Chapter 624 Where is Xavier?
"So, what exactly happened?"
Sterling swallowed hard, trying to find the right words to tell Grace.
"There was an explosion on a cruise ship near your area. Xavier might have been on that ship," Sterling said, his voice strained.
Grace's phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a thud.
Xavier on the cruise ship? How could that be possible?
The cruise ship was far away, not even near Skigeth, at least ten miles out. Xavier couldn't have been on that ship!
Grace snapped back to reality, picked up her phone, and spoke to Sterling on the other end, "You said 'might,' right? So there's a chance Xavier wasn't on the ship."
Sterling remained silent. The word "might" was his way of softening the blow. The truth was, Xavier was on that ship, and nothing could change that fact.
Xavier was gone, no longer in this world. He might have been blown to pieces, with no remains to recover.
Grace quickly hung up on Sterling and was about to call Steven when Steven's call came through first.
"Grace." Steven's voice faltered, as if he didn't know what to say.
"Steven, you heard about the explosion, right? They said Xavier was on the cruise ship. Can you check for me?"
Steven had called because of this very issue. He had received information that Xavier was on the ship. Xavier had been pursuing Jared, and it was said they both went down together.
The scene was chaotic, and Steven feared Grace might do something rash upon hearing the news, which is why he called her. Steven didn't want to tell Grace the truth. Chase's death had already been a heavy blow for her. If something happened to Xavier now... Even Steven thought it was too cruel.
"Grace, where are you?"
"Angela's driving. We're on our way to the pier."
Hearing "pier," Steven knew he was too late. Grace was already on her way.
"Grace, it's pouring rain right now. The roads are dangerous. You need to come back. We've been in contact with Xavier. His phone got waterlogged and shut off. Come back first."
"Steven, tell me the truth!"
Grace felt like Steven was lying. She had her judgment, her intuition.
Steven fell silent again. He couldn't bring himself to lie.
"Grace, come back first," Steven insisted.
They were almost at the abandoned pier, where many cars were already parked, and numerous boats were out on the water, conducting rescue operations.
Angela had a good idea of what was happening just from listening to Grace's phone call. As soon as they got out of the car, Grace ran ahead.
"Grace!" Angela called out from behind. A pregnant woman shouldn't be running like that, especially with a baby on the way!
The rain was pouring harder. Grace held an umbrella, and Angela chased after her. The area was crowded, with many media personnel making it difficult to move. The pier was abandoned, and the sea and waves looked extremely dangerous.
A reporter was standing with his back to the sea, reporting, as waves crashed against the shore. Grace reached out and pulled the reporter back.
The reporter was about to curse but was hit by a wave. The spot where he had been standing, along with a nearby tree, was swept away. He was left shaken.
The reporter looked at Grace, but she had already walked away before he could thank her.
"Everyone, stay back! It's too dangerous!" Despite her worry for Xavier, Grace was still trying to maintain order.
The area was too dangerous to approach. If someone got swept into the sea, they might not come back.
Grace found the rescue team leader and identified herself.
"The waves are too big right now. Everyone should come back. I'm more anxious than anyone, but safety is important!"
If the disaster had already claimed lives, it couldn't be helped. But the rescuers were still alive, and their safety could be ensured. They couldn't risk their lives for the rescue.
"Can you contact anyone inside?" Grace asked after giving her instructions.
The rescue team cooperated fully and said they could.
Grace said, "Contact someone named Mason Clark. I need to speak with him."
Seeing Grace handle everything so calmly and rationally, Angela felt a mix of relief and sorrow.
Angela understood Grace's point. Even if she knew Xavier might be gone, she didn't want others to risk their lives for him.
Grace finally got through to Mason. "Mason, it's me."
"Ms. Lewis..."
Mason hadn't expected Grace to contact him. He knew she had called, but he hadn't dared to answer.
"Where's Xavier?"
"Mr. Montgomery, he..." Mason didn't know how to begin.
Even though she was prepared, Grace still couldn't accept it.
Grace knew this wasn't the time for grief. So many people were still trying their best.
"What's the situation there?" Grace asked.
"It's not good. The cruise ship has sunk, and with the storm, many were affected by the explosion. It's possible..."
It's possible there were no survivors.
Those close to the explosion didn't make it. Only those in the submarine who were at a distance survived.
And Xavier's body hadn't been found.
"It's too dangerous there now. Bring everyone back. Wait until the storm calms down to search again."
"But Ms. Lewis, Mr. Montgomery is still in there. We haven't found him yet."
Grace's heart ached. She bit her lip so hard it bled.
"Bring them back. That's an order!"
Grace checked the weather forecast while on the phone.
A tornado was expected tonight, and it was heading their way.
There was no time or chance for further rescue.
"Okay." Mason, though reluctant, obeyed Grace.
Xavier had told them that if anything happened, they should listen to Grace. Her word was his word.
Mason led the team back. When Grace saw him, she rushed forward. "Mason, what happened? Where's Xavier?"
Mason hung his head, his eyes bloodshot.
"Jared took some people hostage to threaten Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery managed to get on the cruise ship. There was a helicopter on board. Jared tried to escape in it, but Mr. Montgomery shot it down, and then the ship exploded."
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