Chapter 3

It was called a deep mountain, but it was only about a hundred miles from our city.

Still, it was incredibly remote. There were no high-speed trains or even regular trains, and the only way in was by car, navigating winding mountain roads.

The desolate mountain village was called Leech Slope. There had even been news reports about hikers getting lost there, found drained of blood.

They said only a few households remained, with just a handful of elderly, infirm residents still clinging to the village.

I couldn't imagine how Chelsea knew about such a place, or how she dared to take my daughter there.

At first, there was a winding mountain road, but further in, it turned into dirt paths carved out by villagers long ago.

It was nearly dark when Damon and I finally arrived at Leech Slope.

I immediately spotted the ramshackle hut Chelsea had been in during the video call. I leaped out of the car, rushing towards it.

Inside, a heavy smell of damp mold mixed with cigarette smoke hit me, making it hard to breathe.

Chelsea was sprawled on a tattered bed covered with a thin quilt, leisurely puffing on a cigarette.

Incensed, I grabbed her by the collar, screaming at her.

"Where is Willow? Where have you hidden her?!"

To my surprise, Chelsea wasn't shocked to see me. Instead, she yanked my hand away and met my gaze with a defiant smirk.

"Hmm… let me think. Oh! I remember! I think I sent her up the mountain to pick tea leaves!"

"That little conniving brat is so cheap, isn't she? Still not back this late. Maybe she's off flirting with some random guys in the mountains!"

Chelsea's smirk, devoid of any genuine warmth, her eyes mocking, made me feel like I'd been struck by lightning.

I finally snapped, seizing her hair, ready to slap her across her smug face.

But just as my hand went up, a large hand grabbed my wrist, almost making me stumble.

"Iris! We're here to get our daughter, not for you to start a fight!"

Then, with a look of doting concern, Damon pulled Chelsea into his arms, murmuring softly.

"It's okay, honey. Don't be scared, I'm here. No one will hurt you…"

"Waaah, Damon, you heartless man! You finally came for me. If I hadn't sent you that video, would you never have come to find me…?"

These two despicable people, uncaring about my daughter, were flaunting their affection right in front of me. I felt like my head would explode.

I shoved Chelsea out of Damon's arms, screaming hysterically at him.

"I came to find Willow, not to watch you two making out like cheap sluts!"

Damon, in turn, slapped me again and roared back.

"Why are you screaming like a banshee? Can't you see you're scaring Chelsea?!"

"She just told you Willow went to pick tea leaves. It's dark now, but she's not stupid, she'll come back, right?!"

It was then that I noticed a small pile of dry grass on the floor. It was stained with dark, dried blood.

A sudden intuition sent a jolt of ice through my heart. I pointed at Chelsea, demanding.

"Is this blood Willow's? It's freezing in the mountains, and you made her sleep curled up on this pile of grass?!"

"Yeah, didn't you see this tiny shack only has one bed? It's too small, I couldn't let her squeeze in with me, could I?"

Before Chelsea could finish her sentence, I finally slapped her.

"The video… Willow's broken legs, her body covered in pinched, festering wounds—it was all real, wasn't it?"