Chapter 994 He Just Couldn't Hang On

The agent must have caught wind of my intent to buy, because they were working at lightning speed. I had laid out my wish list beforehand, emphasizing my desire for a quaint spot in the old town district, somewhere off the beaten path and peaceful. It turns out, such a haven was not too difficult to track down. The agent had found just the place, and I tagged along to check it out. The location was well-secluded, boasting a yard that dwarfed the one at my rental with Astoria. It was also a house with a grander scale, an old-world two-story with many rooms. The ground floor was generously proportioned, and the kitchen was separate and situated in the front yard. The backyard offered a sprawling expanse of idle land, perfect for a garden. "The house's original owner passed on from old age, and his kin have all moved overseas. They're keen to sell," the agent explained after our tour. "What do you think, Ms. Scott?" I paused at the backyard threshold and gave a slight nod. "It's quite nice." The agent beamed, nodding in agreement as we strolled to the front yard. "You know, this front yard alone is ample for any gardening enthusiast. The backyard is ideal for a veggie patch or fruit trees. You strike me as someone who cherishes peace and quiet. If you've got pets, they'll have plenty of room to roam around." I nodded again, taking it all in. It felt right. I inquired about the price and the details of the property transfer and decided on the spot. The agent was ecstatic, clearly not anticipating such a swift decision from a quick look around. He eagerly volunteered to handle the paperwork for the house. House hunting mission accomplished, I headed straight back to talk to Astoria. I planned to have a quick chat with her and then show her around the house to see what we needed before we could start moving in. Stepping out into the yard, I bumped into Astoria, who was rushing out the door. We were both so caught up in our own worlds that we almost toppled over each other. Thank goodness for the iron gate nearby. I grabbed onto it for support and managed to catch Astoria before she hit the ground. Once we steadied ourselves, Astoria, recognizing me, blurted out, "Ms. Scott, he's not in his room." I paused, stunned, and gave her a puzzled look. She quickly filled me in, "After I served him breakfast this morning, I told him I'd be out to pick up some essentials. I left him my number and reminded him to take his meds. I was gone for only a few hours. When I got back, his door was shut, and he left a note saying he'd taken his medicine and wanted to sleep undisturbed unless there was anything urgent, so I didn't bother knocking. I just cleaned the place and waited. It was not until you called me in the late afternoon that I checked on him again. The door was still shut, and there was no answer when I knocked. I figured he was still resting and did not think much of it. However, after I made dinner and got no response, I knew something was off. That's when I opened the door and... he wasn't there." I furrowed my brow. "Not there? Where could he have gone?" Astoria shook her head, clueless. "The wheelchair's still there, but he's gone. He must've left sometime after noon. I..." Her worry was clear, and I frowned, lost in thought. How on earth could Lucas have just vanished? He was down a leg and did not have a dime to his name... "Ms. Scott, where could he have gone? He's broke and can barely walk, and he left without a word to us," Astoria fretted. However, something clicked in my mind. I turned to her and asked, "Astoria, you've been in Tully City long enough. Do you know the most dangerous spot around here?" "Dangerous?" Astoria looked confused. "Ms. Scott, why would he head to a place like that? I mean, he..." Suddenly, realization dawned on her, and her eyes went wide. "You don't think he's gone to..."