Chapter 125 Nicholas Has Only 29 Days Left to Live
"Get out!"
Nicholas was so angry he was about to explode, his chest heaving violently. His furious roar made the air buzz.
Emma watched him fly into a rage, still wearing that calm expression.
She added gently, "Mr. West, I know you're injured right now and it's not convenient."
"So I'll wait until you've recovered, then come back to repay you."
With that, she quietly turned and walked out.
At this moment, Nicholas's expression was dark.
He was really angry. She actually wanted to offer herself to that "Mr. West"?
Damn it! She wanted to marry Mr. West? Was she crazy?
No! He was the one going crazy!
Did Emma even know what she was doing!
Outside the door.
Emma gently closed the door, shutting out that furious gaze from inside.
Leaning against the door, the corners of her mouth finally couldn't help but lift into a big smile.
Seeing Nicholas looking so frustrated and furious, she was absolutely delighted inside.
Who told him to pretend to be Mr. West and deceive her for so long? Serves him right!
...
At the western docks, in an abandoned warehouse, dark and damp.
Evelyn was curled up in the corner of a cold iron cage. After two days and nights without food, her body wouldn't stop shaking.
Her forehead was burning hot, and the high fever was making her vision blur.
She felt like she was going to die.
Soon after, she was dragged out and tied to a wooden frame. The rough hemp rope cut deep into her flesh, every inch of skin screaming in pain.
Below the frame was piled with firewood, and the strong smell of gasoline was sickening.
She hung her head weakly, cold sweat mixing with tears streaming down.
Duke, with a cigar in his mouth, was playing with a long black whip in his hand, slowly walking over.
Behind him followed over two hundred men, each holding clubs and machetes, looking fierce and menacing.
"Brothers!" Duke blew out a smoke ring, his voice arrogant. "That punk Hawk is heading this way!"
He paused, his eyes sweeping over everyone with a ruthless look.
"Today, we must take Hawk's head! Take back the East District! After that, I'll lead you brothers to the good life - wealth and glory without end!"
The men were whipped into a frenzy, raising their weapons and roaring, their spirits high.
Duke walked up to Evelyn with a cruel smile.
"Miss, watch carefully."
He lifted her chin with the whip tip, his eyes mocking.
"Today, if Hawk and Theo don't come save you, it's your death day."
"Don't blame me for being ruthless - blame yourself for being part of the Jackson family!"
With that, he raised his arm, and the long whip whistled down through the air.
The first lash struck her arm, tearing the skin open.
Evelyn's whole body trembled with pain. She bit down hard on her lower lip, the taste of blood filling her mouth.
The second lash fell on her leg, instantly staining her skirt red with blood.
She still didn't make a sound.
The third lash was even more vicious. Bright red blood kept seeping out, staining her plain-colored dress, a shocking sight.
She clenched her teeth, stubbornly refusing to make any sound, only her rapid breathing betraying her pain.
Suddenly, a dull gunshot tore through the night sky.
Duke's right wrist holding the whip exploded in a spray of blood, and the whip flew from his hand.
"Ahh—!" He let out a piercing scream, his features twisted in pain as he crouched down clutching his wrist.
Six black SUVs, like beasts of the night, their blinding headlights all aimed this way, completely surrounding Duke and his men.
The light was too strong. Evelyn instinctively squinted.
A deep, cold voice without any warmth cut through the noise, ringing out clearly.
"You dare touch my woman?" A fierce voice spoke, carrying crushing pressure.
Evelyn struggled to lift her heavy eyelids. Through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, she saw a tall figure walking toward her against the light.
The man wore a silver metal mask on his face, radiating the murderous aura of a demon from hell.
Hawk was here!
Duke looked at the bodyguards behind Hawk, all dressed in black combat gear, holding sophisticated weapons, moving in perfect unison with cold eyes.
That well-trained professional air - clearly not something his ragtag bunch could compare to.
He endured the severe pain in his wrist. His earlier arrogance completely gone, he forced out a smile uglier than crying.
"Hawk, what brings you here? It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"
His eyes darted around, then he pointed at Evelyn tied to the wooden frame, quickly explaining.
"Hawk, look, this woman, she's Theo's own sister!"
"Years ago, that bastard Theo almost killed you! I set up this trap today to draw him out and help you get revenge, Hawk!"
He was trying to pin everything on Theo and clear himself.
As soon as Duke finished speaking, the roar of a motorcycle engine came from far to near, like thunder on flat ground.
A swift black shadow tore through the night like a sword, cutting through the crowd, bringing a gust of wind.
With an ear-piercing screech of brakes, a tall man in tight black combat gear stopped steadily less than three meters in front of Duke.
He wore a fierce black demon mask, revealing only a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes flashing with a chilling cold light, locked firmly on Duke.
His powerful presence instantly crushed everyone present. His thin lips parted, his voice ice-cold.
"I'm already here."
Duke was so frightened by this sudden turn of events that he kept backing up, falling on his butt, his face pale as paper. Pointing at the black-masked man, his voice trembled.
