Chapter 191 Have You Fallen in Love with Me?

Chapter 191 Have You Fallen in Love with Me?

The gunfire outside intensified, artillery blasts shaking the entire villa. Colton instantly realized Mason's forces had completely surrounded the place.

His expression darkened. Gone was his earlier composure. He seized Stella's wrist, yanking her in front of him as a human shield, jamming the cold barrel of his gun against her temple as he backed toward the villa entrance.

The courtyard blazed with lights. Armed men faced off on both sides, tension crackling in the air.

Mason stood tall in a long black coat, his posture rigid, murderous intent radiating from every inch of him. His dark eyes locked onto the captive Stella.

When his gaze swept over her shoulder—the fabric torn and disheveled from rough handling—rage erupted in his chest. Killing intent flooded his eyes as the air pressure around him dropped to a terrifying low.

In mere moments, the woman he'd cherished for a year, the one he couldn't bear to let suffer the slightest scratch, had been violated like this.

Colton, emboldened by his hostage, arrogantly opened negotiations: "Mason, if you want your woman back safely, drop all your weapons and hand over every territory west of the city. Then I'll release her."

Faced with Colton's outrageous demands, Mason's expression turned glacial. His words carried not a trace of warmth, lethal intent washing over everyone present: "You touched my wife. You've forfeited any right to negotiate."

The man who'd been ruthless and forbidding just seconds ago lifted his gaze to Stella. Instantly, he softened, his voice tender enough to melt: "Don't be afraid."

The moment Stella saw Mason, her anxious heart settled completely.

She looked up at the man in the distance, showing no fear of the gun at her head. Her red lips parted, voice clear and calm: "I'm fine."

After a brief pause, she met Mason's eyes, a hint of coldness flickering in hers as she spoke bluntly: "But he touched me just now. When this is over, you'll personally chop off his hands."

No pretense, no weakness. After a year together, she'd grown accustomed to relying on him, bold enough to voice her demands directly.

Mason saw the open trust in her eyes. The corners of his tense mouth curved into an indulgent smile, his response immediate and certain: "Alright. Whatever you want, baby."

Completely ignored, Colton's face darkened with fury. He pressed the gun harder against Stella's temple, snarling: "Are you even taking me seriously?!"

Stella raised her eyes to the enraged Colton, a faint mocking smile playing on her lips. Composed and confident, she began her psychological assault: "Holding me hostage is useless. You've already lost to Mason from the start."

"In Astoria, you'll never be his match. Surrender now, put down your gun, and Mason might spare your life for my sake."

Each word struck precisely at Colton's deepest fears.

Already on edge, Colton's psychological defenses completely crumbled at her words. His eyes filled with nothing but rage and madness, his finger instinctively tightening on the trigger.

This was the moment!

Stella had deliberately provoked him to create Mason's only opening.

In a split second, Mason's eyes sharpened. His wrist moved, raising his gun in one smooth motion. Without hesitation, a bullet shot out, striking Colton's gun hand with perfect precision.

"Ahhh!"

A piercing scream rang out. Colton's wrist exploded in pain, the gun flying from his grip and clattering to the ground.

The restraint instantly released, Stella seized the opening, twisting sideways and sprinting toward Mason.

"Shoot! Kill her!"

Colton clutched his bleeding wrist, face twisted with fury as he screamed the order.

The next second, countless bullets rained down on Stella, a hail of gunfire blocking every escape route. Death closed in from all sides.

In that critical instant, a tall dark figure lunged forward, throwing himself over her and shielding her with his broad back, taking every bullet meant for her.

Dull thuds of impact sounded in rapid succession.

Mason held her tightly, protecting her entire body, refusing to let her suffer the slightest harm. His back took bullet after bullet.

He raised his eyes, killing intent sweeping across the scene, and gave a cold order to his men: "Whoever kills Colton gets ten million dollars."

As his words fell, his forces unleashed hell, instantly suppressing the enemy.

Mason didn't linger. He bent down, scooping the shell-shocked Stella into his arms, and quickly retreated from the dangerous courtyard.

But the return route still had scattered pursuers. Another stray bullet cut through the air. Without hesitation, Mason turned, shielding her completely. The bullet tore into his side.

Hot blood instantly soaked through his coat, streaming down the hem in an endless flow, staining large patches of fabric a shocking crimson.

Watching his blood pour out, seeing him take hit after hit to protect her, Stella completely broke down. Her eyes turned red, tears streaming down her face. "Blood... so much blood, Mason, you're bleeding so much..."

Feeling her trembling sobs, Mason endured the searing pain in his back and side, lowering his head to gently nuzzle her hair with his uninjured cheek. His voice was weak but still full of affection: "Why are you crying? It's just a scratch. I'm not dying."

Back at the villa's private medical room, doctors immediately began emergency surgery. Stella never left, standing vigil outside the operating room, fingers clenched together, heart full of panic and worry, every second an agony.

The long surgery finally ended. Mason slowly opened his heavy eyelids.

The first thing he saw was the girl's reddened eyes and the undisguised worry and anxiety within them. She'd stayed by his bedside the entire time, never leaving for a moment.

Mason looked at her weakly, a faint smile forming on his pale face. "So worried about me... does that mean you've fallen in love with me?"