She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 436

Melanie let out a sharp gasp, her entire body jolting in shock.

She shoved him hard, breaking free from his grasp, and spun around to see the man she had just pushed to the ground.

Even in the dim light, his familiar features allowed Melanie to recognize him immediately.

Her eyes widened in absolute disbelief. She looked as though she had just seen a ghost.

"Are you... Everett Kingsley?"

Even as the name left her lips, she couldn't fully trust her own judgment.

She couldn't believe her eyes.

The man sitting in the dirt before her was unkempt, dressed in filthy rags, looking every bit like a homeless drifter.

Yet the way he looked at her was completely pure, like an innocent child.

For a moment, Melanie was entirely at a loss.

Wasn't Everett supposed to be dead?

Why was he here?

Melanie furrowed her brow, a deep suspicion taking root in her chest.

Strictly speaking, no one had ever found Everett's body.

His death had only been legally declared after a prolonged period of being missing.

So...

Everett hadn't died at all. Had he been trafficked here?

Melanie studied him closely and asked in a soft voice, "Everett... you're Everett, right?"

When he didn't answer, she reached out her hand to him.

"It's me. It's Melanie!"

As if the name sparked something inside him, Everett stood up. A brilliant, goofy smile broke out across his dirt-streaked face.

"Beautiful... so hungry. Do you have anything to eat?"

Melanie was rendered speechless.

The realization hit her like a physical blow.

Everett had lost his mind.

"How did this happen..."

A flood of theories and suspicions rushed into her head, but she was still running for her life. This wasn't the time to play detective.

Throughout the entire walk, Everett cowered behind Melanie, trembling like a frightened shadow. The armed men mocked him mercilessly the whole way.

Melanie became even more certain of her previous theory.

Not only had Everett been sold off to this godforsaken place, but his mental state had been permanently reduced to that of a child.

After winding through what felt like an endless maze of corridors, they finally arrived in front of a heavy door.

The door swung open to reveal a massive room packed with imposing, heavily muscled men. Every single one of them was heavily armed.

"P-Pretty lady, are they bad guys? I'm scared..."

Everett tugged nervously at the hem of her shirt, his voice trembling.

Melanie didn't have the luxury of soothing him right now. She forced herself to remain calm.

She was terrified, too!

Daphne had mentioned that the Silverward Brotherhood was one of the more principled armed factions in the area.

But a criminal syndicate was still a criminal syndicate.

There was no guarantee they'd actually spare women and children.

Her heart pounded violently against her ribs, her palms slick with cold sweat, and a thin layer of moisture gathered on her forehead.