Chapter 277 Pursuit and Capture

Chapter 277 Pursuit and Capture

Meanwhile, Hannah leaned back against the bed, quietly eating her porridge one spoonful at a time. Her movements were very restrained—every shift of her ribs pulled at the pain.

Ethan stayed by her side the whole time, not rushing her, just passing her tissues when needed. He didn't say a word from start to finish.

Hannah suddenly asked, "When are you planning to go back?"

"After you're discharged." Ethan took the bowl without hesitation, moving with an ease that made it seem routine.

Hannah glanced at him. "My injuries don't need hospitalization. I can be discharged tomorrow."

"The doctor said you need three days of observation." Ethan let out a soft breath. "Ms. Nguyen, you do pharmaceutical research, you're not a clinical doctor. Listen to the doctor, okay?"

Hannah didn't respond. She lay back, eyes fixed on the ceiling, quietly holding her feelings in check.

"Ethan."

"Yeah."

"You've helped me many times. It's normal for me to help you this once. You don't need to take it to heart." Her voice was soft, but her tone was calm, as if stating the most ordinary fact.

Ethan glanced at her, a quiet, helpless chuckle escaping him.

"You literally saved my life. That’s not really a ‘thank you’ kind of thing. If I go by my own rules, I guess I’m yours now."

Hannah turned her head. "Since when do you have a rulebook?"

Ethan’s grin held no trace of concern. “Because I needed one."

Hannah didn't respond, shifting her gaze toward the window. "You should go deal with Daniel's situation."

Daniel still hadn't been found. This fact stuck in Hannah's heart like a thorn, keeping her from feeling settled no matter what.

"My people are going all out looking for him, the police are too. A few hours won't make a difference." Ethan shrugged, appearing completely unconcerned on the surface.

Hannah turned back to stare at him. "Have you thought about why Daniel would take such a huge risk to do this?"

The smile on Ethan's face faded a bit. "Whatever his reason, he's finished."

His voice was calm, but the coldness was like a knife hidden in its sheath. Hannah had known him for so long and had never heard him use this tone. Usually he could laugh off anything, but not now.

"I've already put out a bounty. Dead or alive, I want him found."

Ethan looked at her. "He dared to come after you. I won't let him get away with it."

Hannah's fingers tightened slightly.

"Ethan, don't be impulsive. Just leave it to the police. The situation is special right now. You absolutely can't act recklessly, understand?"

Ethan nodded, the smile returning to his face. "Okay, I'll listen to you."

His phone vibrated. Ethan glanced at the caller ID and walked to the window to answer.

"Ethan, we've tracked down Daniel's location." Jackson's voice carried exhaustion. "But he ran again. He's too cunning, like someone's helping him."

Ethan frowned. "Someone's helping him?"

"The traces show he's always one step ahead of us. Someone's tipping him off." Jackson paused. "He's in that old district in the east part of the city now. We're still tracking his exact location."

Ethan was silent for a few seconds. "Got it."

He hung up and returned to the bedside.

Cordelia happened to push the door open, carrying two insulated bags—one with food, one with fruit. Seeing Hannah awake, she immediately relaxed and hurried to the bedside.

"Ms. Nguyen, I was really scared. I'm so glad you're okay. You need to get your strength back now."

Cordelia set the bags on the bedside table and opened the lids. Steam and the smell of food spread out.

"I bought the most expensive supplements. I really spent big this time."

"I'll buy you a whole case later." Hannah smiled at her.

"I won't hold back then." Cordelia handed over the bird's nest soup. "Want to eat some first?"

Ethan picked up his jacket.

"Cordelia, stay here with her. I'm going out for a bit."

Cordelia froze. "Where to?"

Ethan didn't answer. He was already out of the hospital room.

Hannah watched the door close, the uneasy feeling growing clearer.

"He's going to find Daniel."

Cordelia's eyes widened. "How do you know?"

Hannah pressed her lips together. "Can you stop him? He shouldn't get involved in this."

Cordelia thought for a moment and sighed. "Ms. Nguyen, he's a man. Seeing his woman get hurt and expecting him to do nothing—that would be abnormal."

"I'm not his woman." Hannah said it softly but with certainty.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "You pushed him away and took the hit from the car yourself, how can you deny it? Ask yourself, would you do that for anyone else?"

Hannah said nothing. She knew Cordelia was right. She wouldn’t have acted that way for anyone else.

Ethan drove to the east side of the city.

The place Jackson mentioned was practically a ghost zone—half-demolished houses, empty streets. His men were already in, spreading through the alleys to hunt.

"Found him yet?" Ethan said, walking out of the car towards the team leader.

"Not yet, but someone saw him run that way." The man pointed toward an unfinished building in the distance.

Ethan glanced over. The building stood by itself, unfinished, its gray concrete frame bare against the wind.

"Surround it." Ethan gave the order. "Don't let him escape."

His men scattered, closing in from different directions. Ethan walked into the building himself.

The light inside was poor. The stairs had no railing, and the floor was covered with broken bricks and exposed rebar. He climbed step by step, his footsteps echoing in the empty stairwell.

Fourth floor, fifth floor, sixth floor.

Ethan heard movement. Someone was panting heavily, as if they'd reached their limit, and footsteps continuing upward.

He quickened his pace. When he reached the seventh floor, a figure flashed past the stairway leading to the roof.

Daniel.

Daniel rushed onto the roof. Ethan followed right behind.

The roof was open and windy, making it hard to keep your eyes open. Daniel stood at the edge, leaning against a low wall that only came up to his waist, gasping for air.

Seeing Ethan, he smiled. That smile looked harsh in the night wind.

"You still came." Daniel's voice was terribly hoarse.

Ethan looked at him coldly. "You can't escape."

Daniel glanced back. There was nothing below. He had nowhere left to run. He turned back to stare at Ethan.

"You think you've won?"

Ethan didn't respond, just stood there motionless, watching him.

Daniel suddenly laughed hard, laughing until tears came out.

"You've always had better luck than me since we were kids. Your grandfather paved the way for you, your dad too. I worked myself nearly to death, but got nothing." His voice was cut up by the wind. "I won't accept it. I absolutely won't lose."

After Daniel finished speaking, he suddenly let go, his body leaning backward.

He didn't struggle, didn't shout, just fell straight down like that.

Ethan rushed to the low wall and looked down.

A dull thud came from below, followed immediately by screaming.