Betrayed and Dumped She Rose Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 555

The car raced down the coastal road and screeched to a stop. Bruce’s two bodyguards, heads hanging low, pointed at the jagged edge of the cliff ahead. “It was here,” one of them mumbled, barely above a whisper. “She jumped from this spot.” Before the words could hang in the air, Stephen’s men shoved them to their knees, forcing them to face the drop.

Stephen’s eyes were bloodshot. He rushed to the cliff’s edge in just a few stumbling steps. The wild, crashing waves below made his chest feel tight and heavy. He yanked off his jacket and tossed it at the man in sunglasses, who lunged forward and grabbed his arm, panic flashing across his face. “Mr. Duncan, the local rescue team is on their way. Please, just wait a little longer.”

“I can’t wait even for a second,” Stephen said. He shoved the man aside and dove off the cliff. The splash sent water flying high into the air. The man in sunglasses just stared, frozen in shock. He’d never seen anyone act out of love like that.

An hour later, Paul arrived with the rescue team. He scanned the scene, but Stephen was nowhere in sight. “Where is he?” he demanded.

The man in sunglasses let out a long sigh and pointed to the edge. “He jumped down.”

Paul’s brow knit together. “How long ago?”

“An hour.”

The rescue team leader looked stunned and immediately started organizing the search. Paul stood rooted to the spot, staring at the endless blue water. His heart twisted painfully. If he were Stephen, would he have been brave enough to jump?

The sun climbed higher, warming everyone with its light, but Paul only felt more anxious. Another hour ticked by, and still, there was no sign of them.

Suddenly, a shout echoed up from below. “We found him! We found him!” Relief rushed through Paul, like a huge weight lifting off his chest. He looked down and saw Stephen alone on the deck of the rescue boat. Stephen’s shoulders slumped, his gaze blank as he looked out to sea.

Where was Rebecca? Had they not found her? Pain stabbed at Paul’s heart all over again.

The boat docked. Stephen stepped off, soaked from head to toe, silent and hollow-eyed. His face was ashen, his expression numb. The answer was clear, and Paul didn’t have it in him to ask if Rebecca had been found.

Stephen pulled on his jacket in slow, automatic movements, his eyes fixed on something far away. He seemed to know what Paul wanted to ask, and his voice was steady, almost stubborn. “She must be fine. Otherwise...” He trailed off. He didn’t finish, but Paul understood what he meant. Otherwise, her body would have already washed up.

Paul didn’t know what to say. He swallowed his own grief and tried to offer some comfort, maybe for Stephen, maybe for himself. “She’s a strong swimmer. Tougher than most girls. She’ll make it.”

One of the rescue workers started to say something about how the ocean didn’t let people off easy, but he glanced at the two men and shut his mouth. They’d been through enough. There was no need to make it worse.

Somewhere, long lashes fluttered and a pair of clear, watery eyes slowly opened. The ceiling above was pure white. Her pajamas had blue stripes. The sharp scent of disinfectant lingered in the air.

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