Chapter 269 Visiting the Sick

Chapter 269 Visiting the Sick

The island's mountains started to tilt and slide, the ground splitting into countless jagged cracks, spewing sulfurous smoke from the fissures. 

Massive chunks of rock walls crumbled and crashed into the sea, stirring up murky waves.

Alaric was thrown by the blast, flung dozens of feet away. 

Struggling to get up, he saw no sign of Ten Eyes or Christopher. Tall trees had fallen, blocking his view.

In the chaos, he ran towards the entrance with all his might. 

Kian was struggling on a lifeboat, unable to find Caroline and Cecilia, and had to settle for the nearest small lifeboat.

Heat waves mixed with debris pelted the lifeboat. Kian raised his head slightly and saw a familiar figure, startling him. 

He gritted his teeth and steered the lifeboat towards it.

"Alaric! Over here, jump on!" 

As he neared the island's edge, Kian finally recognized the figure and shouted loudly.

Alaric looked over at the sound, a brief smile on his lips. He leaped onto the lifeboat just as the muddy ground beneath him sank into the sea. 

The engine roared, and the island shattered into pieces before their eyes, a spectacular sight.

"Where are Cecilia and the others?" Alaric asked, frowning as he steadied himself.

"I took care of the people chasing them, but I didn't see them," Kian said, his nerves finally relaxing as they left the danger zone. "They must have left already. We have to trust them."

He paused, "What about your side?"

Alaric shook his head, silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Christopher isn't easy to kill."

Kian nodded, glancing back. "Honestly, I still can't believe the island just sank."

"It's better this way," Alaric said quietly. "Those things shouldn't exist."

As they spoke, they saw three maritime patrol boats in the distance, likely drawn by the explosion.

Kian squinted, changed direction to avoid the patrol boats, and laughed, "Let's go meet up with Caroline and the others."

Meanwhile, on the distant sea, Christopher stood on the deck of a black speedboat. 

He hadn't seen this boat before, likely brought by Alaric's group, with scattered printed documents on it.

His mask was shattered, revealing his pale face. His red eyes scanned the speedboat coldly, staring at the direction shrouded in white mist.

He had sent twenty-five trained men to the island, only to face a complete failure. His prized bodyguard, Ten Eyes, had died saving him, crushed by a broken altar pillar. 

The sound of bones breaking and the abrupt scream echoed in his mind, making him frown in displeasure.

After a while, Christopher lowered his gaze and casually tossed the badge Ten Eyes had given him into the sea.

Three days later, at the Guise Group hospital, in a private VIP room.

Cecilia and the others were watching the Skyview City morning news.

[Breaking! Mysterious explosion in Dream Bay investigated with no results!]

[Former Russell Group president's wife Cecilia missing again, police involved.]

[The Wells family holds a grand funeral for Silas, media collectively mourns.]

[Russell Group stock plummets 60%, multiple partners terminate agreements.]

Morning light filtered through the curtains onto the hospital bed. 

Cecilia leaned against the headboard, bored, flipping through channels. 

The TV kept replaying footage of the sea explosion, her name fixed in the "missing persons" section, with a picture of her in a red dress at a banquet.

"These reporters are so rude," Caroline said, slicing an apple, the knife stabbing into the flesh. 

"Why do they always use 'former president's wife' as a prefix? It's so disrespectful. Our Cecilia is the Medici Group's heiress and the president of YORA Group! She's not just someone's wife!"

Kian smirked, scrolling through his phone with his legs crossed. "Forget it. Maybe Cecilia and Alaric should get married right now. That would make a big headline, wouldn't it?"

He suddenly sat up, winking at Cecilia. "By the way, the whole internet is guessing if you were kidnapped by aliens or imprisoned by Julian. It's hilarious."

Cecilia frowned, a bit helpless, about to respond when the door suddenly knocked.

Alaric entered, followed by a slender figure that stunned everyone.

"Isabella?" Caroline's eyes widened in disbelief, the apple falling from her hand.

Isabella wore a simple blue shirt and jeans, her long hair loosely tied up, much more modest than before. 

She placed a bouquet of sunflowers on the bedside table and smiled at Cecilia. "How are you feeling? Are you okay?"

Cecilia was momentarily stunned, then smiled. "Nothing serious, I won't die."

Isabella blinked, finding the words familiar. She reached out to touch Cecilia's bandaged arm but pulled back, her face showing a familiar expression. "Does it hurt?"

"No—" Cecilia's words were cut off as Caroline lunged and hugged her, causing her to wince in pain.

"You idiot!" Caroline suddenly punched Isabella's shoulder, pulling her into the hug, her voice choked with tears. 

"Why did you disappear? Do you know how long we searched for you? You think I'll forgive you just because Cecilia passed on your message?"

Isabella was stunned, unusually not fighting back, instead hugging her tightly and whispering, "I'm sorry."

The room fell silent.

Alaric leaned against the window, observing quietly. Kian handed a tissue to Caroline.

"I didn't contact you because I feared the Hunted Shadows Guild would target you. I couldn't read Sepia's intentions, so I stayed by her side to keep her in check," Isabella said slowly. 

"But I was secretly passing information to Cedric and Alaric. Yesterday, Sepia met with Christopher. As soon as I got their support, I injured Sepia and escaped."

She looked at Cecilia, her eyes full of joy. "Alaric told me everything. You wouldn't believe it, but the 'Isis's Tear' Christopher brought turned into a small blue stone. His expression was priceless."

Before she finished, the door opened again. 

Leonard peeked in, holding a large bouquet of white roses, smiling. "Sorry, are we interrupting your crying session?"

He stepped aside, Cedric nodded with a fruit basket, and Lancelot carried a "Get Well Soon" LED sign.

The small room suddenly felt like a reunion.

Cecilia was surprised. "Why are you all here?"