Chapter 21 Must Send You Abroad
Caroline froze, her face turning pale.
She looked at him, her bright eyes full of anger and hurt.
"What do you mean?"
"You're pushing me away again?"
"James, do you think I'm just a burden to you?"
"I'm not afraid of danger! I'm not afraid of dying! I'm only afraid you don't want me!"
James's expression darkened, his Adam's apple bobbing as mixed emotions surged through him.
"Caroline, listen to me. Go somewhere safe. Once I figure everything out and get my revenge, I'll come find you. We'll never be apart again."
Caroline held back her emotions that were about to explode. She stepped forward and hugged him again, holding on tight, her voice choked but firm.
"I'm not going. I won't go even if it kills me. If you're going to fight, I'll be there. If you're investigating, I'll be there. If you're getting revenge, I'll be there too. Don't even think about sending me away."
"I don't care about Ironclad Weapons Corp. As long as I can be with you, I'd die willingly. If you dare send me away, I'll never forgive you!"
James held her trembling body, and the last wall of resistance in his heart completely crumbled.
He'd been decisive and uncompromising his whole life, never backing down.
But with her, he was completely helpless.
He sighed softly, his arms tightening around her, pulling her firmly into his embrace. His chin rested on top of her head, his voice low and hoarse, almost reverent.
"Okay."
"I won't send you away."
"For the rest of my life, I'll never let you go."
Caroline froze, then buried herself in his arms and finally cried with relief, soft and sweet.
She sniffled and spoke quietly but seriously, with a lifetime of hope.
"James, when this is all over, can we get married?"
James closed his eyes, lowered his head, and gently pressed his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling.
He made a solemn promise.
"Yes. When this is all over, we'll get married."
Though it was just a simple promise, to Caroline it was more moving than any sweet words.
She looked at James with hazy eyes.
Her hands circled his neck, she rose slightly on her tiptoes, and filled with joy, she kissed him first.
"James, I love you. I really, really love you."
James's whole body tensed.
The next second, as if afraid he'd push her away, Caroline held him tighter, clumsily but devotedly deepening the kiss.
She didn't know technique, only poured all her love and anxiety into this kiss, giving him everything she had.
She didn't want to wait, didn't want to hide, didn't want to be carefully protected behind him anymore.
She wanted to give herself completely to him, wanted him to fully understand that she wasn't a burden or dead weight, but someone who would face life and death with him, advance and retreat together.
"James."
Her lips barely touched his, her breathing uneven, her voice almost inaudible.
"I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid of anything. I want to give myself to you, right now."
That sentence snapped the last thread of his restraint.
James's hand on her waist tightened suddenly, almost wanting to merge her into his bones and blood.
He lowered his head and kissed her fiercely.
No more restraint, no more gentleness, but ten years of longing and the madness of having lost and found her again, all pouring out.
He kissed her deeply and intensely, with a possessiveness that almost consumed her.
Caroline went weak all over, completely losing her strength, only able to cling to him and let him pull her under.
The air grew hotter, breaths intertwined, heartbeats thundering.
James's large hand steadily supported the back of Caroline's neck.
His kisses slid from the corner of her lips, swept over her reddened eyes, kissed her flushed cheeks, and traced down to her neck.
Her clean, light scent was what had sustained him through ten years of bloodshed, the only light in his dark world.
Caroline's consciousness gradually blurred, her whole body weak, only able to let him hold her, let emotions spread freely.
She tilted her head back slightly, receiving his out-of-control tenderness, her eyes growing warm, her heart both sour and sweet.
Just as everything was about to spiral out of control, just as reason was about to burn out, James suddenly released Caroline.
He pressed his forehead against hers, his breath scorching, his voice so hoarse it nearly broke.
"Caroline, don't do this."
"I really won't be able to hold back."
Caroline was completely dazed, her lashes trembling lightly, her eyes still misty, staring at him blankly.
"James, I'm not afraid. I just want to be with you, want to belong to you completely."
James's heart clenched painfully.
How could he not want her?
Ten years of longing, one night of tension—just moments ago, he'd almost burned all his reason to ashes.
But he couldn't make love to her carelessly when the future was uncertain.
She deserved the best.
