Chapter 269
Within the hour, Alex charged back to his battered clinic, his face carved with tension the moment he saw the front door changing ajar, its frame splintered by brute force.
When he shoved the creaking door aside, fury exploded in his eyes the entire place lay in ruins, as if a hurricane of violence had ripped through every corner, leaving nothing but wreckage and rage behind.
Boxes of medicine were strewn across the grimy floor, shelves toppled, vials shattered–evidence of violent intrusion everywhere.
Amid the wreckage stood Sophia, drenched in sweat, frantic and disoriented.
Her desperate murmuring filled the eerie silence, “First aid box… Damn it, where’s that first aid box?”
Alex’s eyes narrowing sharply as confusion warred with suspicion
Suddenly, Sophia spotted the elusive kit perched high atop a battered medicine cabinet.
She scrambled onto a stool, its wooden legs wobbling precariously one already splintered beyond repair.
“What the hell are you doing?” Alex’s voice sliced through the air, cold and unforgiving.
Startled, Sophia jolted violently, the stool collapsing beneath her like brittle twigs.
She fell backward, a cry caught in her throat–only to be intercepted by Alex’s swift embrace.
He held her effortlessly, as though she weighed nothing, enveloped briefly by her warmth and the delicate scent lingering on her skin.
In that quiet moment, as Sophie clung softly to his arm and their eyes met, something warm and undeniable passed between them – a silent connection that neither needed to speak to understand.
Alex immediately stiffened, setting her upright with a brusque abruptness.
“You’re back?” Sophia’s voice briefly carried hope, quickly masked by practiced indifference.
“I asked what you’re doing here,” Alex snapped, eyes glinting with distrust.
He knew her too well; her pride would never let her admit seeking him out.
“I was passing by,” she retorted, defensive arrogance bleeding through her voice.
“Saw some thugs raiding your little clinic. Tried to help Josephine, but they overpowered use. They took Josephine.”
Alex felt his heart seize painfully. “Josephine was kidnapped? What exactly happened?”
Sophia thrust a bloodied note toward him, her hand trembling slightly. “See for yourself.”
Alex snatched the note, his eyes devouring the scrawled, brutal message:
“Meet me at the Skyview Hotel immediately. Bring the Heaven Root you stole, or the woman dies.”
Signed coldly: Owen Whitman.
With fierce intensity, Alex crushed the note in his palm. If these bastards wanted trouble, they’d found it–and they’d regret it deeply.
“Alex, don’t go,” Sophia urged softly, her bravado crumbling. “It’s a trap.”
Ignoring her plea, Alex seized her hand, spotting a deep gash oozing blood.
He cursed softly under his breath, swiftly tending to her wound with quiet, practiced efficiency.
1/3
Chapter 269
“Alex,” “Sophia began hesitantly, her voice thick with suppressed it, “I wanted to apologize…”
He raised piercing eyes to hers, ablaze with fury. “Save it.”
+25 BONUS
After securing the final bandage, Alex stood abruptly. “Go home, Sophia. Now,”
Her eyes softened, resignation filling them. “You’re still going, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Alex said firmly.
Sophia’s expression was pained. “Then at least be careful.”
Without another word, Alex vanished into the suffocating darkness outside, fury propelling his every step.
An hour later, miles away in Vermont, Jericho Kane sat sleeplessly his lavish study, frantically arranging papers.
Suddenly, a chilling voice pierced the silence: “Kane.”
Jericho’s blood froze, terror gripping him tightly.
“Alex…” he gasped, his voice trembling, eyes wide with primal fear as Alex stepped forward from the shadows, his murderous intent radiating fiercely.
“Why are you here?” Jericho stammered desperately, backing away, his breath rapid.
“I washed my hands of everything–I swear!”
He wanted to run, to vanish from this monster’s sight, hardly daring to breathe for fear it might draw attention – but before he could even sense it coming, the monster was already there, materializing in his study like a shadow slipping through the cracks.
Alex hurled the bloodied note onto Jericho’s desk, eyes burning like twin infernos.
“Whitman raided my clinic and took my friend, Josephine.”
Jericho’s face paled dramatically, his mind racing in panic. “I swear, Alex–I’ve nothing to do with this! I’ve cut all ties!”
Fumbling frantically, Jericho grabbed his smartphone, hastily showing Alex a recorded video call:
“You were supposed to give me the Heaven Root,” Owen said coldly over the phone.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” Jericho’s voice came through, strained and tense.
“I’ll just take it from him myself,” Owen snapped.
Jericho’s panicked voice rose in desperation. “Please, Owen, don’t! Alex isn’t someone you can handle. Don’t lay a hand on him!”
“You’ve grown old, Uncle Jericho. You’ve lost your courage–and your pride. Watch how easily I take the Heaven Root from
him.”
“Owen, please don’t do this! If you make a move, my whole family could get dragged into this. I’m begging you–stop!”
“Coward,” Owen spat before hanging up.
Jericho sighed heavily and turned to Alex. “I tried to call you to warn you, but you didn’t answer.”
Alex remembered the missed call. He had been with Kelly at the time, too distracted to pick up. He exhaled sharply.
“Fine. Take me to Owen Whitman.”
“Of course, I’ll have my private helicopter waiting outside,” Jericho nodded frantically, scrambling to comply.
He was pulling out his phone to call his team and prepare the jet. Standing up, he added, “Please, let me guide you.”
Chapter 269
+25 BONUS
Jericho’s heart was pounding.
Alex felt like a drawn blade–sharp, lethal, and ready to cut down anyone who crossed him. Right now, he was a bomb waiting to explode.
At the helipad outside, Scarlet approached briskly.
“Sir, The helicopter’s ready. Who’s it for?” she asked.
“It is for Alex,” Jericho said quickly. “He’s going after Owen. Owen’s done something reckless–kidnapped Alex’s friend to get his hands on the Heaven Root.”
Scarlet snorted dismissively.
“Then he deserves whatever’s coming. Honestly, why does he even covet the Heaven Root? It would be much better in Owen’s hands.”
Jericho felt his blood run cold.
Why did everyone around him seem so eager to step on a landmine?
And this wasn’t just any landmine–it was nuclear.
If they were so eager to die, Jericho thought grimly, why couldn’t they do it alone?
Why drag him down with them?
Chapter 270
Chapter 270
