---- Chapter 7 Before she could finish, Aria's mother couldn't hold it together anymore. Tears streamed down her face, and she sobbed uncontrollably. Connor completely panicked, his tall frame swaying uncontrollably. He suddenly remembered seeing Aria at the pack affairs hall. She'd said she was handling some pack business for her mother... So, she'd been planning to leave him, completely and forever, even back then. The bloody truth, like the sharpest ice pick, pierced through his self-assured facade and his illusion of control. But Connor stubbornly refused to believe it. A frantic thought spun in his mind. No, Aria wouldn't just leave like this! She couldn't get away from him so easily! His revenge plan wasn't finished! His 'punishment' for Aria hadn't even ---- really begun! He wouldn't allow it! He absolutely wouldn't allow Aria to just disappear from his life! Connor clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, drawing blood. His eyes were glued to the scrolling news of the crash on Aria's mother's phone. "Auntie, I'll find her." His voice was incredibly firm, but with a barely perceptible tremble. Aria's mother looked at him hesitantly, her eyes filled with confusion. "Connor, didn't you... always dislike Aria? Even kind of hate her?" "The Marking ceremony is important. It's gotten this far, don't let it delay your important business with Miss Elena. Aria... I'll figure out how to find Aria myself..." With that, she tried to push Connor aside and stumbled towards the exit. Connor quickly grabbed her, his bloodshot eyes filled with anxiety and urgency: ---- "Before Aria left, was there anything unusual? When did she go? Did she... did she leave any message?" "Probably... two days ago. The night you left the residence with Miss Elena. She said she wanted to go out for a bit, that the house felt... a little suffocating." "T didn't ask much at the time. I just thought she was... a little upset. I thought she was afraid... afraid you and the elders would blame her for talking back to Miss Elena before. I never thought... I never thought today would..." Tears of regret streamed down Aria's mother's weathered cheeks again. Before Connor could speak again, Aria's mother tremblingly took a small, hand-woven sachet from her bag. It contained some calming herbs for sleep. "You gave this to Aria before, didn't you? Said it