Chapter 188
His words struck like a thunderbolt exploding in my ears.
Every sound around me dissolved into a sharp, high-pitched ringing.
Ethan had paid this man to impersonate Leo and break up with me.
He'd known Leo and I had just confirmed our relationship. Why would he do that?
Was it because he knew Leo and Leopold were the same person?
Or... had all his help from the very beginning been to keep me by his side?
Leopold's accusations came flooding back.
Details I'd refused to believe were gradually coming into focus because of this man's confession.
All the evidence was screaming at me.
Ethan hadn't helped me out of camaraderie between fellow dancers.
He had ulterior motives.
What about this time, then?
If I really did escape Silverlight City with Ethan and Arnold's help, would I truly be free?
Or would I just be trapped somewhere else, in a different way?
My thoughts spiraled into chaos. I couldn't find a solution.
The man took advantage of my distraction and bolted.
I didn't chase him. Watching his retreating figure disappear, I decided to change part of my plan.
When I returned to where I was supposed to meet Arnold, I found him looking around anxiously.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing me, the tension drained from Arnold's face considerably.
"You were taking so long, I thought something happened."
I glanced at the bodyguards who'd quickly assembled behind Arnold and explained calmly, "One of my test results was delayed. That's why I'm late."
"As long as you're okay. Let's get in the car and head back." Arnold stepped aside to let me pass.
"Okay." I walked between them.
Arnold followed closely behind, with the other bodyguards falling in line.
Once in the car, Arnold reviewed my medical report.
"Everything looks great. The medication hasn't affected the baby's development or your condition. Moving forward, we'll enter the third phase of treatment..."
I had no objections.
After listening for a while, I noticed Arnold's eyes shift to the window. He deliberately raised an eyebrow at me.
Deep in thought, I turned to look outside.
This was the only expressway to Pansea Heights. Since it wasn't rush hour, there weren't many vehicles on the road.
At first, I didn't notice anything wrong.
Catching on, Arnold deliberately held up three fingers.
I immediately looked at the third car back—an ordinary commercial van. From the outside, nothing seemed amiss.
Looking away, I silently asked: The hitman?
Arnold nodded imperceptibly, then signaled me not to panic. Everything was under control.
Soon, the car exited the expressway and turned onto a more secluded road.
The moment we entered, Arnold tightened my seatbelt.
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
Though I'd prepared myself for this, when the moment actually arrived, I couldn't help being nervous. I tried my best to stay calm.
"Okay."
Just as our car fully entered the road, an oncoming truck suddenly lost control and headed straight for us!
The driver immediately slammed the brakes and reversed quickly.
"Everyone, hold on!"
Everyone rapidly adjusted, finding secure positions.
That's when the real danger struck!
The commercial van that had been maintaining distance suddenly accelerated, ramming viciously into the door on my side from behind.
The impact was deafening.
The force sent the car shaking violently, spinning out of control in a full 360-degree rotation before crashing into the guardrail.
After another earth-shattering collision, the car finally stopped.
All the airbags deployed simultaneously.
I slammed into mine, dazed for several moments before coming to my senses.
That's when the bodyguards realized something was wrong.
Once the car stopped, they all unbuckled their seatbelts.
"This isn't safe—we need to leave immediately!"
Arnold hadn't recovered from the dizziness yet.
I had to buy time. "My seatbelt seems to be stuck."
Hearing this, a bodyguard quickly got out to help me.
By then, Arnold had regained consciousness.
Seeing the bodyguard working on my seatbelt, he glanced at the driver, who was still slumped over the steering wheel, motionless.
A flash crossed Arnold's eyes. He pulled out a pre-prepared syringe and jabbed it into the bodyguard's neck.
"You..."
Before the bodyguard could react, he collapsed unconscious.
"What did you inject him with?" Seeing this, I was genuinely shocked.
"Just something to knock him out briefly. It won't harm him." Arnold unbuckled his own seatbelt and, for good measure, injected the driver as well.
Turning back to find me still frozen, he urged, "Get out of the car. We need to go now!"
I quickly unbuckled and opened the door.
The moment I stepped out, bodyguards from another vehicle surrounded me protectively.
Someone reacted lightning-fast, pulling a gun and firing at the commercial van.
The van's engine was still roaring, as if preparing to ram us.
But the bullet shattered the windshield first. Glass exploded outward in a spray of fragments.
The driver had no choice but to stop and take cover.
But the engine kept revving. One roar after another, making everyone's hearts race with panic.
"It's dangerous here—move!"
Arnold exited from the other side and rushed toward us.
Our group quickly retreated.
"Get in the car first."
Arnold helped me into the vehicle. Simultaneously, he ordered two other bodyguards to stay behind and handle the cleanup.
They hesitated. "Mr. Percy told us to protect Ms. Wipere..."
Arnold cut them off. "The hitman is still here. You have to find a way to contain him. Otherwise, once he completely blocks the road, we'll all die here!"
Hearing the severity in his voice, the two bodyguards didn't dare hesitate further. They left immediately with their weapons.
Still shaken, my breathing was heavier than usual.
I used my eyes to ask: What about those two up front?
Arnold replied, "Don't worry—they're ours. Or more precisely, they're the Marquis's people."
He tapped the driver's seat. "Hey, time to go!"
The two in front didn't turn around. One flashed an OK sign.
The car started moving again, heading straight for Silverlight City International Airport as originally planned.
En route, Arnold handed me tickets and documents.
"The flight's all arranged. You can board directly when you get there. But I need to stay in Silverlight City another two days to keep Leopold from getting suspicious."
I accepted them and thanked him sincerely. "Dr. Norman, thank you."
Arnold waved dismissively. "No need for thanks. I'm not helping for free—the Marquis and I reached our own agreement."
I nodded with a smile, then asked curiously, "What was that drug you injected into the bodyguard earlier? How was it so effective?"
Arnold pulled out the syringe and waved it. "Something I newly developed. Puts people to sleep for over three hours with zero side effects."
"May I see it?" I asked gently. Arnold handed it over generously. "Of course."
The moment I took it, I reversed grip and jabbed it into his thigh, pushing all the liquid into his body.
"Lucinda, you—"
Before Arnold could finish, he lost consciousness and collapsed onto the back seat.
At the same time, the driver in front turned around.
"Ms. Wipere, you're truly impressive."