Hidden Desires - Family Secrets

Chapter 108 Forget it, I'll look myself...

After packing up his backpack, Michael didn't change into his pajamas to go to bed.

Instead, he continued to tidy up his belongings, including his clothes and daily necessities, arranging everything neatly.

Once everything was in order, Michael sat still, his gaze sweeping across his room.

His desk, chair, wardrobe, and bed—each corner he looked at sparked a flicker of memories in his eyes.

Eventually, Michael slowly lay down on his pillow and bedding, deeply inhaling the lingering scent, perhaps trying to remember Betty's fragrance.

As time ticked by, it was past midnight.

Michael rose from his bed, tears having silently streamed down his face once more.

He wiped his eyes dry, took a deep breath, and slowly opened his bedroom door.

He walked softly and quietly, making almost no sound as he opened the door.

He glanced towards Betty's room, which was enveloped in silence.

Assuming Betty was probably asleep, Michael turned on his bedroom light and took out a piece of paper and a pen, slowly beginning to write something.

It was a scene all too familiar, reminiscent of countless movies and TV shows.

Was Michael planning to run away from home?

Or was he drafting a suicide note?

Before long, Michael finished writing.

He placed the paper on his desk, turned off the light, and quietly left his room.

He walked slowly to Betty's door, reaching out to press down on the doorknob.

However, Betty had been locking her door these past few days, so Michael withdrew his hand, perhaps fearing he might wake her or even more afraid of confirming the door was locked, which would only deepen his sorrow.

Michael turned and walked quietly towards the house's main door.

He put on his shoes silently, then turned to look back at Betty's door with a sense of reluctance in his eyes.

After wiping a tear from his eye, he slowly pressed down on the main door handle, stepped out of the house, and gently closed the door behind him.

The house plunged back into silence, leaving Betty alone inside.

Stunned, she quickly checked the bathroom, which was also empty.

"Michael, where are you? This isn't funny..." she called out, her voice trembling as she searched the spacious house.

She looked everywhere—inside cabinets, in every nook and cranny, even places too small to hide a person.

"Michael, stop this game now, or I swear I won't let you off easy..." Betty's voice shook with a sob as she checked the hallway outside, finding no sign of Michael.

Being a woman, she perhaps didn't handle sudden situations as calmly as a man might.

Returning to Michael's room, Betty frantically searched, even tossing the bedding around.

She seemed almost crazed, tears glistening in her eyes as she forced herself not to break down completely.

Finally, she noticed a piece of paper on the desk.

It was clearly placed, but in her panic, she had overlooked it initially.

With trembling hands, Betty read the brief note.

Though the camera couldn't make out the exact words, it was clear there weren't many.

Phrases like "I'm gone," "Take care," were all it said.

After reading, Betty's hands froze, and the paper slipped through her fingers, fluttering to the floor.

With a thud, Betty collapsed onto the bed beside the desk, tears streaming down her face.

After a moment, she grabbed her phone to call Michael, but the ringtone came from his nightstand.

Opening the drawer, she found his ringing phone.

Michael hadn't taken it with him.

Losing this last clue to find Michael, Betty now knew he had run away from home, carrying only the little pocket money she had given him.

Seeing Michael's phone, Betty quickly dialed a three-digit number—clearly for emergency services.

"What? You're saying you can't file a missing person report until 24 hours have passed? That you can't dispatch police?"

"What kind of logic is that? My son is missing..."

"Forget it, I'll look myself..." Betty shouted into the phone before hanging up and throwing the phone onto the bed.