, but to see if Marcus had been injured.