Chapter 79
Was it Tristan?
No, that made no sense. Even if he realized she’d escaped and guessed which direction she’d gone, how would he know she was hiding on this specific, unremarkable hillside?[]
It didn’t add up!]
In a flash, she remembered the man who had called out to the car earlier []
Could it be him?]
Maybe he’d been hiding nearby, saw her crawl out of the trunk and walk this way, then followed her?]
The thought sent ice through her veins.]
She crouched lower and pushed deeper into the vegetation. It was too dark to see clearly, and she didn’t dare use her phone’s flashlight. She stumbled blindly through the bushes like a panicked moth.]
The footsteps behind her continued, growing closer.[]
Terrifying scenarios raced through Adeline’s mind–being dragged into the woods in the middle of the night, assaulted and murdered, kidnapped and sold into trafficking, harvested for organs…]
She should have stayed in the car.]
No, that wouldn’t have helped either. Once Tristan left, this person could have easily broken the window and attacked her there!
She moved faster.[]
Ignoring the pain in her leg completely.
A beam of light cut through the darkness. She vaguely heard someone calling her name, but fear had filled her ears with a buzzing sound, and her thundering heartbeat drowned out everything else…]
“HELP!” she screamed.
Sensing someone right behind her, about to grab her, she leapt up and ran[]
She sprinted uphill a short distance when suddenly something heavy circled her waist. Her feet left the ground as a long arm lifted her into the air.]
“HELP! HELP! MURDER! HELP!” Adeline shrieked, her legs kicking wildly in midair, landing several blows on her captor.
…No one’s trying to kill you.“]
The familiar, pleasant voice entered her ear at close range.[]
Like someone’s appearance or demeanor, voices were uniquely memorable–smooth, rich but not overly deep, with the clarity of spring water over snow. No matter what tone it used, it was always pleasant to hear.
Adeline instantly went still.[]
She turned her head to look up. In the diffused light, a pale, handsome face appeared before her.
Her confusion deepened.]
Anyone else showing up here wouldn’t have surprised her. Even a monster would have made more sense than… Zarek Weasley.
Y–y–you she stammered, seemingly even more panicked.]
“Shocked speechless? Zarek asked. “Don’t recognize me?]
With his second utterance, reality finally sank in for Adeline. Relief nearly brought tears to her eyes. “How are you here?1]
“just taking a stroll “[]
What?
She knew he was being ridiculous.[]
But then again, her question had been obvious too. Why else would he be here except to rescue her?]]
Zarek propped one long leg on the slope and set the woman he’d been holding in the air down on his thigh, letting her sit while his arm moved from her waist to circle her shoulder. “I called your name. Why did you run?
*… My ears were ringing Adeline answered honestly, ating on his leg as obediently as a little girl
“Kunning so fast–aren’t you worried about reopening your wouxt?]
No sooner had he tented it than she felt & burting sensation in her leg (
Zarek could tell from her winding expression, “Adeline, are you deliberately trying to extend your time off work?]
“How could you think that Adeline protested
Then why didn’t you stay fame where you belong toed of alkung in an era trep? Zareks expresion feated cool After a pause, he added, “Alaybe you should qut being my aastatant and becozitat my venerated ancestor inalged You certainly have the talent for 1.1)
Adeline hung her head throughly chastest []
Le ring you were injured working for the congty. I rescue you flus se neue tow, Luettung like this happen is to not getting involved.“]
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Chapter 79
In the end, not only did he refrain from dumping her, he served as her human wheelchair, carrying her on his back down the slope
Adeline lay against his back, unsure where to put her hands.[]
Wrapping them around his neck seemed inappropriate
After hesitating, she gently rested them on his shoulders… Those manga–style “double–door refrigerator” shoulders weren’t false advertising[]
****… 50t in, and started the engine
At the bottom of the hill, his car was parked by the roadside. He carried her to the passenger seat, then walked around to the driver’s side,
He’d driven himself here…[]
As far as she could remember, he rarely drove himself. Usually it was Mr. Morgan driving, or Rex []
Adeline felt honored once again.[]
She texted Summer, letting her know she’d been rescued and was on her way back to the city.[]
Summer was naturally curious about who had saved her.[]
After all, she’d driven all the way to this godforsaken place. Who else would be out here in the middle of the night rescuing her friend?]
She pulled over and texted back: Who rescued you?]]
Adeline wanted to gloss over it, but not answering would seem… like she had something to hide.]
What did she have to hide?!]
Straightforwardly, she typed three words: Zarek Weasley.
Summer’s excitement on the other end was like a fangirl who’d just seen her ship sailing: WHAT?! WHAT’S HAPPENING?! Zarek Weasley rescued you?! Isn’t that a bit beyond normal boss–employee relations?“]
Adeline: It’s because I’m a valuable employee.[]
Summer. If you prove your value one more time, is he going to propose? With benefits like that, I might quit being a lawyer. Ask if he’s hiring! If he’s not interested in you, I’ll eat my shoes![]
Adeline: I won’t let you eat anything so disgusting. Believe it or not, he’s just a genuinely good person who likes rescuing people, Besides, he’s not into women anymore.[]
Summer…?
Adeline ignored her string of question marks.
Looking at her last message, she felt a twinge of regret. Whether his preference for men was true or not, it was something he’d told her privately. Spreading it around wasn’t right.[]
Zarek noticed her troubled expression. “Something wrong?
Adeline quickly shook her head. “No, nothing at all
She pressed the phone against her chest.]]
Zarek observed her guilty demeanor and narrowed his eyes slightly.
Meanwhile
Tristan returned with a bag of food to find the empty car and opened trunk. He threw the bag to the ground in frustration.[]
Hadn’t she been in a wheelchair today, her leg injury still healing?]
Little liar!
But even if she could walk, she couldn’t have gone far.]
Suddenly, he thought about the dangers she might face–wild dogs or boars in the mountains, criminals on the road. Hadn’t there been a man walking past earlier? And she was so beautiful. Instantly, he was frantic with worry
She must have gone in the opposite direction from him. He started running after her.[]
utes.[]
Even though he’d been gone marly fifty minutes.
As Tristan ran down the road, Summer’s car approached from behind. With no streetlights, she nearly hit him, slamming on the brakes just in time []
She got out. “Are you try to get yourself killed, running in the middle of the road at night-“]
She fell silent when she recognized hun!]
Tristan stared at Sumner one hand on her lup, momentarily stunned.[]
A second later realization dawned. He rushed to open her passenger door, checked the empty seat, then the back seat. “Where’s Adeline?]
“How should I know? In just passing through
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Suswaer yawled kraking exhausted
Steg both in her cat []
In her surprise. Inalan got in bucking his seatbelt with a stuny face as if it were the most natural thing us the world!]
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Chapter 79
The words “ex–wife” made Tristan’s eyes flash with cold fury []
Summer felt a little afraid of him. She started the car and focused on driving[]
After all, Adeline had already been picked up. If he wanted to waste time in her car, so be it []
Twenty minutes later, she showed no signs of stopping, and Tristan’s frown deepened []
Just then, Summer’s phone chimed with a message[]
She had barely unlocked it with facial recognition when a pair of elegant hands snatched it away []
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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy DaisyNovel. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.