"Enough stalling! Team Three, move in! We have a missing person—female, twenty-four. Exact location unknown," Connor ordered, and the rescue workers geared up, heading into the garage.

Mandy grabbed Wade's arm. "Wade, it's dangerous in there. Just let them handle it."

"No way—I'm the team leader. Stay here, okay? Just wait for me."

Connor stepped in, pulling Mandy aside. "Civilians stay behind the barrier—don't interfere with the rescue," he ordered firmly.

Mandy huffed, stamping her foot as she moved back.

I had to laugh. Mandy—only a fool like Wade would fall for your act. No one else would give you a second glance.

I drifted along behind Wade as he stepped into the garage. The mud was up to his thighs, making it tough even for him to move. And here I was, buried somewhere, with no one even sure where to start looking.

Turns out, the garage cameras had been out, so no one had seen me go in. Mr. Jordan and his team only realized I was in here because of the desperate message I'd sent over chat.

My car was parked in Section D, way at the back of the garage.

One of Wade's teammates yanked his leg free from the thick mud, catching his breath. "Wade, isn't your girlfriend in this complex too? Did she...?"

"Nah," Wade said tightly. "Tia's all about proving a point. No way she'd be out here."

"But didn't she call, saying she was trapped?"

Wade pressed his lips into a hard line. "No. She just wanted to make things difficult because she knew I was with Mandy."

"She's always been a pain," he added.

His teammates went silent, while I watched from the sidelines with a bitter smile.

Me? A pain? First time I'd ever heard that.

No, I wasn't soft-spoken like Mandy, but I'd always been independent. The first time I reached out for help, he brushed me off, so I'd stopped asking. Until today—when I had no choice but to call him. And to him, I was just a nuisance.

Wade, if you knew ignoring me had led to my death, would you even regret?

It took more than forty rescuers and property staff ten hours to find me.

In the end, it was Mr. Jordan who spotted my body. Bloated, lifeless, with mud clogging my mouth and nose, I was wedged against a car emblem, barely held in place by that small anchor. He pointed a shaking finger at my form, buried in the muck. "It... it's her!"

Rescue workers cheered, trudging through the mud to bring over a stretcher and pull my body free.

Once they placed me on it, they all went quiet, heads bowed as they grimaced at my lifeless form. Connor took a deep breath, and after a moment of silence, gave the signal. Together, they lifted me out of the garage.

Wade's team joined them, helping to carry me up. He shook his head. "Who would come down to the garage at a time like this? Anyone with common sense wouldn't step foot here now. What a waste."

As they carried me outside, a gust of wind blew past, loosening my hand to reveal the necklace clenched in my fingers.

Wade turned away, and I snorted. Wade, look at us—did we ever actually get each other? If you'd just turn around, maybe you'd notice the dead one here is me.

This necklace? Yeah, it was your big gift, that one birthday two years ago. Two whole years, and it was the only thing you ever bothered to give me.

Honestly, I died way too disappointed to hang on to anything of yours. That's why I tore it off. From now on, Wade, I'm done clinging to you.

But of course, Wade didn't notice a thing. Instead, Mandy scampered over from the sidelines, shivering. "Wade, you worked so hard," she cooed, pulling out a tissue to wipe the mud off his face.

"It's nothing. It's what we're here for."

Mandy said, "I still don't know what that lady was thinking, going down to the garage in a storm."

"Honestly, some people are just set on getting themselves in trouble," Wade muttered. "We did everything we could. She was the one—"

Connor walked by and cut him off with a sharp glare. "Enough, Wade. You're a rescue worker; show some respect for the dead. I shouldn't have to remind you of that! And don't think you're getting off easy this time. I expect a full report at headquarters."

Mandy jumped to Wade's defense. "But why punish him? He only showed up late because he was helping me!"

"It was a human life, Wade. We'll handle this back at the station. And you, Miss Beech"—he shot Mandy a cold stare—"next time, don't waste public resources. If your cat's on the loose, that's your problem. Don't expect anyone else to come running."

Connor had never tried to hide his dislike for Mandy. He couldn't stand how she'd flirt with anyone's boyfriend and somehow always wrangle her way into Wade's good side.

Anytime Connor caught Wade treating me like dirt because of her, he'd try to knock some sense into him. But hey, he was just Wade's captain, not his dad—so those warnings usually went ignored. This time, though, Connor had hit his limit.

Mandy's face flushed with irritation. "Wade, who does he think he is, talking to me like that?"

"Enough. He's the captain. Just let it go and head home—I'll see you after I check in."

He patted her arm, but Mandy wasn't about to let go. "Why don't you come over? I made cream soup to thank you for saving Momo." Momo, her fluffy Ragdoll cat. Wade hesitated, then nodded and tried calling me.

But my phone was dead. Completely out.

Annoyance flickered across his face. "Fine, playing games again. If you're not going to answer, then don't ever pick up," he muttered.

I sighed. 'Don't worry. I really won't ever pick up again. Happy now?'

He snapped his phone shut and went back to the station, where Connor was already waiting, ready to tear into him.

When he found out Wade had wasted half an hour on a cat rescue, Connor lost it. "This job means keeping personal stuff separate. That delay cost a life! I'm filing a formal report, so get ready for disciplinary action."

"I-Isn't that a bit much?" Wade stammered. "I had another assignment, that's all!"

"Oh? Really? Who authorized that? Got anything in writing?"

Wade fell silent, totally stuck. Mandy's "emergency" wasn't exactly official—just a quick call she'd made on the sly.

The property management team had alerted the rescue squad the moment they realized I was missing. But Wade showed up a whole half hour late. If he'd been just five minutes late instead, I wouldn't be dead.

After Connor tore into him, Wade went off to write his report. Four hours later, they'd finally cleaned up my body. The property management team ID'd me and sent my info over to the station.

Connor's face froze as he skimmed the report. He hurried to the office, catching Wade just as he was heading out.

"Wade! Where are you going? Your girlfriend, she..."

"Don't bring her up," Wade muttered, brushing it off. "She's just trying to make a point—saying she was trapped, then ignoring my calls. No idea what kind of game she's playing."

Connor handed him the report. "Here. This is the deceased's info. Take a look."

"Why would I want to look at..." Wade trailed off, staring at the papers, his hands starting to shake. His eyes went wide, and after a long, stunned pause, he muttered, "No... no, this isn't... it can't be her!"

"Why don't you go see for yourself?"