Chapter 389
Almost instinctively, Emily locked eyes with one of the men, and her breath caught in her throat. “Run!” she shouted, shoving Ella forward with surprising force.
Ella, who had been lost in thought about her mother’s troubles, stumbled but quickly regained her balance. Her mind raced as she heard Emily’s desperate command, and she took off running without a second thought.
Emily winced as she saw Ella nearly fall. But before she could help, Ella was already sprinting away, her movements swift and determined, like a gust of wind. Emily was left speechless, her heart pounding.
“Get them,” the men behind shouted, recognizing Emily and Ella. They started chasing after them, their footsteps heavy and urgent.
Emily kicked off her low-heeled shoes and sprinted after Ella, her mind flashing back to Andrea’s words on the phone. She’d said Ella would be safe once they reached Fiorenza, but Emily had never fully believed it. And now, her worst fears seemed to be coming true.
“Stop!” the men roared, their voices filled with anger. Emily ran as fast as she could, bumping into several people in her haste. But when she looked ahead, Ella was nowhere to be seen.
Panic surged through Emily. She’d been so focused on protecting Ella, but now it seemed the one who needed to worry the most was herself.
Ella ran like a madwoman. After sprinting for what felt like an eternity, she finally paused to catch her breath and glanced back, gasping for air. Her eyes widened in shock—there was nothing but the slow trickle of passengers leaving the airport. Emily was gone.
Ella’s mind raced. She hadn’t seen the two men Emily had spotted earlier. That instinctive shout to run had triggered something primal in her, and she’d bolted without thinking, just putting her head down and running for her life.
Now, standing there panting, she pulled out her phone, intending to call Emily. But before she could dial, she saw Emily sprinting toward her, two men in black hats hot on her heels. No, wait—there were more, several others following not far behind.
‘Are they all after me?’ Ella’s mind reeled. What kind of trouble has Mom gotten me into?
Emily saw Ella and grabbed her arm, shaking her out of her daze. “Run, now!” she yelled.
Ella’s legs reacted on pure instinct, moving faster than her brain could process. Despite her short stature, she had always been a surprising runner, consistently ranking in the top five in long-distance races at school.
Exiting the airport, she spotted a black SUV with its engine running and the door slowly closing. Without a second thought, she leaped inside like a rabbit, desperate to escape her pursuers.
Lorenzo was on the phone when he suddenly felt a rush of wind, followed by a force pressing against his leg. The car door closed just in time.
He raised an eyebrow, looking down to see a small figure huddled beneath his legs, her back arched against his thigh, breathing heavily.
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed with a hint of amusement. “Hello—”
Ella’s heart skipped a beat. She was crouched on the floor, eyes squeezed shut, completely unaware of the weight pressing down on her. Hearing Lorenzo’s voice, she froze, her body trembling slightly. Slowly, she lifted her head, peering through the gap between his long legs to see him looking down at her.
Their eyes met, and Lorenzo smiled, “Well, Ms. Turner, what’s this for?”
Ella now realized the absurdity of her situation. In her panic, she had ended up hiding under Lorenzo’s legs. Of all the places to seek refuge, she had stumbled right into his lap. It was like fate had a twisted sense of humor.
Ella forced a dry, awkward smile. “Hello, Lorenzo,” she managed to say, her voice trembling slightly. On the outside, she tried to appear calm, but inside, she was a mess.