Benjamin stared at the ceiling. There was no way anything would happen between them. He didn’t even like her; he was simply trying to keep her warm. Surely, there couldn’t be anything wrong with that.

Benjamin inched closer. His hand slowly rested on her delicate shoulder before wrapping around her from behind. Celine trembled in his arms. Benjamin tightened his hold, his voice low but steady. “Celine, just hold on. You’ll feel better soon.”

Celine had disappeared, prompting Adam to dispatch additional search teams to find her. Not long after, Zachary hurried in with a surveillance report. “Mr. Alvarez, we found something. Ms. Celine and Mr. Benjamin were both seen boarding a yacht.”

Adam examined the footage. He saw Benjamin board the yacht after Celine was already inside. His usually composed face darkened with terrifying intensity. “Why did Benjamin suddenly show up in Marland?” No one had known about Benjamin’s arrival.

Leo hesitated before speaking. “Mr. Alvarez, I suspect Mr. Benjamin followed Ms. Celine here.”

“Have they found the yacht?”

“The search team has already been dispatched. The yacht exploded at sea.”

Adam abruptly stood up. “What did you say? Exploded?”

Leo nodded grimly. “Yes. There was dynamite planted on the yacht.”

At that moment, Carly walked in. “Adam, the dynamite must have been planted by Benjamin. He wanted to kill Celine. I know how much he resented her, but I never expected him to go this far. Now, Benjamin is missing too. Could it be that both of them died in the explosion?”

The surveillance footage hadn’t captured Carly’s presence at the scene. She had made sure of that. With Celine and Benjamin presumed dead, Carly was quick to shift all the blame onto Benjamin to ensure she appeared blameless.

Adam didn’t even look at Carly. His voice was cold and firm. “Follow the river downstream. I need to see them alive or recover their bodies.”

Leo nodded. “Understood.”

Adam strode out. Carly grabbed his arm. “Adam, where are you going? I chased after you all the way here. Won’t you stay with me?”

Adam’s voice was cold and emotionless. “I’m going to find Celine and Benjamin.”

“But they’re probably gone.”

“They’re not.”

With that, Adam pulled his arm free and walked away with long strides, taking Leo with him. He was determined to find Celine and Benjamin. Carly stood there, watching him leave, her face dark with anger. He was this anxious over Celine’s disappearance? It didn’t matter. The yacht had exploded at sea. Celine had to be dead.

As for Benjamin… she thought, “Benjamin, don’t blame your beloved sister-in-law. You brought this on yourself for not listening to…”

Adam and his team searched the sea thoroughly but found nothing. Adam studied the map. “What’s this place?”

Leo replied, “Mr. Alvarez, that’s Praxton Village, located downstream by the river.” Adam fell silent for a moment before making a decision. “Let’s head there.” Before long, they arrived at Praxton Village. Leo glanced around. “Mr. Alvarez, do you think Ms. Celine and Mr. Benjamin could really be here?”

Adam’s steps halted. Something on the sand caught his eye: a single pearl earring. Adam bent down and picked it up in surprise. “Mr. Alvarez, I remember this pearl earring. It belongs to Ms. Celine. We’re in the right place. She and Mr. Benjamin must…”

The pearl earring felt dry in his hand. Adam clenched his fist, and the cold metal slowly warmed against his skin. Adam raised his head, his gaze fixed on the village ahead. “Celine, are you and Benjamin here? I’m coming,” he thought.