Chapter 274 Accompanying Her Towards Death

Chapter 274 Accompanying Her Towards Death

"Everything's under control. The big shots are happy, so you can head back to Silvermoon City without a hitch, Mr. Taylor. I've got it all handled here."

Christopher's eyes narrowed, a chill in his voice. "Trying to get rid of me, are you?"

Henry chuckled, dipping his head slightly. "No way, man. Just noticed you've been burning the candle at both ends lately. Didn't want you to wear yourself out."

Christopher scoffed, his gaze drifting away. "That woman, Aria, won't spill a thing about 'Isis's Tear.' And nobody else seems to have a clue."

Henry pursed his lips thoughtfully. "She's really protective of that woman she's looking after. I've been digging around at the Jade Pavilion these past few days. Mr. Taylor, I think we might've been barking up the wrong tree."

Christopher sneered, "Cecilia was my target first. If Aria wants to play, she'd better be ready for a fight."

Henry paused, knowing Christopher's world was black and white: strong or weak, useful or useless.

"That's one way to see it, but—"

"No buts," Christopher cut him off sharply. "According to Aria, 'Isis's Tear' vanished from the royal family and ended up with some sorcerer who cursed it. It pops up every hundred years. Last time was 1928, and now it's 2028. We've been gearing up since January, and now it's just a rock?"

"Either Aria's pulling a fast one, or Cecilia's the issue."

Henry frowned, not having been on the island with Christopher, so he switched gears. "Mr. Taylor, should I keep tabs on Cecilia?"

"Yeah," Christopher said, his eyes narrowing with intent. "Wait for a moment when she's alone. Her crew can't shield her forever. Once you nab her, bring her back to Silvermoon City. Even though the island sank, she's still got the chest. Sepia's been straight with us. The 'Isis's Tear' from a century ago is with Cecilia."

Henry's eyes widened a bit, but before he could say anything, Christopher stepped off the platform, his fingers brushing the back of a chair. "We've come this far, and she wants to bail? Ridiculous."

The room fell silent for a beat.

"Forget it," Christopher suddenly said, handing Henry a small card. "Take care of these goods."

Henry nodded. "Got it, Mr. Taylor."

The next day, at the Elikin Mansion.

Cecilia and her crew strolled down the stone path toward the heart of the estate. 

The garden was a masterpiece, with rock formations, flowing water, and lush greenery, but nobody was in the mood to admire it.

Jessa was tucked away in a secluded courtyard behind the main house, a quiet and hidden spot. 

As they pushed open the gate, a faint smell of disinfectant mixed with the cold air greeted them. 

Inside, Jessa lay quietly in a hospital bed, hooked up to various machines and tubes, her face pale, with only the slight rise and fall of her chest showing she was alive.

A middle-aged man with half-rimmed glasses stood by the bed, adjusting the IV drip. 

Hearing footsteps, he turned and pushed up his glasses. "You're here."

"Doctor, how is she?" Isabella asked, her voice full of worry as she stepped forward.

"Her vitals are stable for now, but her brain's taken a serious hit. Her memory might..." He hesitated, gauging Isabella's reaction. 

"Also, her body doesn't function like a typical person's. We'll have to wait until she wakes up to know more."

Isabella's shoulders eased a bit. "As long as she wakes up, that's all that matters."

Cecilia noticed the bandage on Isabella's wrist, a hint of blood seeping through. She frowned. "Isabella, you're hurt?"

Isabella quickly hid her hand behind her back, offering a faint smile. "It's nothing."

"Did you get that saving Jessa?" Caroline asked, eyeing her suspiciously. "Did you get any treatment? Kian didn't mention anything."

Kian, standing nearby, just shrugged silently.

"It's fine, just a scratch from when they grabbed me. Not Kian's fault," Isabella replied with a slight smile. "You guys should head back to the main house. No need to hang around here."

Seeing this, Caroline let it go. The group left the room and slowly made their way back to the main house along the corridor.

Once they were gone, Isabella sighed in relief and turned to the doctor. "Thanks."

The doctor sighed lightly, motioning for her to come over and roll up her sleeve, revealing the nasty wound.

"How many people are left at Kingsnake Laboratory?" he asked while disinfecting her wound.

"Less than ten," Isabella winced. "Lots of empty rooms. They must've moved the test subjects."

"Looks like Sophie and Royce still haven't come to terms," the doctor chuckled. "One wants to clone humans, memories and emotions included; the other wants to achieve eternal life through tech. They're not exactly on the same page."

"Why'd you leave?"

"Couldn't stand a colleague. It was unbearable. Luckily, Mr. Elikin took me in, or I'd have been caught by those folks."

"You're talented, Doc. You'd be an asset anywhere."

"Stop buttering me up," the doctor smiled, carefully bandaging her wound. He glanced at Jessa, his tone turning serious. "When she wakes up, what's your plan? Her main system's damaged, and she could lose control anytime."

"I plan to take her around Skyview City, then to other cities and countries, away from people. If something happens, I'll stop her with my life and go with her," Isabella said, her voice calm and gentle.

"That's quite romantic," the doctor remarked. "You should go join your friends. Don't worry, she's safe with me. I won't intrude on your gathering. I've got work to do."

"Thanks for your help," Isabella said with a light laugh, politely. She walked over to Jessa, gently holding her hand, and gazed at her face for a few minutes before leaving.

As she stepped into the living room, the sound of cheerful chatter filled the air. 

Isabella looked up to see Leonard and the other members of the Lunar Howl band gathered around the dining table, which was laden with exquisite snacks and fruits. 

Cedric stood nearby, holding a drink, and smiled as she entered. "Perfect timing, lunch is ready."

"Everyone's here, it's quite lively."

"The tour just ended, so we finally got a chance to gather," Leonard said, raising his glass with a smile.

"Speaking of which, where's your band's new lead singer?" Cecilia asked, sipping her drink and glancing around.