Chapter 13
Back at camp alone. Adrian knelt on the ground, his fists pounding into the dirt. His rescue mission had been a complete fatture just as he was about to charge into the
emy compound, a massive wave of reinforcements had arrived. Gut manned and
ned, he’d been forced to retreat.
“Stella…” He closed his eyes an anguish, repeating her name like a prayer, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face
Suddenly, the rumble of engines echoed in the distance. Adrian’s head snapped up. Through the smoke, he could make out a figure carrying someone on their back, stumbling toward camp. The have obscured their faces, but then he heard the shouts around him]]
“It’s Luza!! Lucas brought Stella back!!” Everyone rushed toward them, cheering for their miraculous return ||
Lucas’s combat gear was soaked in blood, each step leaving dark red prints as the sand, yet he kept Stelle secure on his back. Stella was pale, her arms wrapped tightly around Loss neck ke he was her lifeline.
People swarmed around them.
A stretcher rushed past as everyone helped Stella onto it, frantically checking her injuries
Hem are you feeling, Stella?! Can you move everything?”
“I’m okay, thanks to Lucas…” Her lips were paper–white, but when she looked at Lucas, her eyes were fill of trust.]]
Lucas sealed softly, taking her hand as it hung over the edge of the stretcher
In that moment, watching their hands clasped together, Adrian’s heart split in two, Sameelse had done what he couldn’t While he’d been neglecting her, someone
be had been loving her the way she deserved…
The team carried Stella to the camp’s mukeshaħ indirmary Fortunately, Lucas had gotten there in time–her injuries weren’t too severe. While the doctor tressed Stella’s umunds, Lucas stood cutude the door, letting a nurse stich up his shoulder wound without so much as finching, his eyes never leaving Stella’s Chouette behind the curtain.
Adrian slowly approached, his voice hoarse. “Thank you…“)
Lucas leaned against the wall, not even looking at him. “Wasn’t for you.
T
Adrian clenched his fists, feeling like herd slready lost to this man: “I know, but I owe you her life“]
Hearing this. Lucas couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh, finally turning to face him. “Adrian, y
you don’t deserve her.”
Lucas suddenly grabbed Adrian by the collar, his eyes bloodshot with rage. “When she had a 100–degree fever and was still cooking for you, you were celebrating Paige’s birthday.
When she took a bullet for you, you said she was being dramatic. And when she donated blood until she passed out, you were off playing house with that woma
So what’s the point of saying this shh now? If she’d actually died today, could you live with yourself?!“||
Adrian’s face went deathly pale. He had no defense
After a moment, Lucas finally let go, saying coldly: “Get lost. Don’t bother her again.” with that, he pushed through the medical tent curtain and went side.
Adrian stood there, watching through the gap as Stells opened her eyes and gave Lucas a weak smile. The that once belonged only to him, now belonged to someone else. His rigid shoulders finally sagged in defest. He really… didn’t have the right to be by her safe anymore….]]
with a video message. []
Just as he turned to leave, las phone buzzed with a video
That was in the footage, wind howled as Paige stood on the edge of a hundred story building, her thin dress whipping in the gusts. []
She held up her phone, the camera capturing her pale face and the dizzying drop behind her. The scene made Adrian’s heart burch. |
And her next wards immediately made his propis contract sharply
“Adrian can you see this? I’m on the roof of Hays Tower” Der voice trembled, eyes red tinued. If you don’t come back, I’m pumping
