The Vanishing Heiress

Chapter 16

"Hello, are you Ms. Smith?"

A tall boy with sun-kissed skin and a bright smile approached, his teeth gleaming white as he held up his phone. He stood a head taller than Megan Sullivan.

"Yes, I am. You must be Andy?" Megan nodded in response.

"That's me!" Andy's grin widened. "The landlord and the research institute asked me to pick you up."

Noticing Megan carried only a backpack, he didn't offer to take it but instead walked beside her, maintaining a respectful international social distance.

"Dominica is a small island nation with around 80,000 people. Since it's your first time here, the landlord didn't want you getting lost. I'm a tenant too—I live right below you."

As they exited the tiny airport, Andy explained the situation.

Megan had immigrated under a new passport, which allowed her to update her name without any trace of her previous identity.

Now, all her documents bore the name Sophia Smith.

Everything about Megan Sullivan from the capital had been completely erased.

No one would ever know that Sophia Smith was once Megan—except herself.

The apartment, arranged by her prison officer friend, Xiao Chen, was a loft with views of the sea and a distant volcano.

"Thank you—both you and the landlord," Megan said with a smile. "As thanks, how about I cook you both a Chinese meal tonight?"

"Really? That's amazing!" Andy nearly jumped with excitement. "Honestly, the landlord and I haven't had Chinese food in ages. No exaggeration—it's the best cuisine in the world. Though… I can't handle much spice."

He scratched his head sheepishly.

"No problem. I can make non-spicy dishes too."

Megan responded warmly to the earnest, bashful young man.

"That's perfect! If you're willing to cook Chinese food two or three times a week, I bet the landlord would happily knock off a quarter—maybe even half—your rent!"

Andy beamed, his freckles seeming to dance with joy.

Megan's mood lifted just watching him.

It was only the beginning, but she already felt the boundless promise of her new life.

Meanwhile, back in the capital…

Ethan Sterling tossed and turned all night.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Megan—gaunt, hollow-eyed, her neck marred by dark bruises.

In his dream, she stared at him coldly.

No adoration. No warmth.

Ethan couldn't bear it.

This isn't right. It shouldn't be like this. How could Megan look at him with such detachment?

"I know the truth now. I know everything that happened… I was wrong—"

Stumbling over his words, Ethan—who never apologized—tried to explain.

Megan cut him off with icy disdain.

"So what? One 'I was wrong' erases seven years of false accusations and suffering?"

Her lips curled. "Should I thank you for your mercy?"

Ethan froze, his chest tightening with pain.

"No—that's not what I meant. I know you were wronged terribly. But… can you give me a chance to make it right? Where are you? Please, just tell me—"

"Make it right?" Megan laughed bitterly. "Since when do people like you seek redemption?"

Her gaze was glacial, brimming with hatred.

"Ethan Sterling, I hate you. I will never forgive you."

The words struck like a curse.

Ethan jolted awake, heart pounding.

The night wasn't even over yet.

Dawn hadn't broken.

Then, his phone rang abruptly.

It was his assistant, Liam.

Frowning, Ethan answered.

Liam's voice was eerily calm—like he was delivering a routine report.

"Mr. Sterling… Rachel Montgomery just jumped off a building."