They will soon find us."

Sadness filled Raegan's eyes. She couldn't lie to herself any longer.

Without action, she would surely pull him down with her. Her expression hardened, and she said coldly, "Mitchel, I truly despise you. Let me go!"

Though Mitchel realized her intent, her words still stung. A painful smile crossed his lips as he said, "It doesn't matter even though you despise me. I'm too attached to you!"

Mitchel gripped her wrist even more firmly, his eyes fierce and resolute. "Don't think you can push me away. You're stuck with me for life!"

With those words, the earth gave way beneath them once more, offering no foothold. They had barely a minute left... Perhaps even less...

Raegan wanted to say something harsh to make him release her, but the thought of their imminent parting brought uncontrollable tears to her eyes. She brushed away the tears, wanting to etch his face in her memory one last time. The deep sorrow and longing urged her to take one more glimpse... "Mitchel." With a blink of her pretty eyes, she said, "I'm sorry..."

"I will save you!" Mitchel insisted, a single tear escaping his determined gaze. "I won't release you."

“Look after Janey for me," Raegan said.

Then, in a final act of defiance, before the ground fell away once more, Raegan mustered all her strength to wriggle free from Mitchel's grip.

“No! Raegan!" Mitchel's anguished cry echoed.

Raegan descended gently, Like a butterfly with damaged wings.

As anticipated, the soil above crumbled once more, steadily falling.

Raegan felt relieved, knowing she'd made the correct choice to prevent both of them from tumbling into tragedy.

Suddenly, a figure plummeted down beside Raegan.

Mitchel, his eyes red from strain, didn't hesitate to leap after Raegan fell.

The guards above shouted, "Mr. Dixon!"

Disregarding their calls, Mitchel's dark eyes fixed on Raegan, stretching his arm to its limit to catch her.

Raegan's eyes went wide in disbelief. What she was witnessing seemed unbelievable to her. Mitchel actually leaped after her! Tears streamed down her face anew. Didn't he realize that jumping could lead to his death?

Raegan pushed against the air, reaching upward.