Willa was still puzzled, "Do you think the Malones found out about your mom—"
"Willa, just take Kari home, please."
Ronald walked away briskly.
"Kari, this—"
"Mom, there was an explosion at the chemical plant this afternoon, and Calista was there."
Kari's eyes were rimmed with red; the bracelet was Calista's, and it was likely Calista was gone.
Willa's face turned pale, "What about Ronald?"
If Calista was gone, Ronald would be left with no family.
Kari worried about Ronald and didn't know what to do.
The chemical plant incident caused an uproar, and the bodyguards in the alley vanished into thin air that night.
For several days in a row, Kari waited at the alley entrance for Ronald.
But Ronald had disappeared without a trace.
News came from the police station: Calista was dead.
Killed in the explosion.
Calista had few friends, and with Ronald missing, no one was there to take care of the arrangements.
Willa thought it over and visited the police station, only to be told that Calista had been claimed.
"By whom?"
"Not sure, a middle-aged woman."
Willa left the police station, saw Kari's tear-streaked face, and sighed, "Don't be sad; this is the end of it."
With Calista gone, many in the alley whispered, making Kari even more uneasy and concerned for Ronald.
Ronald remained unseen for over half a month.
Kari was distracted in class, did poorly on a test, and was called into the office. By the time she left, it was already nine at night.
Getting off the bus and walking home through the alley, which was dimly lit, making the whole place even more eerie.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart