Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce-Chapter 206: Slight Initiative

Aston, the Lancaster family home.

After the two children were sound asleep, Wren Sutton crept out of the bedroom and went to the study.

A blinking red dot on the satellite map showed that the search and rescue team was still in a tropical rainforest in the Southern Hemisphere.

For nearly twenty days, the dot’s movement had been incredibly slow, indicating that the team’s daily progress was arduous and fraught with danger and challenges.

The thought weighed heavily on Wren Sutton’s heart, and she worried for the team’s safety.

"Oh, heavens, please watch over them. Please don’t let anything happen."

Claire Sterling was curled up in a corner of the living room sofa, her head in her hand. Her phone screen lit up, then dimmed, then lit up again, but the number she was desperately waiting for never appeared.

Wren Sutton came downstairs with a glass of warm water and placed it in front of Ms. Sterling. The surface of the water rippled from her slightly trembling hand.

"Mom, have some water. They’ll let us know the moment there’s any news from the search party."

Wren Sutton’s voice was gentle, but it couldn’t hide the exhaustion and anxiety in her eyes.

Claire Sterling gripped her daughter-in-law’s hand, her icy fingertips conveying her helplessness.

"The team left Aston twenty days ago, and there hasn’t been a single word. The satellite map shows their progress has stalled. I’m a nervous wreck, terrified something has happened to them."

Wren Sutton forced herself to sound reassuring. "Nothing will happen. Let’s think positive. They’ve probably just stopped to rest and conserve their energy while they plan their next move."

Claire Sterling gazed out the window and sighed heavily. "I hope so."

Just then, her phone rang. It was a satellite call from Theodore Lancaster.

A light sparked in Claire Sterling’s eyes. She snatched up the phone, her voice trembling uncontrollably as she answered.

"You finally called. I’ve been worried sick."

Her words trailed off into a choked sob.

Theodore Lancaster’s heart ached to hear it. His voice was hoarse. "Don’t cry, Claire. Listen to me. I have good news."

Claire Sterling immediately stopped crying and put the call on speaker. "Is it news about Adrian?"

"Yes." Theodore Lancaster’s voice was thick with excitement. "We found Adrian’s watch on a muddy path by a river."

Hearing this, Claire Sterling clapped her other hand over her mouth as tears of joy streamed down her face.

Wren Sutton, who was standing beside her, heard it too. She was just as emotional, her eyes welling with tears.

Finding Adrian Lancaster’s watch meant the search party was getting closer to their destination—closer to Adrian.

"Thank God. This news couldn’t have come at a better time. Adrian most likely left that watch as a clue for us."

"Right. That’s what we were thinking too." Theodore Lancaster’s voice was interspersed with the rustling winds of the rainforest.

"We’ve narrowed the search area significantly and locked onto a specific region. If we follow this river, we’re sure to find Sarankal. We’re confident."

"Share the good news with Wren, and also tell her that the Amulet is working."

Claire Sterling nodded. "Wren is right here beside me. She heard everything you said."

"Good." Theodore Lancaster was about to say more, but the signal suddenly degraded. Static filled the line, and he had no choice but to hang up.

Claire Sterling put her phone away, the anxiety that had plagued her for days finally easing.

A smile finally appeared on Wren Sutton’s face, though her heart was a mix of complex emotions.

"I’ll go to the temple again tomorrow."

"I’ll go with you."

...

「The Sarankal Tribe」

Morning mist filled the air.

Adrian Lancaster leaned against the mud wall of the wooden hut, a heavy weight on his mind and a dull ache in his chest.

Last night, he’d dreamt his father had led the search team to Sarankal. Sean Sterling and Caleb Caldwell were there too.

To rescue him, the team had massacred everyone in Sarankal.

Nia had been shot between the eyes and lay in a pool of blood. Beside her was her father, Barton, no longer breathing.

Nia’s eyes were wide open, staring at Adrian Lancaster, unable to rest in peace...

Outside, the deep, rhythmic beat of the tribe’s awakening drums sounded, and Nia’s light footsteps approached from a distance.

Adrian Lancaster shook himself from his thoughts and glanced at a patch of slightly darker earth in the corner where he had just poured out half a bowl of medicinal soup.

Ever since Barton had made it clear that once he recovered, Adrian would have to marry Nia in accordance with the "will of the River God," Adrian had begun his dangerous stalling tactic.

He needed time. He needed to find a chance to survive and return to Aston in this completely foreign environment.

A full recovery meant losing his buffer. He had to keep himself in a fragile state of "recovering but not yet healed." It was the only sliver of control he had right now.

The door flap was pushed aside, and Nia entered with a bowl of medicine, her concerned gaze sweeping over Adrian Lancaster’s still-pale face.

"Tarn, this is the medicine I just brewed. If you drink it along with the last bowl, it’ll work better and you’ll recover faster."

Adrian Lancaster nodded gratefully. "Nia, you’ve worked so hard these past few days, brewing my medicine and taking care of my daily needs."

Nia was delighted. ’My efforts are finally moving Tarn!’

A happy, slightly shy smile appeared on her face.

"As long as you get well soon, it’s no trouble at all."

Adrian Lancaster took the bowl. His fingertips felt its warmth, but his heart was ice-cold. Still, he had to keep up the act.

"I want to get better quickly too."

Nia encouraged him, "You can do it, Tarn. You’ll get better once you drink the medicine. Go on, drink up."

Adrian Lancaster picked up the bowl, his expression unreadable.

"Nia, could you please get me a bowl of hot water?"

"Okay." Nia stood up and left without another word.

Adrian Lancaster seized the opportunity to pour out half the medicine before drinking the rest.

’It’s so bitter,’ he thought. ’Almost impossible to swallow.’

Soon, Nia returned to the hut with a bowl of hot water.

"Tarn, here’s the hot water you wanted."

Adrian Lancaster set down the medicine bowl and took the bowl of hot water from Nia. "Thanks."

He then tilted his head back and drank it all in one go, barely managing to wash away the bitter taste in his mouth.

Nia stood by quietly. "If you want more, I can get you another bowl."

Adrian Lancaster waved his hand. "No, that’s enough."

He quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Nia, you and your father..."

Nia guessed what he was about to ask.

"Tarn, don’t worry. My father has already forgiven me."

"Really?" Adrian Lancaster’s tone betrayed no hint of anything unusual. "That’s great."

Nia nodded. "Don’t worry, my father has accepted the will of the River God."

"..." Adrian Lancaster averted his gaze and fell silent. As he looked down, his eyes inadvertently turned cold.

Barton accepting the will of the River God meant Barton supported him becoming the tribe’s leader and supported Nia marrying him.

Speak of the devil.

A moment later, Barton entered the hut with several solemn-faced elders, making the small space feel crowded.

"Father," Nia said, walking over in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Barton’s hawk-like gaze fell upon Adrian Lancaster.

"I’ve come to see Sarankal’s new leader."