Chapter 349 Agony Beyond Words
A week later.
Still, there were still no leads.
As time marched on, the likelihood of Patricia's survival dwindled.
Other than Martin and his children, the rest of the family began to reluctantly come to terms withaccept the grim reality.
"No way, Patricia can't be gone... How could she just abandon us like that..."
Martin refused to accept the truth,; his refusal to rest drivingdrove him to frantically search for Patricia at the mountain's base of the mountain.
The foothills were overgrown with wild grass and brush.
Without any protective gear, it wasn't long before his body was covered in cuts and scrapes.
Looking at him, so unhinged from reason, his beard unkempt like a vagrant's, Ryan and Carter couldn't bear it anymore and grabbed hold of him.
"Boss, it's been two weeks. Look up there—dozens of helicopters and numerous drones have been searching. The foothills are practically trampled flat, and still, we've found no sign of Patricia or Charlotte. That cliff is a sheer drop... I mean... I'm afraid..."
He stopped short, not daring to finish the thought that she might have been smashed to pieces, worried about how it would affect Martin.
Martin's eyes were reddened with fury as he barked,. "Shut up!! I've got a feeling she's still alive. She can't be dead. I will find her, no matter what it takes."
Ryan understood his reluctance to face the situation.
But gGazing at the exhausted search teams around them, he couldn't help but say, "But lLook at everyone... Every search team from Ivara City has been mobilized. They've been searching tirelessly for ten days and nights. They've crisscrossed this mountain so thoroughly that the only thing left is to dig through it. Several folks have already collapsed from exhaustion and ended up in the hospital. If we keep up like this, everyone's going to drop."
Martin simply wouldn't listen.
"Get the word out," he commanded. "Aordered. "I'm offering a reward of 10 million—no, 50 million —for anyone who finds Patricia!. I want everyone on this."
Ryan and Carter exchanged incredulous looks, their eyes wide with shock.
"Boss, have you lost your mind?" Ryan blurted out. "Do you have any ideaknow what'll happen if you release that message? Forget the people of Ivara City; outsiders will swarm in for a shot at 50 million."
Martin was adamant. "I just need to find Patricia. I don't care about the rest."
Ryan was so frustrated he was practically itching to throw a punch.
"You want to throw the whole city into chaos? If that happens, yYou'dll be responsible for crippling the transportation and economy. N, not to mention, if anyone gets hurt, the pain it'll bring pain to other families. It's a disaster that could have serious repercussions for our country. I get thatunderstand you're desperate to find Patricia, but can't we be a bit more rational about this?"
"We scoured the mountains nearby, every ridge that needed to be searched. Even if the whole nation came out, the outcome would be no different.
"Patricia's gonedead, gone for good... Pplease, I'm begging you, don't lose it. Just calm down, okay?"
The moment the word 'dead' struck his ears, all of Martin's grief detonated at once, and he slugged Ryan hard across the face.
"I won't let you say she's dead,; she's not!! She can't be..."
Ryan got was floored by the punch, a thorn bush scraping a gash across his handsome face, making him wince.
His temper flared up instantly, and he scrambled up, tackling Martin to the ground, and landing a punch squarely on his face.
"Patricia is dead, she's really gone... Why can't you just accept that?"
"She's not dead, not dead..."!" Martin grabbed his wrist and twisted.
Martin grabbed his wrist and twisted.
"Hiss..."
Ryan grimaced in pain, loosening his grip.
Seizing the moment, Martin flipped Ryan under him, raining punches on his face.
Blinded by rage, Ryan didn't give a hoot about the setting, flipping Martin beneath him—.
"She's dead, she is..."!"
The brothersfriends were at loggerheads, exchanging blows relentlessly.
Carter massaged his throbbing temples, neither speaking out nor intervening, letting them have at it.
Once the fight ended, once their emotions were spent, they could begin anew, finding their way out of grief.
And just as expected.
Soon, the two of them, with, faces that were were a swollen mess, were sprawled on the ground, gasping for air.
Martin gazed through the dense leaves at the scattered sunlight streaming in, as if in a dream, everything surreal.
Ryan began to sob heartbreakingly, crying like a child.
"Boss, I'm pleading with youplease, get better already,! Yyou can't keep go on like this,. yYou and Charles both;, it's worrisome."
Whether Martin heard him or not, his right hand rested gently on his forehead. Through the glaring sun, he thought he saw Patricia. Her smile was radiant and sweet. It was almost as if he could hear her voice.
Through the glaring sun, he thought he saw Patricia.
She was smiling at him.
Her smile so radiant, so sweet.
It was almost as if he could hear her voice.
"Martin, promise me you'll , look after Charles and the others... tThey mean the world to me, so take good care of them..."."
Tears trickled down his cheeks slowly.
His life was tied to them, his three kids, as much as it was to her.
But his heart... it ached so fiercely.
If it wasn't for his children, who needed him, he feared the pain might have lured him to follow her.
Just then, a pair of hands appeared before him.
He followed those handsthem with his eyes— and said,
"Little brother..."
Carter nodded with a smile,. "Big bro, get up!. It's been ten days. It's time to move on..."
Martin stared at his hands, lost in thought.
Ten days had already passed.
What had those days been like for him?
Dazed and numbed by alcohol.
After brawling with Ryan, and letting it all out, he felt somewhat more clearheaded.
Carter continued,. "Charles, Randy, Fannie... they're all waiting for you. They've been worried these past days—you always were the one they counted on you, right?"
The glare of the sunlight made Martin squint. Slowly, he reached out towards Carter. The sun shone on their clasping hands, a sign that perhaps the darkest times had passed and a new light was shining through.
The sun shone on their clasping hands, a sign that perhaps the darkest times had passed, and a new light shone through.
…
After seven days, Martin finally returned to the new home he and Patricia had shared.
It was all too familiar; every corner echoed with her presence—the sofa, the bay window, the kitchen...
There stood Patricia, smiling at him through the bay window, bathed in blinding sunlight that crowned her with a golden halo.
"Martin, you're back..."
Her voice was soft and laced with sweetness.
His heart, numb from the agony, felt like it might start beating again. He reached out to touch her, but her image vanished like smoke, dissolving into the sunlight.
"Patricia..."
His chest felt like it was tearing apart.
His tears had dried up, leaving a trail as if his very blood were weeping.
Hearing noises outside, Randy and Fannie emerged. After seven long days, they finally saw their father again. Overcome with grief, they rushed to embrace Martin's legs.
"Daddy, you're back.... I was scared you'd leave us like Mommy did."
"Daddy, I was so worried about you. Are you okay? Do your wounds still hurt?"
Martin looked down at his two little ones, feeling a world away, his scarred hands gently touching their heads.
Chapter350
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