He had constructed numerous safe houses in these mountains for precisely such scenarios, but he had never anticipated Ariana's return, let alone her mistaking him for a ghost.

Barely clinging to life after their altercation and nearly beaten to death by Ariana, Bennett was seething with anger. Observing Ariana's concern for Holden, he maliciously said, “Stop searching. Your boyfriend and his companion? I killed them. They're likely reduced to pulp now. It's best you return to me; I might overlook this if you cooperate."

Detecting skepticism in Ariana's gaze, he continued, "Still not convinced? You must have witnessed the bodies outside. They're among them, albeit possibly scavenged by crows or wild animals."

"Nonsense!" Ariana couldn't restrain herself and delivered another forceful kick that caused Bennett to spit blood.

She said, "I've examined every corpse out there, and Holden and Adrian aren't among them. Quit lying and disclose their actual whereabouts. If you don't do that, I'll kill you!"

Ariana retrieved her gun and pressed it against Bennett's back.

In the moonlight, Bennett coughed with pain and witnessed the tears.

Ariana was battling to contain, which made his mood sour.

“Why would I deceive you?" he sneered. “I told you they were reduced to pulp. You wouldn't even recognize them now. Maybe you should taste them? After all, you were close before..

His provocative words struck a nerve.

Ariana discarded her gun, seized him by the neck, and throttled him fiercely, her eyes ablaze with rage as she declared, "If they're dead, you'll die with them!"

Bennett retorted sharply, his gaze defiant as he sneered, "Then go ahead and strangle me! But know this, killing me won't alter anything. Your beloved and his friend aren't returning. Even if you send me to hell, I'll ensure they perish again there!"

His words shattered something inside Ariana. Her grip loosened, and she crumbled to the ground, utterly exhausted. The desolate valley echoed with her sobs.

It had been an incredibly challenging day.

Just as triumph had appeared imminent, just as she had finally been reunited with Holden, she had lost him once more, merely an hour after their reunion.

"No, this can't be happening!" Ariana adamantly refused to give up.

She couldn't believe that Holden, who had narrowly escaped death countless times, would meet his demise here.

Besides, she hadn't even laid eyes on his body. How could she lose hope?

And if Bennett had been with Holden and Adrian in the car, why was he here now?

Ariana revisited the accident in her thoughts, finding something amiss. She brushed away her tears and focused her gaze on Bennett.