Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 283

I asked, "What do you mean she's gone? Didn't she just have surgery? Where could she possibly go?"

Could Marlowe really be so reckless as to abandon her leg? Unbelievable!

Quinlan replied, "She's pretty resourceful. While Jason was busy with work, she somehow slipped past the nurses, grabbed a wheelchair, and just left the hospital."

"Did you check the security footage? How could no one notice a girl in a wheelchair just rolling out?" I frowned, thinking Marlowe sure knew how to cause trouble.

"The staff were dealing with an emergency at the time. The footage shows her leaving alone in the wheelchair, but after that, she vanished. Jason reported it to the police as soon as he found out."

It was hard to believe that someone like Marlowe could just disappear after leaving the hospital.

Since the police were involved, all we could do now was wait.

Even though I didn't particularly like Marlowe, she was still a human being, and I couldn't help but worry about where she might have gone.

Considering how much she cared about Christopher visiting her, maybe she went to find him.

With that thought, I quickly put on my coat and headed out to ask the security guard if they had seen a girl in a hospital gown in a wheelchair.

No luck there either.

Instead, I ran into Christopher, who looked exhausted. He must have been searching for Marlowe too, and probably had the same idea as me.

I jogged over to him and said, "The security footage outside shows nothing."

"Yeah," Christopher replied, his voice hoarse. He glanced at my outfit—pajamas with a coat thrown over. "It's late. The police and Jason are already looking for her, and they've contacted the media. You should go back and rest."

Resting was out of the question. I couldn't sleep knowing someone I knew was missing.

"I'll help you look. I can't sleep anyway," I said, already opening the car door.

Seeing my determination, Christopher didn't argue and let me in.

We drove around, checking all the places she might have gone, but found nothing. Jason's search was equally fruitless.

Just when we thought the night would end without any leads, a passerby mentioned seeing Marlowe get into a black Volkswagen at a specific time and place.

Luckily, the car's dashcam captured the license plate, and we quickly tracked down the owner, who confirmed dropping Marlowe off at her home.

Christopher, Jason, and I, along with a locksmith, rushed to Marlowe's house. We were worried she might be hiding on purpose and wouldn't open the door.

When the door opened, I saw Marlowe in her hospital gown, sitting on the balcony, looking frail and vulnerable.

Her reflection in the balcony's glass made her appear even more delicate and pitiable.

"Marlowe, why don't you come down? It's cold up there," Jason called out, worried she might do something drastic.

Marlowe turned, her pale face serene, and said softly, "I'm sorry for worrying everyone. I just missed home."

I couldn't tell if she meant her current home or the happy home from her childhood with her parents.

I felt a pang of sadness.

Quinlan, who had arrived later, looked slightly terrified, though she quickly masked it. Standing next to me, I noticed her reaction.

Marlowe's calm and gentle demeanor was so unlike her usual self, it was almost as if she had become a different person.

Jason, noticing her unusual behavior, urged her, "No matter what, come down first. Nothing is more important than your life."

We all shared the same concern, silently echoing Jason's plea.

Marlowe smiled faintly. "I know. I'm sorry for making you worry and come all this way. I'll come down now."

True to her word, she didn't hesitate and quickly came down from the balcony.

She then told Jason, "Take me back to the hospital."

I expected her to lash out or at least express some grievances, but she simply apologized and agreed to return to the hospital.

Whether her change was genuine or an act, it was good that she was willing to go back.

"Alright, I'll take you back," Jason said, relieved, and wheeled her out to the car.

Quinlan, seeing Marlowe found, was ready to leave too.

Christopher, ever the gentleman, offered, "We'll drive you home."

Quinlan declined quickly, "No need, I'll just call a cab. You've been searching all night; you should rest."

She was always so considerate, thinking of others first.

The more thoughtful she was, the more I felt for her.

"It's not safe for a girl to take a cab this late. Since we're here, let us ensure your safety," Christopher insisted.

His authoritative tone left no room for refusal.

I chimed in, "Come on, we won't feel right otherwise."

Quinlan reluctantly agreed and got in the car.

Sitting next to me, she sighed, "Melinda, while it's nice that Ms. Grey seems better, something feels off. It's like she's a completely different person. It's scary."

Quinlan wasn't pretending; she was genuinely scared.

Having grown up hearing ghost stories, she was prone to imagining the worst.

"It does feel strange, but don't worry. They say good always triumphs over evil, and we have Mr. Collins here. No need to be scared." I meant it as a joke.

But Quinlan took it seriously, glancing at Christopher before nodding, "You're right. With Mr. Collins here, we'll be fine."

I almost wanted to slap my own mouth. I had been trying to keep them apart, and now I had inadvertently brought them closer.

Christopher, perhaps overhearing us, turned his intense gaze on us.

Then he said, confirming my suspicion, "What can I do? Exorcise evil spirits?"