Chapter 313


    Chapter 313 Maxwell Digs Up the Past


    “Zip it!” I fired back, whirling around to shoot daggers at Maxwell with my eyes. “Push me further, and I


    swear I’ll make you regret it.


    He threw his hands up, feigning shock as he clutched his heart. “You’re terrifying, you know that? Here


    I have been, pining away for you, and you’re ready to tear out my tongue. They say there’s nothing


    scarier than a girl who’s been crossed.”


    Words failed me, and the hall was eerily quiet. Slumping into the couch, I shot him a look.” When did


    youe back?”


    He plopped down in the armchair beside me, his skin sun–kissed and his grin as charming as ever.


    “Just got here. What’s with the cold shoulder? This is not exactly the wee I was hoping for.”


    I ignored his joking around and cut to the chase, “What were you snooping around for in Lorrell?”


    He stiffened for a moment, then put on a grave face and mped his mouth shut, “Nothing…”


    “Maxwell,” I insisted, my tone unwavering, “It’s been barely a month since west saw each other, and


    you are already shutting me out?”


    He furrowed his brow, “What are you getting at? Stop making things up.”


    a


    “Out with it, then. What secrets did you dig up in Lorrell?” I demanded, fixing him with a steady,


    unblinking stare.


    He took a deep breath and then hit me with it. “My parents‘ death years back was no ident.” My


    heart did a somersault. Deep down, I had always sensed that some secrets just refused to stay hidden.


    Gasping, I feigned surprise. “You mean it wasn’t just some random event?”


    He gave a solemn nod. “That disaster ten years ago? It happened because they dug too greedily under


    Snakehead Mountain.


    Chewing on my lip, I tried to read the stormy look on his face, wondering just how much he had figured


    out. I pressed him, “Look, it’s been a decade. Everyone was convinced it was just the earth doing its


    thing, that those caves were natural. How can you be so certain the mining caused it all?”


    He shook his head with surety. “Nope, this is not Mother Nature’s handiwork. When Aunt Deb and I


    were out on the trails, something just did not sit right with me. The mountains were practically shouting


    that they had been ripped open and poisoned. Yeah, there might have been some mining action a


    while back, but that was over ten years ago. Nature was usually a champ at bouncing back–it should


    have been all green and lively again. Time had ticked on, yet it was still a dead zone. nts could not


    seem to take root, and the creeks were still a mess. This kind of mess has over–mining written all over


    it.”


    I kept silent, biting back my words. Mr. Zachary had let the cat out of the bag about the past. Old man


    Young had stripped Snakehead Mountain bare, hauling away anything he could get his hands on. Now,


    it is likely just a barren wastnd. If the lifelong locals had not stuck it out,” they would have ditched the


    ce for sure.


    “So, what’s your n?” I asked, meeting his gaze. The mountain had taken his family, and he had


    dedicated everything to uncovering its secrets. Holding all the pieces of the puzzle in his hands, he now


    needed to decide on his next move.


    He stood there, solid as a rock, his voice so low it was almost lost, “They’ve all bought into the ‘natural


    disaster story, but if this wasn’t an act of Mother Nature, then we’re talking about a crime. And if it is a


    crime, then those responsible should not be out there living free. They need to be held ountable.


    For ten years, they’ve slipped through the cracks, while hundreds were buried under that mountain


    without a chance to say goodbye. That’s just not fair.”


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    A surge of shock and difort flooded through me, leaving me speechless and lost. If I had not


    known about the Youngs‘ skeletons in the closet, I would be right there with him, shouting at the top of


    my lungs for justice for those who were taken from us too soon.


    I was in on the secret, and there was nothing I could do. Honestly, were humans not all a bit self–


    centered? It was kind of ironic to me. I just could not go against who I am.


    I could not just ignore what was happening to Idris. His life was falling apart, and I could not just stand


    there, doing nothing, while he was being torn apart by his own remorse.


    I spent a good while lost in thought before I faced Maxwell. “Look, it’s been ten whole years. since that


    mine blew up in the mountains. Most of those miners are gone–either six feet under or skipped town.


    How in the world are we gonna find the guy who started this whole mess?”


    Maxwell’s mouth was a straight line, his voice steady as ice. “Sure, it’s like looking for a needle in a


    haystack, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of luck. There were not too many yers in the game back


    then, and it is pretty clear someone has been ying keep–away with the truth. A decade is not long


    enough to wipe the te clean. We can crack this case.”