No one was more anxious than Finn at the moment. He began arranging for his overseas contacts to search for Aoife, calling the hospital director to make it clear that if Aoife was lost in their hospital, they would be fully responsible for the consequences. This life-threatening situation was not something that anyone could bear lightly.
The surveillance footage was reviewed and sent to Finn’s computer. Finn knew that Aoife was not clever enough to escape from the hospital unnoticed, given her nature, and she did not have the courage to do so either. He also had a video that could manipulate her sense of dignity.
There must have been someone helping her. Aoife didn’t know anyone abroad, and she was not one to engage in conversations. The person she interacted with the most was Dr. Samuel, who provided her with psychological support.
Dr. Samuel was a possibility, but a slim one. Perhaps in Finn’s absence, Aoife had managed to approach someone unsavory?
After arriving overseas the day after disembarking the plane, Finn had not changed his clothes, nor had he rested. He had eaten his meal on the plane and headed straight to the hospital upon arrival.
The director and several officials were waiting for him at the entrance, and upon seeing Finn, they immediately apologized.
“Have you reviewed the street surveillance footage?” Finn inquired.
“We have not found any sign of Miss Powell,” the director answered.
“Show me.”
The director led Finn to the office, where they reviewed the unedited footage. Finn scrolled through all the files and adjusted the time to the moment of the incident, but still did not see Aoife’s figure.
“What about the footage from the hospital wards and corridors?” Finn asked.
The official explained nervously, “The surveillance cameras malfunctioned that day and did not record anything.”
Finn’s temper flared, and he grabbed a glass of water from the table and threw it at the wall, shattering it on impact.
At that moment, Finn resembled an angry lion, exuding a ferocious aura. He stood up, kicked over the chair, and even the computer on the table was not spared.
With a loud bang, the computer screen went black and shut down.
Everyone in the office was visibly shaken, feeling as though their throats were being strangled as the air grew thin.
Aoife…
Despite Finn’s outburst, his face remained expressionless. His brown eyes, however, bore an intense gaze, with fine red streaks swirling on the whites of his eyes. His unsettling appearance made those around him shudder.
“Why did the surveillance cameras malfunction at that exact moment? How is it that she couldn’t be seen outside the hospital, on the streets, or by the roadside?” Finn pondered.
With Aoife’s timid nature and lack of intelligence, along with her sheltered upbringing in a rural area, she would not have been able to plan such an escape on her own without being noticed. Someone within the hospital staff must have assisted her, knowing the layout of the hospital so well.
To make someone vanish without a trace from the hospital, evading even the outdoor cameras, would require connections.
The nursing aides and janitors could be ruled out. Most of the nurses could also be eliminated as suspects. The highest probability lay with the doctors, particularly those of Numbatian descent or those who spoke Mandarin.
The scope had narrowed down significantly.
Finn tapped his knuckles on the table, closed his eyes in thought for about ten seconds, then opened them with a determined gleam.
“Bring all the Numbatian doctors and Dr. Samuel here. Investigate their recent interactions and provide me with the hospital layout.”
The director nodded and issued orders to his subordinates. The officials retrieved the hospital layout on their phones and handed it to Finn.
After reviewing it for about five minutes, Finn noted that there were several corridors in the hospital, with surveillance cameras dispersed throughout. However, there were no cameras in the fire escape routes. If the cameras in that area were malfunctioning, it would lead to the fire escape routes.
Aoife most likely escaped through there. But how could she have evaded all the cameras outside?
To remain untraceable and avoid all surveillance cameras, the only solution was by waterway.
The person assisting Aoife was clever, making her disappearance a mystery. Finding her would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
…
Aoife spent five days at sea before reaching her destination with the man who accompanied her, settled her into a house, provided her with essential items, gave her a brief overview of the surroundings, and then left.
Aoife seemed satisfied with her new surroundings-an isolated town with ample resources, convenient living conditions, and low prices suitable for someone with limited funds.
The residents of the town were curious about the arrival of this young newcomer.
Aoife had grown more cautious. In order to live a quiet life and avoid detection by Finn, she needed to keep a low profile. She applied dark foundation to her face, making it appear pale, wore rough clothing and a scarf to cover half her face.
With her disguised appearance, she blended in with the crowd, making her unrecognizable.
Aoife prepared a plot of land, sowed cabbage seeds, and expected to harvest fresh cabbage in two to three months. Having been born and raised in the countryside, farming activities were simple for her.
In addition to tending the land, she purchased poultry from the town. Despite her weakened state and struggle to endure physical tasks, she managed to persevere. Fatigued after just an hour or two, she would quickly become short of breath and dizzy upon standing.
It was suggested by others that she was suffering from anemia. Aoife had previously been diagnosed with severe malnutrition, despite Finn’s attempts to provide her with supplements and delicacies. However, nutrition could not be restored overnight.
Unable to afford luxury foods, Aoife resorted to buying local eggs and inexpensive bones from pigs and cows. She was given additional bones by the seller and used them to make soup at home.
Although she became nauseated from the dietary changes, the regimen proved effective. After two weeks, her complexion visibly improved, and the abdominal pains that had troubled her earlier began to subside.
A month had passed, and the foreign climate was much colder than her homeland. Aoife decided to venture out to purchase two blankets and some warm clothing in preparation for winter.
The town lacked many essentials, prompting her to consider traveling to the county for a larger supermarket. However, Aoife was apprehensive, fearing Finn would track her down.
Uncertain about the circumstances outside, the tranquility of the past few days had almost made her forget that she was on the run for her life.
At times, she lay awake at night, contemplating Finn’s engagement to Lily and the imminent establishment of their new family. Thinking ahead, when they eventually had children, Aoife would no longer have a place in Finn’s revised life. She wondered if she would ever be able to return home by then.
In Numbatian culture, there was a saying: “falling leaves return to their roots.” Death could not be outrun, and one day she would pass away. She longed to return to her familiar homeland.
Lost in her thoughts, Aoife found herself in the town’s center, which was bustling with people-unusual for its usual tranquil atmosphere. The lively chatter and music drew her attention, and she noticed a familiar voice singing along with a guitar.
Squinting her eyes, Aoife was stunned at the sight before her.
How could Ethan be there?
Ethan was passionately playing the guitar and singing, his voice slightly hoarse. He sat amidst his belongings, which were contained in a guitar case, and he appeared downtrodden, without even a hundred dollars to his name.
Why was Ethan here? And how did he end up in such destitution, busking in this small town?
Fate worked in mysterious ways, bringing old acquaintances together in unexpected places.
Before Aoife could react, Ethan had already spotted her and approached, calling out, “Aoife?”
Realizing that he had not mistaken her identity, Ethan walked toward her, still in disbelief and wondering if he was hallucinating or dreaming.
Painfully pinching his own thigh, he winced in confirmation-it was no dream.
“It’s me,” Aoife nodded stiffly. “Ethan, what are you doing here?”
“To tell the truth, it’s a long story. And what about you?”
“It’s a long story on my end, too.”
The onlookers who had been enjoying his music asked Ethan, “Young man, are you still singing?”
“I’m done for today. Today’s performance is over,” Ethan replied.