Nora and Eleanor left the hospital room one after the other.
Nora knew that no matter how she asked, Eleanor would never admit the truth.
So she didn’t bother to say anything.
After stepping out of the doctor’s office, Daniel went to check on Hans.
Hans glanced up at him. “Neither of them have been found?”
“No,” Daniel replied.
He filled Hans in on how David had threatened Una. Whatever Hans decided to do next, that was up to him.
“I’ll keep things steady at the company for you. Focus on recovering,” Daniel told him.
Hans closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you.”
“Word about David has already gotten back. I’d expect someone from the Cooper family to show up in the next day or two,” Daniel reminded him quietly.
Hans nodded again. “I know. After all these years, some things just need to be cleared up.”
“There’s something else I’d like to discuss with you…”
Later, Daniel and Nora left the hospital together.
On the drive back, neither of them spoke.
Halfway home, Will answered a call.
He turned from the front seat. “Mr. Chambers, we’ve found her.”
Nora, who’d been leaning listlessly against the window with her eyes closed, immediately sat up straight.
“Who did you find?” she pressed.
“Ms. Lawson,” Will replied.
Nora’s hand, resting on her knee, balled tightly into a fist.
Una.
They’d found Una.
“How… How is she?” Nora’s chest tightened. She already knew the odds weren’t good, but she had to ask anyway.
Will was silent for a couple of seconds, his voice gentle. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Just those few words said it all.
A wave of darkness washed over Nora; her ears rang so loudly she couldn’t hear anything else.
She’d known, deep down, that in those circumstances Una’s chances were slim. Still, she’d clung to a shred of hope.
Nora closed her eyes, her breathing evening out.
Will glanced back, a note of concern in his voice. “Mr. Chambers…”
Daniel shot him a cold look. “Double the manpower. Keep searching.”
Then he looked down at Nora, his expression softening as his fingers traced her pale cheek. A wry, bitter smile tugged at his lips.
“She hasn’t slept properly in days. I can’t just stand by and watch her destroy herself over Una.”
Nora was exhausted.
But she refused to rest.
Daniel had no choice but to lie.
Better to suffer once than to live with pain forever.
So he’d deliberately told Will to say Una was dead, to force Nora to let go of that last shred of hope.
“Start preparing for the funeral,” Daniel instructed quietly.
Will agreed, but then hesitated, unable to keep from asking, “What if she finds out the truth, sir?”
“If anyone dares to let that slip,” Daniel warned, his voice icy, “they’ll answer to me.”

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