Chapter 168: Owen's Rescue

Chapter 168: Owen's Rescue
Sophia's POV
"Damn it! What a trashy reporter!" Laura grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the wall.
Sharp pain spread from the top of my head.
I let out a muffled groan, my knees collapsing onto the cold floor.
Laura threw the cup in her hand to the ground, glass shards scattering everywhere.
The servant at the door were so frightened they knelt on the ground.
"Miss Laura, those reporters are already waiting for you outside. They say..."
"Fuck! Stop rushing me!"
She bent down and lifted my chin with her fingertip.
"Don't get cocky, Sophia. I'm sparing your life today, but this is only temporary."
Laura straightened her water-stained dress, and left in her high heels.
Marcus crawled over to me with difficulty and helped me lean against the wall.
After I recovered a bit, I heard the servants speaking softly outside.
"Mr. Owen, you only have half an hour. Hurry."
Owen? I slowly opened my eyes, my brain momentarily unable to process anything due to the pain.
What was she saying? Was it really Owen?
The next second, the door was pushed open and Owen rushed in.
His face was full of anxiety.
He quickly walked up to me, crouched down to check my injuries, and gently cupped my face.
"Sophia, are you okay? I'm sorry I came so late."
Looking at the familiar face, my nose tingled and tears nearly spilled from my eyes.
I trembled as I spoke, my voice weak: "Owen, is it really you? Why are you here? Oh my God..."
I suddenly understood.
Those reporters outside must have been specifically arranged by Owen to distract Laura's attention, giving him a chance to come in and rescue us.
"It's me, Sophia." He confirmed.
Owen took off a first aid kit from his shoulder, filled with various medicines and medical supplies.
While searching through it, he said quickly: "Fabian planted me in this villa. He's been trying to find a way to save you."
Hearing Fabian's name, my eyes instantly lit up, and the hope that was about to die out reignited.
I said excitedly: "That's great! I knew they wouldn't give up on me. So they didn't start another war because of me, right?"
"Of course."
Owen took out iodine and alcohol, preparing to treat my wounds.
I shook my head and reached out to stop him: "No, treat Marcus first. His injuries are much worse than mine."
Owen looked at the weak Marcus: "Alright."
He handed the medicine to me and turned to check Marcus's injuries.
I opened the alcohol bottle and simply cleaned the scratches on my body.
But treating Marcus's wounds took much longer.
To avoid arousing Laura's suspicion, Owen couldn't change Marcus into clean clothes.
He could only do simple disinfection and stop the bleeding.
This treatment was far from enough for Marcus. The most serious problem was that he had been poisoned.
I asked: "Owen, can you find a way to get the antidote?"
Owen looked up, his brows furrowed: "What antidote?"
I quickly explained: "Marcus has been poisoned. The toxin is gradually eroding his body. He might not last much longer."
"Damn it! Laura, that vicious woman!" Owen cursed under his breath.
Marcus weakly shook his head: "Don't worry about me. Owen, you just need to find a way to get Sophia out."
"Dad!" I interrupted him. "I won't agree to that! Absolutely not!"
Even though Marcus and I weren't blood-related, in my heart, he was still my father, just like Will.
He had given everything to protect me. There was no way I could watch him die in front of me!
Owen sighed: "Since Will collapsed, Laura has greatly increased the security around the villa. I have no way to contact Fabian immediately to get him to send the antidote. But rest assured, I believe it won't be long before they come with people to rescue you."
We could only pin our hopes on the three alphas now.
Owen looked up at his watch: "Time's running out. Sophia, I have to leave. Laura could come back at any time."
As he was about to stand up, I suddenly remembered something.
"Owen, wait!" I grabbed his wrist. "What about Kieran?! How is Kieran?!"
Owen's expression visibly stiffened.
This moment of hesitation made my heart sink to the bottom.
I pleaded: "Tell me the truth, Owen! Was Kieran shot? Is he... is he still alive?!"
"Of course!" Owen quickly said, afraid I would misunderstand.
"Sophia, listen to me! Kieran was indeed shot and is being held in another room by Laura. Before coming to see you, I managed to sneak into his room, but..."
"But what?!" My voice became shrill.
Owen took a deep breath: "A bullet hit him right in the chest. His injuries are severe. I checked, and the bullet shouldn't have hit his heart, but he's still unconscious and hasn't woken up."
I felt the whole world spinning.
What should I do?
Every second that bullet remained in Kieran's body, his chances of death increased.
"Owen, please, take me to see Kieran, please?" I begged him.
Owen painfully closed his eyes and could only shake his head.
"I'm sorry, Sophia. I really want to rescue you all, but now is not the time."
He held my hand, his voice low but firm: "Please hold on for a few more days. I'll find a way, okay?"
The servant's anxious urging sounded again.
Owen looked at me deeply, picked up the first aid kit, and quickly left the room.
A few days later, in the dead of night, I vaguely heard several violent gunshots.
Immediately after, there were very noisy sounds from the roof, footsteps and gunfire.
I woke up with a start, my heart racing wildly.
I had a strong premonition that Fabian and the others had come to rescue us!
Then, the iron door of the room was violently kicked open from outside.
Owen rushed in. His clothes were stained with blood, and there was a fresh wound on his face.
"Sophia!" he said urgently.
"You go to the next room to find Kieran! I'll take Marcus away! Quick! There's not much time!"
I didn't have time to ask about the situation.
My body had already instinctively reacted.
I got up from the floor and rushed out of the room.
I ran desperately, then kicked open that door. Kieran was lying on the ground, apparently having completely lost consciousness.
"Kieran!" I knelt beside him, shaking his shoulders hard.
But he didn't respond at all.
I gritted my teeth and tried to help him up, but his body was too heavy, and I was already weak to the extreme.
Using all my strength, I could only barely move him a short distance.
The gunshots outside became more and more intense. There was no time left. Laura and Frank could come at any moment.
I used every ounce of strength I had to drag Kieran into the hallway.
At that moment, three familiar figures flashed before my eyes.
My heart pounded: "I'm here!"
Fabian was the first to spot us. He ran toward me and hugged me tightly.