"You... you're... Theo?"
He suddenly turned to Hawk, as if grasping at a lifeline. "Hawk! That's Theo! He's here! Quick! Take him down!"
Evelyn struggled to open her bloodshot eyes wide, desperately trying to see clearly the man wearing the black mask.
Although she couldn't see his face, that familiar build, that mountain-like steady presence...
It was Theo!
He really was her brother, Theo!
Her heart jumped violently. A huge wave of bitterness and joy washed over her.
"Theo..." She used all her strength to let out a weak, almost inaudible call, tears instantly bursting forth.
Hawk and Theo, one wearing a silver mask, one black, like two war gods, separated by less than three meters.
The air seemed to freeze.
The next second, both moved! Fast as lightning, their movements barely visible!
Their target was Duke!
The two seemed to have a telepathic connection, striking simultaneously. Their swift and fierce punches and kicks, carrying wind that tore through the air, slammed hard into Duke's body.
The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible.
Duke didn't even have time to scream before he was beaten like a broken sandbag with no ability to fight back.
In less than ten seconds, Duke, who had been so arrogant moments ago, was already limp on the ground like a puddle of mud.
The two hundred or so men around watched in shock, scared out of their wits. Their hands holding knives and guns were shaking as they stepped back, afraid they'd be the next one dealt with.
This wasn't a fight - this was a one-sided slaughter. Too terrifying!
Hawk stepped forward, lifting the barely alive Duke with one hand like picking up a chicken, effortlessly throwing him directly onto the pile of firewood on the platform.
And Theo, like a panther, leaped up and landed steadily on the platform.
He gently untied the ropes binding Evelyn, lifted her blood-covered, weak body horizontally in his arms, then jumped down and landed steadily.
Evelyn nestled in his solid, warm embrace, her whole body trembling.
She didn't know if it was from the cold of blood loss or the excitement of being found.
"Theo... Theo..." She kept calling softly, hot tears uncontrollably sliding from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto his black combat gear.
She couldn't see the expression under the man's mask, only saw that in his deep eyes, there seemed to be a glimmer of moisture.
Theo lowered his head, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion, softly calling, "Evelyn, I'm back!"
He used his ungloved fingers to gently brush away the hair on her forehead dampened by cold sweat, his movements incredibly gentle.
"Does it hurt?"
"It hurts! It hurts so much!" She hid in his embrace, tears flowing freely, clutching tightly at his chest, as if grabbing her last lifeline.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this." Theo's voice was full of deep guilt and self-blame, but the mask hid all his expressions.
He held her and walked step by step to Hawk.
Evelyn immediately tensed up. She looked up timidly at the man wearing the silver mask, his whole body radiating an unapproachable aura.
"Hawk... please... don't hurt Theo..." Her voice carried a sob, full of pleading.
Hawk said nothing, his eyes looking at her deeply.
Theo looked deeply at Evelyn in his arms, then carefully handed her toward Hawk.
Hawk reached out and steadily took her weak body.
The two tall men wearing masks just stood there quietly.
One giving, one receiving.
As if performing some sacred handover ceremony, the atmosphere solemn. Later, Evelyn would understand what this handover ceremony meant - her brother couldn't go back!
Theo removed a string of red agate beads from his wrist, beads so red they seemed to be dripping blood, and gently placed it on Evelyn's wrist.
The cool agate touched her burning skin.
He looked at her deeply one last time, then resolutely turned and strode toward the heavy motorcycle without any hesitation.
"Theo! Theo—!"
Evelyn cried out heart-wrenchingly in Hawk's arms, reaching out trying to grab Theo, but only grasping at emptiness.
Her vision went black, and she completely passed out.
Hawk, holding the unconscious Evelyn, cast a cold glance at Duke on the woodpile.
He just slightly turned his head, giving a look.
His deputy immediately understood, pulled out a metal lighter, lit it, and casually tossed it onto the pile of firewood soaked in gasoline.
Flames instantly shot up, spreading rapidly, the fire reaching the sky, illuminating the entire dock like daylight.
Soon, Duke's heart-wrenching screams came from the woodpile, bone-chilling.
"I'm taking her to Skywater Peak to recover." Hawk said to his deputy and left with Evelyn.
As for Duke's remaining ragtag bunch, they were all loaded onto trucks by Hawk's deputy. Waiting for them would be endless labor at some remote, closed farm.
From this point on, Luminous City's last significant gang force completely collapsed!
On Skywater Peak, another blood-red sunset appeared.
Nicholas slept for another half day before slowly waking up.
He slowly got up and walked into the bathroom, but unexpectedly caught sight of where he'd been needled on his back - a large black patch, shockingly visible.
He tried hard to calm his inner unease. Suddenly he coughed, spitting out a large mouthful of black blood that fell into the white jade sink, like a noble and eerily beautiful black mandala flower!
Immediately after, blood from his nose fell like broken beads...
He didn't know that his life had only 29 days left!
He knew even less that Emma would become pregnant with his child again...