The Mountain Highway That Took My Love and Child Chapter 04

The Mountain Highway That Took My Love and Child Chapter 04

Julian’s chest rose and fell with fury.

He turned to his security team. His voice turned to ice. “What are you waiting for? Grab her!”

He turned back to the control panel.

“Rules dictate consequences, Mia. You made a mistake—now you pay the price.”

“Lena in that car is the price you pay.”

With a sharp click of his mouse, Julian overrode the speed Mia had reduced, locking it at 125 mph.

On Dead Man’s Curve, half my body dangled from the window.

The speedometer read 125 mph.

My head scraped violently against the sheer rock face as the car sped on.

Again and again, my skull struck the rock until I was unrecognizable.

Realizing begging was useless, Mia whirled around.

She dialed 911, sobbing into the phone.

“I need to report an emergency! I’m near Dead Man’s—”

Before she could finish, Julian’s shadow fell over her.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Julian snatched her phone and hurled it against the wall, shattering it.

He frowned, his patience gone.

“Mia, when will you learn? This is punishment. You don’t get to call the shots.”

“Lena is my wife. I’m not going to hurt her.”

He checked his watch.

“The program runs for one hour. Thirty minutes have passed. In another thirty minutes, the overrides will disengage and she’ll regain manual control.”

But Mia had crossed the line.

She turned and ran from the control room, stumbling down the dark path.

“I don’t care! I’m going to find Lena. She’s terrified.”

“If you kill her, Julian, I’ll hate you forever!”

She bit the guard blocking her without hesitation.

As she broke free, she tripped on the steep slope and tumbled down the embankment.

“Mia!” Julian shouted, rushing after her.

When he reached her, Mia’s forehead was split open, blood streaming down her face.

As he lifted her, Julian glimpsed a familiar car deep in the trees below.

It was too far away to identify.

With Mia bleeding heavily in his arms, he couldn’t leave her to check.

He quickly ordered his team to reduce Lena’s car speed remotely.

Then he keyed the CB radio,addressing my car.

“I’ve reduced the speed and lifted the lock. The car will stop in thirty minutes. Drive yourself home.”

“Mia injured herself trying to reach you. I’m taking her to the hospital.”

He spoke as if granting me a favor.

But only static answered.

A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

An instinct urged him to go down there and check whether Lena was hurt.

But Mia’s blood soaked through his shirt.

Julian opened his mouth—then closed it.

He carried Mia to his car and rushed her to the hospital.

Fortunately, Mia had only a mild concussion.

The moment she woke, she frantically asked about Lena.

“I reduced the speed,” Julian said dismissively. “Relax, she’s fine.”

He checked the tracking app on his phone.

The supercar’s GPS signal had vanished.

He convinced himself Lena had driven home and turned the car off.

She was probably avoiding another lecture.

After Mia was treated, he took her back to the Sterling Estate.

But when they arrived, I wasn’t there.

Julian turned to the butler.

“Where is my wife?”

The butler looked confused. “Madam hasn’t returned since she left with you, sir.”

The air in the room turned to ice.

Julian and Mia turned pale.

“Julian, is she still up there?” Mia whispered, trembling.”Did something happen?”

Julian remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line.

The image of the shattered car frame deep in the forest flashed through his mind.

A sudden, suffocating panic seized his chest.

Just then, the doorbell rang, followed by heavy knocks.

Julian’s tense shoulders relaxed in relief.

He hated losing control—but at least Lena was home.

He looked at Mia. “See? I told you she’d be back.”

He pulled open the door.

Every trace of relief vanished from his face.

A state trooper stood on the porch, badge raised.

“Mr. Sterling? We recovered a female body from a fatal crash near Dead Man’s Curve.”

“We ran a DNA test. The deceased has been identified as your wife, Lena Hart.”

“We need you to come to the station to identify her.”