Chapter 30
Nathan's POV
Everything hurt. My leg. My head.
Even breathing felt painful.
The cold was the worst part.
I was shaking so badly I couldn't stop it no matter how hard I tried.
Kieran held me close, his arm wrapped tightly around me while the rain poured outside the cave.
I could hear it hitting the rocks.
Could hear thunder somewhere far away.
My eyes kept closing on their own.
I tried to stay awake. I really tried. But I was so tired.
"Nathan."
His voice sounded far away. I forced my eyes open weakly.
His face was blurry at first before it slowly focused. Wet hair. His hair cling to his face.
Worried eyes. Worried?
I thought maybe I was imagining it.
I shifted weakly against him, pain immediately shooting through my leg.
A quiet sound escaped my throat.
"Don't move," he muttered softly.
I swallowed painfully.
Everything felt hot and cold at the same time.
I think I was saying something before. Or trying to.
But even I didn't know anymore.
He leaned in.
Kieran leaned his head back against the cave wall.
Then suddenly he laughed quietly.
Not a real laugh. The sad kind.
"You were right about me," he said.
I looked at him weakly.
"I really am just a spoiled brat with daddy issues."
Even in my condition, I almost wanted to laugh.
But his expression stopped me. He looked serious.
His eyes stayed fixed outside the cave.
"I've always hated him," he continued quietly. "My father."
I listened silently. The rain seemed softer now.
"I hated what he did to her. How he ruined her little by little."
His voice sounded different tonight.
I stared at him.
He paused for a long time before speaking again.
"But deep down…" he murmured. "I hated myself more."
I watched his face carefully.
The anger I was used to seeing wasn't there anymore.
Only guilt.
"I hated that I was too weak to do anything."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I watched her turn from this bright, beautiful woman into…" He stopped for a second. "Someone I barely recognized anymore."
"Drinking. Pills. Crying herself to sleep."
I wanted to say something.
But I didn't know what.
He laughed quietly under my breath.
"And I still kept loving both of them anyway."
My fingers curled weakly against his shirt.
My body felt heavier by the second.
Then he looked down at me suddenly.
"When I first read your file," he admitted softly, "you reminded me of myself."
I frowned weakly.
"The way you'd do anything for your mother," he continued. "The guilt."
His eyes stayed on me.
"I know what it feels like to think your existence ruins the people you love."
I breathing shook slightly.
My eyes slowly opened.
My throat tightened instantly.
Mom's words echoed in my head again.
I wish I never had you.
I looked away quickly.
"I know what it feels like to think you're a mistake."
The cave suddenly felt too quiet. Too small.
I stared at him silently. Kieran…
thought that too?
I looked at his face again.
And suddenly all I could see was the little boy from the videos.
The boy waiting for his mother's attention.The boy smiling at the beach.The boy who still loved her even after everything.
My chest ached strangely.
I forced my eyes open wider.
"You're not…" I whispered weakly.
He leaned closer immediately.
"What?"
"You're not a mistake."
The words barely came out. But I meant them. I really did.
Something shifted in his expression for a second. Small. But I saw it.
Then he looked away quickly. The rain outside had slowed.
Kieran carefully moved my head from his lap.
"I'm going to find help," he said quietly.
Immediately panic gripped me. No.
I grabbed his wrist weakly before I could stop myself.
I didn't want him to leave.
Not when everything hurt. Not when I felt this scared. His eyes dropped to my hand.
For a moment he stayed still. Then very gently—
he removed my hand.
"You should rest," he said softly.
I watched him stand up.
My vision blurred again.
Before leaving the cave, he looked back at me one last time.
And somehow—
that hurt more than him leaving.
----
Third POV
Chris stared out at the rain drizzling from the dark sky.
The loud sound of helicopter blades echoed across the stable grounds as another search team arrived.
"Stupid," he muttered under his breath.
Beside him, Patrick Grey touched his shoulder lightly.
"It's going to be fine," Patrick said. "They'll find them soon."
"I know," Chris replied flatly.
His eyes shifted ahead. Mr Finn was approaching.
Chris immediately straightened.
"Mr Finn," he greeted with a smile.
Finn stopped in front of him.
"I heard what happened," he said.
"Yes," Chris replied calmly. "The patrol officers are already searching the woods."
Patrick stood quietly beside them, observing.
Finn nodded once.
At the corner of his eye, Chris noticed Grace arguing desperately with one of the officers.
"I'm coming with the search party," she insisted shakily.
The officer tried to calm her down.
Chris clenched his jaw. Patrick noticed immediately.
"Excuse me," Chris said smoothly before walking toward her.
He reached her and gently held her trembling hands.
"Hey," he said softly. "They'll be found, my love."
Grace looked up at him anxiously.
"I've got the best people searching," he continued, brushing damp strands of hair away from her face. "Besides, the forest isn't even that large."
Her breathing slowly steadied.
Then Chris turned toward Erica Grey.
"Could you help her to one of the rooms?"
"Of course," Erica replied gently.
She wrapped an arm around Grace and slowly guided her away.
Grace looked back one last time before disappearing inside.
Chris sighed softly and dusted off his sleeves, straightening the parts Grace had crumpled while holding onto him.
Patrick walked over again.
"You should at least try to act worried," he muttered under his breath.
Chris glanced at him lazily.
"I get pretending about the Nathan boy," Patrick continued quietly. "But Kieran—"
"He's the idiot who ran back into the woods," Chris interrupted coldly.
Patrick frowned.
"Besides," Chris continued, "it's Kieran. I'm not worried about him."
He looked toward Finn again.
"He has survived worse. He's my son."
Patrick followed his gaze before slowly looking back at him.
Then Chris smirked faintly.
"But I am worried about my investment."
Patrick shook his head slowly.
"You really never change."
"Oh please," Chris scoffed. "Like you're some saint, Patrick Grey."
Patrick's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Stop acting like you're any better than me."
Chris adjusted his cuffs calmly.
"I'm a man who believes in figures," he said smoothly. "And the Crownies figures are not something I'm willing to lose."
He paused briefly.
"I have too much at stake here."
Patrick stared at him silently. Chris stepped forward slightly.
"And don't act like this project doesn't affect you too," he added. "If Crownies fails, we both suffer losses."
Then he smiled faintly.
"So stop pretending to be righteous and come on."
He looked toward the helicopter.
"We still have to find 'my boys.'"
He started walking.
Patrick stayed still for a second before speaking.
"At least I'd never put my family in danger."
Chris laughed quietly without looking back.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, old friend."
And together—
they walked toward the helicopter through the dark cloud