The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 289

Those few casual words from Julian instantly shattered the last of Miles's sanity.

Through the pouring rain, Miles charged into the restricted zone like a madman.

Jared slammed the car into park, sprinting after him and grabbing his arm.

"Are you insane?! That building is already half-collapsed! Do you have a death wish?"

Miles possessed terrifying strength. He viciously shoved Jared away, sending him sprawling into the mud.

His voice was hoarse, his eyes burning with absolute obsession.

"Let go. She's in there. I have to find her."

"The site was cleared hours ago! Everyone made it out! Claire is too smart to get trapped in there. Use your head!"

A deafening roar filled his ears, accompanied by the howling wind.

Miles couldn't hear a word.

"I haven't seen her. I have to go in and find her. I can't risk it."

The final trace of rationality vanished from the man's eyes. Driven purely by a suicidal devotion, he broke past the danger line.

Crash!

The ground violently shook as the remaining half of the factory finally surrendered to the storm and collapsed.

"Miles!" Jared watched in pure horror, his heart practically stopping.

Amidst the billowing dust and debris, Miles stumbled but forced himself back up, charging straight into the wreckage.

He dropped to his knees at the entrance, digging through the jagged bricks and concrete with his bare hands. His palms were torn to shreds, bleeding profusely, while his entire body convulsed with uncontrollable muscle spasms.

The psychosomatic symptoms were ravaging him, but he ignored them, clawing at the rubble like a man possessed.

Mud splashed over his entire body, his drenched shirt clinging tightly to his back.

Blood poured from his fingertips, yet he felt no physical agony.

If she was still in there... that would be the true torment, a soul-crushing agony far worse than death.

Watching Miles's desperate, pathetic state, Julian burst into a fit of arrogant, piercing laughter from behind the barricade.

"Miles, Claire is dead! I couldn't have her, and now neither can you!"

The man turned around slowly, his movements stiff and mechanical.

The moment he saw her, a flicker of confusion crossed his face. But then, as if his mind couldn't process it, he turned right back to the debris, digging and clawing relentlessly.

Claire's throat tightened. She lunged forward, throwing her arms around him.

She held the trembling, broken man tightly against her chest.

"Claire... Claire..."

His voice was brutally raspy as he repeated her name over and over, like a broken record.

"Let me go... I have to find Claire. I have to save her..."

Realizing something was deeply wrong, Claire gently cupped his blood-stained face.

"I'm right here. Miles, look at me. I'm right here. I'm not trapped in there."

"Don't be afraid. I'm here. Touch me. I'm right in front of you."

She grabbed his ruined hands and pressed them against her own cheeks.