Chapter 396:
Drained of strength, he was unable to resist, completely at the mercy of this mysterious figure.
Rhys maneuvered Jett deeper into the reeds, and about ten minutes later, Amory found them. Suddenly, a faint rustling emerged from beyond the reeds, breaking the stillness of the moment. Rhys immediately pinned Amory down, whispering for him to keep a watchful eye on Jett, before he slipped to the boundary of the reeds to scout the area.
Peering out, Rhys saw Kendall and a woman he didnât recognize, both aiming their weapons in his direction. Then, beside them, he saw the woman who haunted his thoughts constantlyâ¦
Surprise flashed across Rhysâ face, swiftly replaced by a burst of elation. In the blink of an eye, he emerged from the reeds, his steps purposeful as he approached the three of them.
Rhys dipped his head, his intense gaze softening with a touch of warmth.
âAre you tired? Are you hurt?â he asked Harlee.
Rhys didnât bother questioning Harleeâs presence.
His eyes scanned her quickly, his only concern whether she was hurt.
He avoided posing questions when he already held the answers. The sight of Harlee in this unexpected place surely meant Patrick had relayed his circumstances to her.
Whether driven by genuine concern or moved by compassion, her motives distilled simply to âcare.â This thought alone sparked joy within him, warming his heart with the realization that to her, he was more than an unfamiliar face. This sentiment sufficed.
Kendall, off to the side, gazed at Rhys, his expression painted with disbelief. Was this truly the same man he had met mere days before, whose heart seemed encased in a shell of frost? Could he indeed be exuding such softness now? Yet, if it were for Harlee, his adored idol⦠Well, that was entirely understandable. In the end, Harleeâs allure was simply too captivating for anyone to deny.
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Harlee offered a slight, acknowledging nod, her eyes reflecting a quiet appreciation for Rhysâ attentive concern.
Among those with keen minds, there was no room for pointless formalities.
Having swiftly shared updates with Rhys, who confirmed that a lone agent from Dark Night still lurked, Harlee whipped out her customized phone and initiated a video call to Robbie.
Rhys slipped a hand into his pocket, realizing his phone had no signal. It seemed wherever they ended up, she somehow always found a way to leave him astonished.
After securing two critical points on the map, Harlee issued her commands with calm authority.
âRobbie, team up with Ritchie at entrance C. Track the path marked by green and connect with us at point B.â
âOkay, Harlee.
And what about those twoâ¦â
âRetrace your steps, back the way you came!â Harlee commanded decisively.
Turning her attention to Rhys, Harlee inquired with a raised eyebrow, âIâm tied up with another task.
Are you able to navigate out of here on your own?â
Rhys paused, absorbing the gravity of her question. In that moment of silence, Patrick stepped closer, his voice laced with concern.
âMiss Sanderson, we are fully capable of handling ourselves. Yet, if you find yourself in need, weâd be more than willing to join Robbie and meet up with you.â
Harlee dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
âNo need. Your presence would only hinder us.â
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