He reached out, his fingertips gently brushing her reddened eyes, his voice terribly hoarse but tender enough to melt.
"Caroline, I'm not rejecting you."
"It's precisely because I treasure you so much that I can't do this."
"You're the person I want to spend my life with, not a moment of pleasure in the shadow of danger."
He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, no longer fierce, only reverent.
"Wait for me a little longer. One day, I'll marry you properly."
Caroline saw the deep cherishing and restraint in his eyes. Her nose tingled and tears fell again.
She nodded and reached out to hug his waist tightly, burying her face in his chest.
"I'll listen to you, James. I'll wait for you."
James breathed a sigh of relief, though the surging heat in his chest was still running wild.
But once Caroline in his arms quieted down, he softened too.
He gently patted her back, like soothing a child, his voice extremely soft.
"You've been tired all night. Sleep first, okay?"
"I'll stay right here with you. I'm not going anywhere."
He half-supported, half-carried her to the bed, carefully tucked her in, and gently brushed away the damp hair stuck to her cheek.
Caroline stared at him without blinking, afraid he'd disappear the moment she looked away.
"James, don't leave."
"I won't."
James promised quietly.
"I'll be right here."
Only then did she relax a little. Her eyelids grew heavier, and once her tense emotions eased, drowsiness immediately washed over her.
Soon her breathing became steady and even, and she fell peacefully asleep.
James sat by the bed the whole time, watching her sleeping face, the hostility and heat in his eyes gradually settling, leaving only tenderness that couldn't be dissolved.
Only after she was completely asleep did he quietly stand up. But the moment he turned around, his mind was filled with Caroline's delicate appearance.
James gritted his teeth and stepped into the bathroom for a half-hour cold shower.
The next morning, James had adjusted his state, his aura cold as ice.
He was going to contact Ironclad Weapons Corp directly through a dedicated dark web channel.
Iron Wolf stood nearby, staring at the screen that never responded, his expression grave.
"Mr. Anderson, we've tried several dedicated channels. They're completely offline, like they deliberately cut contact."
James's fingers paused, his brow furrowing.
Ironclad Weapons Corp's sudden disappearance was no coincidence. Had they sensed his investigation closing in and deliberately gone into hiding? Or was there another force behind this?
"Keep trying."
His tone left no room for argument.
"Whatever it takes, we must contact them. I need to know why they provided prohibited weapons to Trevor ten years ago, and why they were involved in my parents' case."
"Yes, Mr. Anderson!"
Iron Wolf responded and left to arrange personnel.
James leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, his thoughts racing. This matter was too suspicious—there was probably more than one force behind it.
Before long, Iron Wolf returned, his expression hesitant.
"Mr. Anderson, I have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it."
"Speak."
"Could The Four Families be involved in this?"
James's eyes darkened slightly, a trace of doubt crossing them.
The Turner family, the West family, the Saunders family—these people had always coveted the Anderson family's assets, but their foundation was domestic with no overseas channels, and they couldn't come up with a billion-dollar bounty on his head.
"Impossible."
He dismissed it flatly.
"The Four Families have some influence in Pinecrest City, but their overseas presence is weak, and they're not that wealthy."
He paused, then continued his analysis.
"Ironclad Weapons Corp colluded with Trevor ten years ago. They put a bounty on me because they're afraid I'll dig up the past. The Four Families only want to swallow the Anderson family's assets—they wouldn't spend this much blood money."
Iron Wolf nodded in agreement, then frowned again.
"So what do we do now? Ironclad Weapons Corp is offline, the lead is dead, and Trevor doesn't know who the real culprit is."
James narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing.
"If we can't find leads, we'll create them."
As his words fell, his fingers were already on the keyboard, typing rapidly.
When he single-handedly created Specter Syndicate years ago, it wasn't just his combat skills that were top-tier—his hacking abilities were equally exceptional.
What Ironclad Weapons Corp thought was hidden was full of holes in front of him.
James sat motionless, focused on the screen before him.
Caroline came in with water. Seeing him like this, she quietly set down the glass and sat nearby to keep him company.
She gazed at his hard-lined profile, feeling both admiration and heartache.
About two hours later, James stopped, his lips curving into a cold smile.
"Done."
"I've broken into Viper's dark web account. Their funding channels are completely destroyed."