Chapter 85

Chapter 85

From not far away, I was completely stunned by this scene.

Last time I ran into Isabella and Lucas at Rosavelle District, I thought they were a couple. Turns out it's one of those twisted situations where the stepson has fallen for his stepmother.

I couldn't help but shake my head at myself - clearly I'm still too green around the ears.

Accidentally stumbling upon this kind of scene made me feel extremely awkward, and I'd even eavesdropped on their conversation, which felt really rude.

I carefully backed away, but accidentally bumped into something.

"Sorry." I instinctively turned to apologize, only to find I'd bumped right into James's arms.

My face instantly froze - I had no idea where he'd appeared from.

The commotion behind alerted the people ahead.

Lucas released Isabella and looked over. "James, I thought you guys had left."

James took my hand, his tone casual. "Let's go."

I pulled my hand away. "James, wait a second."

James's palm suddenly felt empty. He looked down at his rejected hand, his brow furrowing.

Over there, Isabella also noticed me and walked over. "Ella?"

I smiled and nodded. "Isabella."

Isabella remembered our chance meeting at the airport last time. "Didn't you go back to Astoria last time? Why are you still here?"

"Well..." With James right there, I couldn't exactly say I'd been forcibly kept here, so I could only vaguely say, "It's complicated."

Isabella noticed how I kept glancing at James and probably guessed what was going on.

She didn't ask further, just said, "Let's exchange contact info. We can hang out together sometime."

I quickly nodded. "Sure."

After exchanging contact information, I wanted to chat more with Isabella, but the next second, James just dragged me away.

After leaving Lucas's estate, James drove toward the manor.

As night fell, the city's neon lights and the lingering sunset glow shone on the black SUV, bathing the vehicle in a hazy, beautiful play of light and shadow.

I sat in the passenger seat, my eyes occasionally sneaking glances at James.

Seeing me looking like I wanted to say something but holding back, James couldn't help but want to laugh.

"Ella, if you have something to say, just say it."

I tugged at the seatbelt across my chest. "Can I... discuss something with you?"

James smiled. "Speak up. Do I really seem that hard to talk to?"

"In the future, can you not make me skip class so casually? I'm worried my attendance rate will be too low and I won't be able to graduate."

James said without hesitation, "Sure, but I have one condition."

I asked, "What condition?"

James glanced at me. "In the future, in bed, can you be a bit more proactive? Every time it makes me feel like some bad guy forcing you."

After hearing James's words, I frowned tightly and didn't say anything for a long time.

James slowed down the car and turned to look at me. "Ella, is that really so difficult for you?"

"I..." My throat tightened. "I... I'll try."

James was amused by my answer, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

He was about to tease me some more when, turning his head, he caught sight of two blinding lights in the rearview mirror.

Two black sedans were tailing us closely, speeding toward us.

James raised an eyebrow, glanced at me in the passenger seat, and, after confirming my seatbelt was fastened, reminded me, "Hold on tight."

Hearing the seriousness in James's tone, I immediately sensed something was very wrong. I obediently grabbed the handle and didn't dare breathe.

James's gaze returned from the rearview mirror. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, and the car instantly accelerated, racing down this remote, quiet road.

The vehicles behind continued their relentless pursuit.

The car was going extremely fast, and my whole heart grew tense.

The window was half open, a cool wind rushing into the car with a whoosh.

I also saw the sedans chasing us in the rearview mirror. My face instantly went pale as I gripped the handle tightly.

James called my name, and I responded in a daze.

"Last time at Dreamspire Park, what did you want to ride most?"

I didn't react at first, completely confused. At such a life-or-death moment, why was he asking such a strange question?

James drove while checking the rearview mirror, urging, "Answer me."

I quickly thought about it and said, "The roller coaster."

James turned the steering wheel to avoid obstacles ahead. "I didn't let you ride it last time. This time I'll personally go with you."

What was he talking about?

"Don't be scared, just think of it as riding a roller coaster," James coaxed me.

"There's a gun in the drawer in front of you. Take it out and give it to me," James's voice came.

I pushed down the nervousness in my heart and decisively pulled open the drawer.

Inside was a gun of a model I didn't recognize.

I reached out, took the gun, and handed it to James.

If this were before, I probably would have been trembling with fear already.

But after going through so much with James, I'd discovered my nerves had gotten much stronger - I wasn't so easily panicked anymore.

James controlled the steering wheel with one hand and took the gun I handed him with the other.

"Get down," he told me. "Don't get up until I tell you to, understand?"

I obediently put my head down on the seat.

As soon as I got down, I heard several rapid gunshots.

Bullets from behind hit the rear windshield.

Fortunately, the black SUV James was driving was made of bulletproof material throughout, and the rear windshield remained intact.

James held the rifle with one hand, stuck the barrel out the car window, aimed at the car following closely behind, and fired a shot.

The driver of the vehicle behind was shot in the chest, but it wasn't fatal.

The sedan veered off course but was quickly straightened and continued the pursuit.

At the same time, countless bullets were fired from the sedan behind.

James jerked the steering wheel to dodge while shooting backward, engaging in intense gunfire with the vehicles behind.

The vehicles behind weren't backing down, accelerating madly, trying to close the distance between us.

Bullets traced silver trajectories through the night sky, gunshots ringing continuously in my ears.

The black SUV was forced by the vehicles behind onto a desolate country road.

Not far ahead was an intersection.

James looked at me, speaking quickly. "Ella, listen to me. When I turn at the intersection ahead and stop the car, you get out and find somewhere to hide. Don't run around, don't be scared. Wait for me to come back for you, okay?"

I felt my heart pounding violently in my chest and tried to calm myself down. "Got it."

"If..." Though James really hoped this scenario wouldn't come true, he still had to make things clear. "If they find you, tell them your fingerprint can unlock all my bank accounts in the country."

"At least that way, Benjamin King won't hurt you."

"After all, although Benjamin loves his only daughter, Catherine, compared to his daughter, he loves money more."

I nodded. "Will you be in danger?"

James suddenly smiled. "What, worried I'll die?"

I didn't answer immediately.

James reassured me. "Don't worry, I don't die that easily. I'm still waiting to receive your birthday present."

Soon, the black SUV drifted at high speed on the road. With a harsh scraping sound, the car stopped in place.

"You can get out now," James looked at me and added, "Remember what I just told you."

I unbuckled my seatbelt. Before getting out, I quickly took something from my bag and stuffed it into the pocket of James's black shirt.

Then I pushed open the car door and got out.


——————
"Sorry for the unplanned hiatus. I've had some recent family emergencies that have left me feeling quite unsettled, resulting in a severe case of writer's block.
I don't want to force updates in this state of mind; the result would definitely be half-hearted and rushed, which would be irresponsible to you as readers. Therefore, I would like to take a few days off to sort things out and get back into the right headspace for writing.
Sharpening the knife won't delay the cutting of firewood. I hope I can count on your understanding. I have noted the owed chapters in my little notebook and will definitely make them up once I return."