Chapter 8
Daniel couldn’t sleep, no matter what he tried.
Irritated, he pulled out his phone. The news feed was flooded with the latest reports the story about a woman driving off the bridge into the river.
M
A few civic–minded bystanders had even uploaded a video from another angle. He almost clicked it. His breath caught.
The comments spread like wildfire, filled with panic and speculation.
“Holy crap! We were filming a little fitness video by the river, and this girl just drove right into it!”
“She looked so young, like she just wanted to end it. That expression- so cold, so determined. She must’ve been through hell to get here. Damn.”
“I heard this is Daniel Durke’s wife, Gabriella. Is that true? Police are sending divers, trying to recover the body. They called Daniel, but he doesn’t even believe it.”
“No way… that’s really Gabriella. I recognize her. Daniel brought her to an event I attended. She’s such a nice person. How could she…”
The world around Daniel fell silent. His eyes locked on the woman in the driver’s seat. He watched her press the accelerator, crash onto the overpass, and disappear into the river’s depths.
For a heartbeat, Daniel felt as if he himself were sinking into that
endlage funami
Chapter 8
1283 Mouchers
A weak voice broke through above him. “Dad, this isn’t real, right? Mom… Mom wouldn’t drive into the river. It’s fake, right?”
Jerome hadn’t been able to sleep either. His mind kept replaying his mother, and seeing that video made his words catch painfully.
His lips were pale, his round eyes wide with disbelief.
He had seen his mom plunge into the river with his own eyes, on that
screen…
Daniel froze, staring at Jerome, numb, unable to think.
Then, almost instinctively, he shot up and bolted toward the door. “Jerry! Stay here! I’m going to find Mom!”
But Jerome shook his head stubbornly, clinging tightly to his dad’s leg. “No, Dad! I’m going with you! I need to see her.”
He had to see for himself that his mom wasn’t really gone.
Daniel didn’t argue. He scooped up Jerome, jumped into the car, and raced toward the river.
On the way, he forced himself to speak, trying to steady both their hearts. “Jerry, Mom’s going to be okay.”
Through the rearview mirror, Jerome gave a blank nod, trusting him despite everything.
When they arrived, the riverbank was pitch black. Only the grass along the edge was lit by a few spotlights. Yellow police tape blocked access, and the air was heavy with tension.
Daniel held Jerome in his arms, moving cautiously forward. The lead officer noticed them and hurried over.
Chapter 8
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“Are you Mr. Daniel Durke?” the officer asked.
“Yes.”
The man hesitated. “So far… we haven’t recovered your wife’s body. I’m sorry.”
The words hit Daniel like a sledgehammer. His legs felt as if they were sinking into the mud beneath him.
“Are you certain it was my wife, Gabriella Watson?”
“We’ve reviewed multiple camera angles. No doubt about it. At this point, there’s not a trace left. The odds of her surviving are extremely low. You should prepare for the worst.”
The officer’s blunt honesty was harsh but necessary.
Jerome jumped from Daniel’s arms and fell awkwardly to the ground. He grabbed the officer’s uniform, crying, barely able to speak. “Officer, you’re wrong, right? Maybe my mom swam to shore? Please, take me to her…”
The officer, moved by Jerome’s desperation, helped him up gently. “Kid, I’m sorry. She’s not coming back.”
He shook his head and returned to his post, leaving Daniel and Jerome staring into the dark, merciless river.
