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!"