"Okay."
Chloe Reed nodded. Utterly drained, she leaned back against a tree trunk, so exhausted she felt like she was about to pass out.
A river lay ahead, opening up the view. As the sky slowly brightened, the world around them came into focus.
Daniel Hayes was looking around for something to eat.
Chloe Reed was a mess. Her hair was tangled, and her cheeks were scratched by branches. Caked in a mixture of sweat and dirt, she was utterly filthy.
She plopped down on the grass, took a few sips from her water bottle, and then pulled some compressed biscuits from her backpack.
"Daniel, here, have some of this."
Daniel Hayes turned and, seeing the compressed biscuits, said with some surprise, "You brought these?"
"Yeah." Chloe Reed nodded weakly. "I knew someone was watching me, so I figured we couldn’t risk starting a fire in the jungle. That’s why I bought some."
Daniel Hayes took them and sat down beside her to eat.
The compressed biscuits didn’t taste good, but they were filling. After she finished, she closed her eyes.
"Can we rest for a little while?"
Daniel Hayes nodded. "You get some rest. I’ll keep watch."
"Thank you, Daniel." Chloe Reed managed a weak smile.
Daniel Hayes waved his hand. "Don’t mention it. We’re friends, aren’t we?"
A wave of warmth washed over Chloe Reed.
She was truly moved that a friend would treat her this well.
’I have to survive. I can’t hold Daniel back. Once we deal with the people tailing us, we can get out of here.’
’Vera Holloway is closing in. I can’t keep running. I have to go on the offensive. Then, whether I live or die, I’ll have no regrets.’
She was utterly exhausted. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she drifted off to sleep in moments.
...
’She should have talked to me and made things clear!’
’She should have told me herself that she doesn’t care about the past and that she’s willing to start over with me.’
’I have to find her and ask her what she’s really thinking!’
A ringing sound came from his earpiece. He tapped it, his tone heavy. "Speak."
"Mr. Grant, the suburban villa was raided. Sunny Reed is gone." The call was from the bodyguard in Breyburn in charge of the villa.
Walker Grant’s brow furrowed. "Who were the attackers?"
"I’m... still investigating. They were fast, and their objective was clear. They were after Sunny Reed," the bodyguard said hesitantly.
Walker Grant asked coldly, "What about everyone else?"
"Some are injured and still unconscious, others are fine. Only Sunny Reed was taken," the bodyguard reported.
"I see," Walker Grant said. "Handle the aftermath. Get Nathaniel Monroe on this. Have him find out who’s behind it." He finished speaking coldly and hung up.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce