Chapter 176
Hearing those words, Charlotte's brows instantly furrowed, her eyes flooding with worry.
"But how can you possibly handle all these people by yourself?"
"I can manage. Besides, Rhett's already coordinated with the police—they've got this place surrounded. Take Victoria and leave through the southeast ventilation shaft."
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"But..." Charlotte's eyes widened, her face draining of color.
As if hearing their voices, several men who had been focused on attacking Alexander now turned their attention toward Charlotte.
Moving with lightning speed, Alexander kicked a stone from the ground, striking one of them square in the forehead. Then he roared, "Go! I can only focus once you're safe."
At those words, Charlotte bit her lip hard and took one last, lingering look at him before hoisting Victoria onto her back again.
Before leaving, she locked eyes with that tall, imposing figure.
"Alexander, you have to come back alive."
With that, she bolted toward the southeast corner.
The man watched her retreating form and let out a long breath, his entire body relaxing.
But when he turned back to face the mercenaries charging toward him, his gaze sharpened once more.
"Come on then. Let's see just how tough you really are."
Meanwhile, Charlotte reached the iron grate covering the ventilation shaft. She kicked it open with one swift motion and crawled inside.
Emerging from the duct, she was immediately hit by the glare of flashing red and blue lights.
Seeing Charlotte, covered in blood, crawl out of the opening, Rhett rushed forward to support her.
"Ms. Johnson..."
"Quick! Medical team!"
His eyes fell on Victoria on her back, and his pupils contracted sharply. He spun around and bellowed for help.
After Charlotte got Victoria settled, she immediately turned to Rhett and said in a low, urgent voice, "Rhett, Alexander's still inside. Take your men and come with me!"
Inside the chemical plant, chaos had erupted—mercenaries lay scattered across the floor.
Charlotte frantically searched for any sign of Alexander. Right now, all she wanted was to see him.
Finally, she heard an angry roar in the distance.
As if guided by instinct, Charlotte charged toward the sound.
At that moment, Alexander was leaning against a wall, his face deathly pale, his body drenched in blood—he'd reached his limit.
Gripping a steel pipe, he locked eyes on Richard in the distance, who was being escorted away by several men. Alexander's jaw clenched tight.
He knew clearly: he couldn't let Richard escape.
If he did, it would be an endless source of trouble.
With that thought, he forced himself upright and dragged his feet toward Richard's direction.
Richard, naturally, noticed Alexander. A flash of vicious hatred crossed his eyes.
He'd been about to ignore him and leave when suddenly the wail of sirens pierced his ears.
Realizing they were likely surrounded outside, Richard's expression darkened further.
"Damn it!"
Cursing under his breath, fury churning in his chest, he yanked a handgun from his jacket pocket and aimed it straight at Alexander.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!"
The instant those words left his gritted teeth, he pulled the trigger.
"No!"
Charlotte arrived just in time to witness the scene, and her eyes nearly split with anguish.
"Bang!"
The bullet exploded from the barrel in a brilliant flash, spiraling directly toward Alexander's chest.
Alexander's body froze in place, then toppled backward like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Alexander!"
Charlotte's tears burst forth like a dam breaking. She lunged forward and pressed down hard on his bleeding wound.
"Don't! I won't let you die! I won't let you die!"
Scalding tears fell onto his dirt-streaked face, burning and stinging.
Alexander struggled to open his eyes. Seeing her crying so desperately, he lifted his hand, trying to touch her cheek.
"Don't... cry... I..."
Before he could finish, his gaze went completely vacant. His hand fell lifelessly to the side as he lost consciousness entirely.
"Alexander..."
By now, the police had taken full control of the situation.
Richard, his kneecap shattered by a bullet, screamed in agony on the ground as officers cuffed him and hauled him away.
...
Fifteen minutes later, Haven Healthcare Hospital.
Outside the emergency room, Charlotte sat numbly on a bench, her eyes hollow.
Every time she pictured Alexander collapsing in front of her, it felt like a giant hand was squeezing her heart relentlessly.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
She looked up in a daze to see the Harris family members and company executives rushing toward her.
Benjamin was among them. When he saw Charlotte—disheveled, utterly broken, sitting outside the emergency room—intense jealousy surged through him.
But the very next moment, a twisted, euphoric thrill followed.
If Alexander really died, everything the Harris family owned would be his.
Including Charlotte.
At that thought, Benjamin's heart pounded uncontrollably.
He took a deep breath, forcing down the torrent of emotions, and approached Charlotte.
"How is he?"
Hearing that familiar voice—and the thinly veiled indifference in his words—Charlotte's brows drew together sharply.
"What are you doing here?"
Seeing Charlotte's obvious disgust and annoyance at his presence, Benjamin let out a mocking laugh.
"Of course I came to check on my dear uncle who's hanging by a thread."
"After all, the doctors already said the bullet hit near his heart. Which means this time, his chances of survival are pretty slim."
Detecting the mockery in his tone, Charlotte's bloodshot eyes flew wide open. She shot to her feet and shouted, "Get out! You have no right to be here!"
"Me, get out?" Benjamin's smile turned scornful. "Charlotte, do you still not see the situation you're in?"
"Alexander's about to die because he saved you. Do you really think the Harris family will let you off the hook?"
"Once he's dead, you'll be the murderer who killed the Harris family patriarch!"
Watching Charlotte's fury build, Benjamin's words grew increasingly venomous.
"You're already a criminal."
"Your mother's still in the ICU."
"If she goes down too, that precious safety net of yours is gone."
Benjamin reached out to touch her face, but she slapped his hand away violently.
"Don't touch me!"
Seeing her fierce reaction, Benjamin let out a cold laugh. He wasn't angry. Instead, his eyes grew darker, more calculating.
He turned and walked a few steps forward, tilting his chin up slightly.
"Charlotte, I'm the only person you can rely on now."
"Just bow your head to me, and I can guarantee your safety from now on."
"Because very soon, I'll be the true master of the Harris family. Whatever I say goes—no one will dare question me."