He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did-Chapter 139 - 126: Catching a Ride

On Friday, Annabelle Leighton set off for Brieridge.

Traveling with her was Wyatt Ford, the studio’s new photography assistant. Since the journey was long, they took turns driving.

By the time they reached the Brieridge area, it was already evening.

They had chosen Brieridge for the charity dance class because the village’s Director of Women’s Affairs had discovered their project online. She had repeatedly sent them private messages, explaining that while Brieridge’s natural beauty had nurtured many children talented in song and dance, their gifts were being squandered due to the village’s underdeveloped conditions. She pleaded for the dance studio’s directors to give the children of Brieridge Village a chance.

Isla Prescott and Annabelle Leighton took notice of the director’s persistence. Moved by her dedication to the children’s welfare, they immediately decided to visit Brieridge Village to assess the feasibility of setting up a charity dance class.

Brieridge Village was nestled between mountains and a river, with picturesque scenery. Its only drawback was the poor road conditions.

Annabelle Leighton and Wyatt Ford hadn’t even met the Director of Women’s Affairs yet when their car broke down on the mountain road.

Wyatt Ford was at the wheel when the car broke down. Annabelle was slumped in the passenger seat, catching up on sleep, when she heard a loud SCRAPE. It sounded like the undercarriage had hit something. The car crawled forward for another dozen meters before the engine died.

"Annie, I think the car’s broken," Wyatt Ford said, anxiously unbuckling his seatbelt. "I’ll get out and take a look."

Annabelle got out of the car too.

The two of them inspected it from top to bottom for ages but couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the car.

"What are we going to do?" Wyatt Ford asked, pulling out his phone to check their location. "Can we even get a tow truck out here?"

"Let’s try and see."

"Okay."

Wyatt Ford started making calls, while Annabelle, feeling a little cold from being underdressed, got back in the car.

Just then, Isla Prescott messaged her to ask if she had arrived. Annabelle replied, "Almost there," not daring to tell her worrier of a pregnant friend that the car had broken down on the way.

"Annie." After finishing his calls, Wyatt Ford came over and knocked on her car window.

Annabelle pushed the door open. "How did it go? Were you able to get a tow truck?"

"Yes, but it won’t be here very quickly. We might have to wait two or three hours."

"Two or three hours?" Annabelle felt her world go dark. "Can’t we pay extra to get them here faster? Pay a lot extra."

Wyatt Ford replied helplessly, "I already offered to pay extra. This *is* the faster time."

"Alright, then."

"Why don’t I call the Director of Women’s Affairs and ask if she can send a car to pick you up first?" Wyatt Ford suggested. "I can wait here."

"No, that’s okay. Let’s not bother them."

"Alright. I guess we’ll just have to wait, then."

As they were talking, an SUV suddenly pulled up from behind.

The driver of the SUV spotted the warning triangle they had placed on the road, rolled down his window, and called out to them.

"Car trouble?"

Annabelle turned to look. The driver had a square-jawed face and deeply tanned skin, giving him a rugged look.

"Yeah," Wyatt Ford replied, then asked, "Where are you headed, sir?"

"Brieridge Village."

"What a coincidence! We’re heading to Brieridge Village too."

"Judging by your license plate, you’re from Meritopia?"

"Yeah." Wyatt Ford quickly glanced at the SUV’s license plate. "You’re from Meritopia too, sir? What a crazy coincidence!"

Wyatt Ford leaned in and whispered to Annabelle, "Annie, why don’t you get a ride with him to Brieridge Village first?"

"Are you crazy? You want me to get a ride from a complete stranger?"

"I just thought you’d be anxious waiting."

"I’m not going. What if he’s a bad guy? We’re in the middle of nowhere... he could kidnap me and sell me off for all we know..."

Before Annabelle could finish, the SUV’s passenger-side window suddenly rolled down, revealing a face she knew all too well.

It was Morgan Hayes.