BookToReadChapter 510 Gwyneth Langford woke early that morning and made herself a quick breakfast- two fried eggs and a glass of milk. She'd just taken a bite of toast when the doorbell rang.
She went to answer it, surprised to find her landlady standing on the doorstep.
Letting her in, Gwyneth tried to figure out what this was about. Her lease hadn't expired; she'd paid all her bills on time. Why show up so suddenly? "Miss Langford, I'm terribly sorry, but my son recently got engaged and they need a place to live, so we won't be able to renew the lease. I'll refund you the rest of your rent, of course." The landlady looked suitably apologetic, but Gwyneth couldn't shake the feeling that this was all a little too convenient. She'd been job hunting for weeks with no luck, and now, suddenly, she was being kicked out? There was only one person she could think of behind this-Bill Crawford.
"Alright," Gwyneth said briskly, holding out her phone for the landlady to scan and refund the remaining rent.
"I'm sorry, Miss Langford, but could you possibly move out today?" the landlady pressed. Now that the money was transferred, she didn't bother to hide her impatience. Gwyneth doubted this had anything to do with her son needing a place; more likely, she just wanted to get another tenant in as soon as possible.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtGwyneth didn't argue. "No problem." She saw the landlady out, closed the door, and finished her simple breakfast. Then she packed a few clothes- leaving most things behind and left with just a small suitcase.
Half an hour later, Gwyneth was at the Greenvale Grand Hotel, sliding a sleek black card across the reception desk. The clerk stared, wide-eyed, and took the card with both hands, instantly more respectful.
"I'd like to book ten nights," Gwyneth said.
"In the presidential suite?" the receptionist asked, clearly aware that anyone with a card like this was no ordinary guest.
Gwyneth smiled politely. "No need for anything extravagant. An executive suite will be fine." Luxury wasn't her style. The receptionist looked a little disappointed, but quickly handed back her card and the room keys.
Three hundred thousand for ten nights—a small fortune for most people, but Gwyneth didn't bat an eye.
Once settled, she ordered hiking gear online a weatherproof jacket, lightweight trekking poles, and a one-person tent. If she couldn't find a job right now, why not take a few days to herself? She could go camping, climb the mountains, watch a breathtaking sunrise, drink from cold springs, and breathe in the crisp, clean air.
As for Bill Crawford, there was no way his reach could extend into the Langford family's hotels in Greenvale. The Langford Group guarded their clients' privacy fiercely-unless her own mother demanded it, no one was getting their hands on guest information.
Bill Crawford was the kind of man who resorted to cheap tricks. Gwyneth was immune to that sort of thing-and honestly, she'd never thought much of him anyway. Even the spoiled sons of nouveau riche families in Starfall City had more class and ambition than Bill. As far as Gwyneth was concerned, he was out of her life for good.
She spent the night at the hotel, then left at three in the morning, catching a cab to the base of Mount Wyvernrest. With a lantern in hand and her tent slung over her shoulder, she started her ascent.
The mountain was tall, shrouded in lush green forest, and known for its spectacular sunrises. Over the years, so many hikers had climbed up in the pre- dawn hours that a clear path had formed-easy enough to follow, even in the dark.
After half an hour, Gwyneth reached a scenic overlook. The night wind whipped around her, cold and sharp, and the feeble moonlight
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmon the leaves before being swallowed by the darkness. silence was almost absolute, broken only by the O M e susurration or wind in the trees.
Gwyneth felt a thrill run through her-she wasn't afraid of the dark or the solitude.
Back in Starfall City and abroad, it was so easy to lose yourself in the endless lights and noise. Only out here, faced with the raw grandeur of nature, could she find herself again and truly reflect on her life. She was young, but the weight she carried would have crushed someone else. Only in the wild, under the vast sky, did she feel her burdens lift and her heart settle.
After a short rest on the overlook, she pressed on. Occasionally, she heard the distant call of a bird from deep in the woods. The further she climbed, the lighter the sky grew at the horizon.
Then, just as she rounded a bend, she thought she heard something-broken, frantic words carried on the wind. "Letgo! Please, letgo-"
It was the middle of the night, in the wilderness. Gwyneth wondered if she was imagining things. But Mount Wyvernrest was popular with hikers; it was hard to believe something bad could happen here. She held her breath, straining to listen. There it was again—a girl's voice, desperate and pleading.
"Help! Letgo, please—"
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