Chapter 16

Clifford's assistant said, "Mr. Jones, we can't find any trace of Mrs. Jones. She's completely erased any traces of her identity. If it were me, I'd run far away too, and never come back." Clifford's eyes darkened as he let out a bitter laugh. After everything he had done to her, he still expected her to be understanding, obedient, and patient. Ever since he realized that Tessa had left him for good, it felt like someone had carved out a piece of his heart. It was still beating, but it was just aching. "Keep looking." He was long since numb to the pain. All he could do now was try to find her and beg for forgiveness. "I've finished looking into everything you asked. The footage is all here on this flash drive." The assistant extended his hand, revealing a cold, metallic USB stick in his palm. Clifford's fingers trembled slightly as he took it and inserted it into his computer. Deep down, he'd already guessed the truth. Looking back, it didn't make sense. Tessa was never the kind o