It was Rickey calling.


    With an apologetic tone, Rickey exined that Valerie had managed to escape due to his and Leon’s negligence.


    “I’m sorry.


    I let my guard down, thinking Valerie had changed her ways.


    I never expected her to run away.


    She got Den to knock us out, and then she made her escape.


    We’re ready to take any punishment.


    ”


    Lucinda waved off the punishment nonchntly and asked with azy tone, “Where is she now? Have you found her?”


    Regretfully, Rickey responded, “No luck so far.


    We scoured the river all day yesterday, but there was no trace of her.


    We even checked several viges downstream, but she seems to have vanished.


    Given that she was shot and the river was freezing cold, I fear she might not have survived.


    ”


    “Even if she’s dead, I need to see her body.


    ” Lucinda’s voice became cold.


    “Keep searching the nearby viges.


    She couldn’t have gone far.


    She must be hiding somewhere in those viges.


    ”


    “Okay.


    ”


    After ending the call, Lucinda had be wide awake, her mind racing with thoughts.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    She sat on the edge of the bed, fully alert.


    As Nathan felt the cold air sneaking into the cozy bed, Lucinda sat up.


    He frowned with a hint of unease and instinctively held onto the edge of her clothes.


    Beneath the quilt, Lucinda could feel her nightgown tightly sped by him.


    Her gaze fell on Nathan, who was sleeping on his stomach.


    She wondered if his back was bothering him due to her sitting on itst night, or perhaps…


    Leaning over, Lucinda yfully twirled a lock of Nathan’s hair with her fingers and whispered in his ear, “Honey, why are you sleeping like this? Do you need a back massage?”


    Nathan, half-asleep, squinted his eyes and mumbled, “Alright.


    ”


    Lucinda then settled back on the bed and began to gently massage his back.


    However, as her hands moved across his back, a mischievous grin crept onto her face.


    Her fingers traced down his back and came to a halt on his butt.


    She rubbed it carefully through his thin silk pajamas.


    She could clearly feel that there were still welts on it.


    As she continued the massage, he stopped her.


    Nathan, still drowsy, raised his head and gave her a weak smile.


    “Don’t be naughty.


    I’m still sleepy.


    ”


    Lucinda then withdrew from him.