Chapter 170 Explosion!

Chapter 170 Explosion!

"Bang!"

Dennis fired without hesitation.

The bullet tore clean through Irene's wrist. Blood splattered on the ground, and the black remote dropped from her hand.

But the moment it hit the floor, Irene went wild with pain. She slammed her other hand down on the backup switch.

Beep—

A sharp electronic tone cut through the empty warehouse.

The red light connected to the explosives started flashing like crazy.

The countdown had started.

One minute.

"Go!" Dennis leaped down from the metal rack, moving fast.

He rushed to the pillar, ripped the rope off Jared, and shoved the boy straight into Stella's arms.

"Hold Jared and run. Don't stop!"

Dennis said it low and steady. Instead of pushing Stella away, he stayed back with his gun trained on Irene, holding her down to buy the mother and son time to escape.

He pushed Stella toward the door and aimed his gun at Irene.

Stella didn't hesitate. The beeping countdown wouldn't let her. She swallowed the ache in her chest, pushed down her fear for Dennis, held her son tight, and sprinted toward the exit.

When Irene saw Stella running, she thrashed like a rabid dog trying to go after her.

"Nobody's getting out of here!" Irene screamed.

Miles was covered in blood. Irene's struggling had dragged him to the ground, and his wounded knee kept bleeding.

But he didn't let go.

He threw every last bit of strength he had into wrapping his arms around Irene's waist and pinning her to the floor.

"Miles! Let go of me! You useless piece of garbage!"

Irene clawed at his face like an animal, her nails raking bloody lines across his skin.

Miles couldn't feel a thing.

He turned his head and watched Stella run toward the exit with their son in her arms.

That was his son.

That was the woman he had hurt so deeply, and loved just as deeply.

Miles used the last of his strength and screamed toward Dennis, his voice breaking, "Dennis! I know you hate the Hudson family. I know you hate me. But I'm begging you — take care of Stella and Jared for the rest of your life. This mess is mine to clean up. I'll hold her here. You get them out safe. Go. Get them out of here now!"

Dennis was already running after Stella. He called back without looking, his voice cold and flat, "I'm protecting Stella and Jared because I want to, not because of you. And what you're doing right now — you owe Stella that much. Don't expect us to feel guilty about it."

Stella's steps faltered for just a second.

She didn't look back.

She held Jared tight, and together with Dennis right behind her, she ran out through the factory gates.

Beep — beep — beep —

The red light flashed faster and faster. Ten seconds left.

Stella had barely made it out and driven a short distance when a deafening blast erupted behind her.

BOOM.

The shockwave hit like an invisible wall, slamming into her back.

Dennis threw himself over her, covering Stella and Jared with his body.

Flames shot into the sky. Black smoke poured out in thick rolling clouds.

The entire abandoned chemical plant collapsed in the explosion.

Rusted metal sheets and chunks of broken concrete flew in every direction.

A wall of scorching heat swept over everything.

Stella lay flat on the ground, ears ringing with a sharp, piercing whine.

Her chest heaved. Every breath tasted like gunpowder.

"Jared..." Stella frantically felt around for her son.

"Mom, I'm okay." Jared gripped her shirt with both hands. He was terrified, but he wasn't hurt.

Dennis pushed himself up off them. The back of his shirt was torn open in a few places from flying debris, but nothing serious.

He pulled Stella to her feet and held her tight.

"It's over." Dennis pressed his lips to her hair, his voice a little rough. "It's all over now."

Stella leaned against his chest, breathing hard.

She turned and looked back.

Where the factory had stood just moments ago, there was nothing left but burning rubble.

Black smoke climbed straight up into the sky. The fire swallowed everything.

Miles hadn't come out.

The man who had once ruled over The Hudson Group as if he owned the world. The man who had backed her into a corner with nowhere to go. The man who, in his final moments, had thrown himself between them and death.

He was gone. Consumed by the explosion.

Stella stared at the wall of fire. She didn't feel the rush of revenge she might have expected. She didn't feel much grief either.

Just a heavy, hollow emptiness.

In the distance, sirens wailed, and fire trucks blared, getting closer by the second.

Dennis's people arrived on the scene. Red and the security team immediately locked down the surrounding area.

Three days later.

A hillside villa on the outskirts of Cloud City.

Jared was sitting on the couch putting together a LEGO set, looking like he'd already bounced back from the whole ordeal.

Stella stood by the window with a cup of coffee, watching the lawn outside.

Dennis came downstairs with a folder in his hand.

He walked up behind Stella and wrapped an arm around her waist out of habit, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"The police finished the search," Dennis said, his voice calm.

Stella turned to look at him.

"Did they find anything?" she asked.

Dennis shook his head.

"The temperature at the center of the blast was too high. All they recovered were some charred remains and half of Irene's shoe." Dennis set the folder down on the table beside them. "The police have issued death certificates. Miles and Irene are officially confirmed dead."

Stella looked down at the coffee cup in her hands.

Miles was dead.

The man who had tangled up her life for so many years, who had put her through so much pain — he was really gone.

"Feeling sorry for him?"

Dennis watched the side of her face, a barely noticeable tension in his voice.

Stella looked up and met his eyes. Then she smiled.

"Sorry for him? Why would I?" Stella reached up and straightened his shirt collar. "He made his choices. He got the ending that came with them. The only thing I care about is the life I have right now."

The tension in Dennis's eyes melted away.

He leaned down and kissed her, slow and firm.

Just then, Red walked quickly into the living room.

His expression was a little odd. "Mr. Wright. Ms. Carter."

He paused and looked between them. "There's someone at the door. You want me to let him in?"

"Who is it?" Dennis frowned.

"Frank. Miles's father." Red answered.

Dennis's fingers went rigid. He gripped his coffee cup hard, and a cold, dangerous energy swept through the room.

It was the kind of rage that only comes from a wound that's been buried for years — the murder of his mother, dragged back to the surface.

He looked toward the door, every inch of him radiating something lethal. "Let him in."

"I've been waiting to settle things with him."

Stella set down her cup and stood up.

She was wearing a red silk dress that day, the hem swaying softly as she moved. She leaned against the side of the couch, looking relaxed and effortlessly composed.

"Let him in," Stella said.

Dennis looked at her, brow creasing slightly. "You don't have to deal with him. He'll just get under your skin."

"If we don't see him, he'll just keep hovering around like a fly."

Stella stepped over to Dennis and rested her hand on his shoulder, tapping it lightly. "Better to say everything now and be done with it. Save ourselves the headache later."

Dennis put his arm around her waist and gave a small nod, going along with her.

Red turned and headed out.

A few moments later, two bodyguards brought Frank in.

Frank used to wear expensive tailored suits everywhere he went, and people stepped aside wherever he walked.

Today, he was still in a suit, but it was wrinkled, and his hair had gone noticeably white.

The Hudson family's collapse had hit him hard. He was a man who had spent his whole life giving orders and holding power. Even with nothing left, he refused to bow his head in front of Dennis.

"Where's Miles?" Frank demanded the moment he walked in.

He fixed his eyes on Stella. "Where are you hiding him?"