Chapter 32 You’ll Never
Find Renee
At three in the morning, the atmosphere in Breeze Bay was distinctly crisp. Nestled between the mountains and the sea, this wealthy neighborhood offered a refreshing breeze that made its sky-high property prices feel almost reasonable. Yet beyond its privileged location, Breeze Bay had little else to offer.
Despite its seclusion and the rugged terrain surrounding it, the area was highly coveted among the wealthy, each vying to claim a piece of this exclusive retreat.
A black sedan glided silently to a halt in front of one of the stately villas. The door opened, and William emerged. Tall and imposing, he carried himself with perfect composure, giving no hint of the drunken haze he had just shaken off.
A lifetime of military discipline kept William away from alcohol-his special forces training had drilled the importance of constant alertness into him.
Denton, observing him, recalled aloud, “No matter what life threw at you, drinking was
never your thing.’
He remembered a time when tragedy had struck their unit-when a comrade had fallen in the line of duty. William, bearing the weight of leadership and loss, had resorted to chain-smoking, his grief manifested only through the quiet glow of cigarette ends in the
dark.
Yet now, shaken by Renee’s departure, William had sought solace in liquor, a rare departure from his usual restraint.
This shift did not go unnoticed by Denton.
“I’ve already put in my request to transfer back,” William declared with an air of
detachment.
Denton’s reaction was delayed, his mouth agape as he struggled to find the words.
“Why? The special forces are your life, aren’t they?”
William simply strode forward, his mind also swirling with lingering doubts about his
+x
Denton hastened to catch up, his curiosity piqued. “What made you apply for a transfer all of a sudden? You once declared you’d spend your entire life with the special forces. You even joked about becoming a guard in your old age just to stick around,” he remarked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
William’s response was measured and resolute. “This wasn’t an impulsive decision.”
Seeing William’s firm stance only deepened Denton’s perplexity and anxiety. He was about to probe further when he noticed William halting abruptly. Denton, caught off- guard, nearly collided with him.
Upon turning to face Denton, William’s expression was calm yet intense. “I’ve been
planning this return for the past six months.”
Denton’s face mirrored his shock; his mind whirled, and his features darkened with
concern. He studied William closely, searching for any sign that something was off.
With an exasperated roll of his eyes, William assured him, “Don’t give me that look. I’m totally fine.”
Denton’s skepticism was palpable. He narrowed his eyes, pressing further. “Are you
absolutely certain? No injuries from a mission, or perhaps a health issue? What’s really driving this sudden desire to return to Tofral?”
Denton wasn’t fooled-William would never leave the special forces without a real
reason.
Yet when pressed, William offered nothing more than a dismissive wave, his voice
tinged with weariness. “I just got tired of living that way.”
In the living room, a man was sprawled awkwardly in the corner of the sofa, his back
exposed, the skin marred by fresh welts.
William’s brow furrowed in concern, but before he could voice his thoughts, Denton
interjected with a reassuring tone, “Don’t worry. He’s still breathing.”
At the sound of Denton’s voice, the man shifted, craning his neck to catch a glimpse of
the newcomers.
His lips twisted into a smug grin upon seeing William and Denton, as if his battered
state were a twisted medal of honor.
“Ah, Mr. Mitchell, we meet once more.”
“Michael,” William huffed, an edge of irritation in his voice. “Or would you prefer I call
you Ray?”
With a mix of bitterness and pride, Ray Fisher chuckled. “So you figured it out.”
William’s eyes narrowed, his gaze icy as he stared down at Ray with undisguised contempt, as if he were something vile stuck to his shoe. This penetrating stare seemed to fracture Ray’s mask of arrogance.
Ray’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice cracking as he yelled hysterically, “So what if you knew? You’ll never find Renee. People like you-you’ll get what’s coming to you sooner
or later!”
