Chapter 158 Willingly

Nathael didn't seem surprised. Unfazed, he glanced briefly before issuing a cool command: "Get the Winstons on the line for backup."

"Understood," came the reply.

Alex floored the accelerator, trying to lose their pursuer while contacting the Winstons' point person. Soon, he swerved onto another highway.

Their pursuer, caught off guard by the sudden maneuver at such high speed, couldn't react in time and missed the turn.

"Damn it!" The foreign driver pounded the steering wheel in frustration, then quickly changed course to attempt another blockade.

The earpiece buzzed with voices, indicating someone was directing the pursuit.

Once Alex lost his tail, two grey sedans appeared at a crossroads, boxing him in. Metal scraped as sparks flew from the collision.

Alex shifted into reverse, attempting to escape, but several vehicles behind him prevented him from backing up.

Luckily, Nathael's backup arrived. Two black sedans burst from side streets, ramming the grey cars. The impact jolted the grey vehicles, leaving them unable to recover.

With Nolan's men on the scene, Alex and an ally cornered one grey car against a wall. The car crashed into a signpost and flipped over with a loud bang.

Taking out one car made handling the second easier. Alex didn't linger; he took a sharp turn into a side street, leaving the pursuit to his allies.

"The Winstons will be here in five minutes," Alex stated, his voice low. They had barely cleared the alley when they encountered helmeted mercenaries on motorcycles. Their looming figures and the roar of their modified engines were harsh, even from a distance.

Bang!

Alex reacted instantly, swerving the wheel, but a bullet still pierced the windshield, creating a web of cracks around a small hole. Thankfully, the bulletproof modifications minimized the damage, though the car wouldn't withstand a sustained attack.

"Divert through Willow Avenue, and we'll handle this outside the Holy Cathedral," Nathael commanded, his tone icy.

"Yes."

Nolan's men held off the mercenaries long enough for Alex to catch his breath, but he knew the danger wasn't over.

On Willow Avenue, the road widened, and more pursuers joined the chase, escalating the conflict. People were frequently thrown from vehicles, or vehicles overturned, even falling off a bridge. Nathael remained calm, relieved Maggie wasn't with them.

The Winstons arrived at the Holy Cathedral with local police. The mercenaries, realizing they'd lost their advantage, retreated after a brief struggle. The area was heavily damaged by the gunfire.

Jem, the third Winston son, rushed forward. "Mr. Harris, we're deeply sorry you suffered this ordeal on our territory," he apologized profusely.

Nathael, wiping bloodied fingers with a handkerchief from Alex, said, "It's not your fault. Without your timely intervention, it would have been much worse."

"We will always be your allies. I'll thoroughly investigate this," Jem declared, his voice laced with anger.

The Winstons were shocked their distinguished guest had been attacked. The audacity of striking Nathael under their noses was unbelievable.

One of Jem's men ignited a car and sent it racing towards Nathael. Nathael's men fired rapidly, riddling the car with bullets, but it was too close, and the attack couldn't be stopped. The pickup truck plowed through the crowd. Someone tried to pursue the driver, but it was too late.

Chapter 158 Willingly (continued)

Alex surged forward to push Nathael aside, but Nathael, with an icy gaze, tossed Alex away and took cover behind a nearby angel statue. The truck charged towards him.

With a thunderous crash, the angel statue, along with a gush of water, was toppled, scattering dust and debris.

Alex seized the opportunity, taking down a Winston traitor, then dashed to Nathael, shouting, "Mr. Harris!"

Smoke filled the air. A shard from the statue had sliced Nathael's forehead, leaving a trail of blood. Critically, heavy debris pinned half his body. His eyes were drooping, his complexion pale; he'd lost a lot of blood.

Jem, recovering from the shock, called for a medic. They scrambled to remove the rubble. Alex, pale and kneeling, tore his shirt to apply pressure to Nathael's wound.

Nathael's face was ashen, his right arm drenched in blood. The metallic scent of blood was heavy.

"Mr. Harris!" Alex's face was grimmer, his eyes reddened. He knew Nathael's injuries would have been worse without the rescue.

Onlookers might think they risked their lives for money, but they knew Nathael had often shielded them. They were more than hired hands; they willingly risked their lives for him.

As the sun set, a warm orange glow enveloped Nathael, highlighting his translucent complexion. His white shirt was soaked in blood, his arm bearing a shocking, languid beauty amidst the blood.

Nathael's eyelashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. The dizziness faded, his vision clearing. Realizing his arm was wounded, he frowned. His first thought was that Maggie would receive her love letter much later.

Chapter 159 I Miss You

Maggie took an early flight, but the night before her departure, she couldn't reach Nathael. Having just removed him from her blacklist, she expected at least an apology letter. Yet, she heard nothing since leaving the hotel.

Initially, she wasn't worried, thinking he was busy. But by the second day, calls to Nathael and Alex went unanswered, causing unease.

Tidying her luggage, she considered the possibility of a kidnapping. Nathael's phone was off; Alex's was unreachable.

Frustrated, Maggie texted Nathael: "My flight is scheduled for 8:30 am." She received no reply.

She considered who to contact, but no one came to mind. She decided to call Lucas.

"Maggie? Looking for me?" Lucas answered, disembarking a plane.

"I need you to check on Nathael's whereabouts."

Lucas paused. He remembered Maggie's entanglement with Nathael.

"Nathael Harris, from Aquapolis," Maggie said, clutching a pillow, a foreboding feeling settling in.

Just then, Nathael called. Maggie immediately hung up on Lucas.

"Sorry, I got caught up," Nathael said, his voice hoarse. He was in a private hospital bed; Alex stood beside him, his expression grim. Nathael had woken briefly, but had slipped back into unconsciousness on the way to the hospital.