Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1673

Abner had already made the call; his ride would be swinging by to pick him up shortly.

He had just finished a cigarette, a furrow creasing his brow. He didn't mind the cheap nicotine kick, but it always left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth.

The sound of panicked voices drifted over to him, followed by the thudding footsteps of someone running in a frenzy.

"Queena, you gotta check this out, Phoebe just keeled over. She's in a bad way."

Pretending she was just hearing the news, Queena immediately dropped the axe she was holding.

Without giving Abner another glance, she bolted towards the commotion.

Abner kept his spot, puffing away. In his other hand, he fumbled with a match he'd nicked from the stove.

He sauntered toward the scene of the incident, only to find the cook who had given him the cigarette sobbing over a woman's lifeless body.

The faces of the onlookers were grim; Queena had delivered the bleak news with a blunt, "She's a goner."

In just a short span, another life had slipped away—the gossipy Phoebe, of all people.

Murder wasn't a thought that crossed their minds; they simply couldn't fathom it. They chalked it up to a sudden, inexplicable death.

Someone let out a heavy sigh, urging the crowd to "grieve with restraint."

Abner stood at the fringes, studying the pallor of the deceased woman. Her robust frame, borne of years of farm work, didn't seem the type to just drop dead.

But he was no doctor; he could only cast a suspicious glance towards Queena, who continued to console the crowd, advising them to look after their health.

They were already mourning Fabian, and now this family was struck by another tragedy.

Abner felt bored. His people would be here soon and in three days' time, he'd be out of here.

Once back, he'd investigate who had betrayed him. None of this was his concern.

His gaze swept the area, noticing the absence of Tobias.

At eleven, Tobias was the age to crave excitement, yet he was nowhere to be seen.