Chapter 29

Reworks seemed to have exploded in Felicia's mind! He had indeed said that! But how did Stephan know? He had been using his name to intimidate the criminals, and if he got mad, he could simply abandon her in this desolate place to fend for herself, ensuring she'd never live to see another day.

Alicia shivered, momentarily at a loss for how to smooth things over. Fortunately, the chaotic situation didn't require her to respond. The gang of criminals intended to go down fighting, but they had to be capable of doing so! Stephan's subordinates were few but highly trained, each one worth a hundred of the criminals. Under such overwhelming force, the last criminal fell, defeated.

One of Stephan's subordinates stepped forward, collecting the criminals' weapons and checking each one for signs of life. After confirming they were all incapacitated, he returned to report, "Mr. Russell, it's taken care of." Stephan acknowledged him with a casual hum, his gaze shifting to Felicia.

For a moment, she didn't react, but then it hit her—she was still in his arms! "Sorry!" She instinctively tried to jump down, but Stephan had lost his patience. He released her, unceremoniously dropping her to the ground. He didn't want her wrapped around him for even a moment longer.

Alicia winced as she landed, holding her backside in silent frustration. Fortunately, the ground was soft, so she wasn't injured.

With the bandits dealt with, attention turned to Lance and his lackeys. Alicia picked up a rock and hurled it at the pickup truck. During the gunfight, Lance and his lackeys had cowered behind the vehicle, too scared to show themselves, especially when they heard Stephan had come. Fear drove them into a frenzy as they fled deeper into the woods. They ran—at that point, they might still find a way to survive. Staying put would only mean certain death.

Alicia wanted to chase after them, but with a bullet in her leg, she could only helplessly watch as they escaped. Stephan wasn't interested in dealing with such minions. He turned and headed toward the helicopters.

Felicia got up, limping after him. They were several hundred miles away from Khogend, and with the pickup truck's gas tank shot up, there was no way to drive away. The only way out was to follow Stephan. She could only hope he was feeling generous enough.

Several helicopters were parked in the clearing ahead. Felicia watched as Stephan boarded one of them. Feeling uneasy, she hesitated but couldn't muster the courage to stay behind, so she followed him. Without an order, his subordinates hesitated, unsure whether to stop her. They could only watch as she boarded the helicopter.

Chapter 30

A few seconds later, they exchanged astonished glances, shocked that Stephan hadn't thrown her out. Soon, the helicopter began to rise slowly. Felicia found a corner to huddle in, sitting on the floor. Her injuries weren't too serious, except for the gunshot wound in her leg: the bullet needed to be removed quickly.

She spotted an approachable subordinate and asked if there was a first-aid kit. The man glanced at Stephan, who appeared indifferent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, before daring to fetch a first-aid kit for Felicia. To her surprise, the kit was well-stocked.

She tore open her pants. The fabric had stuck to the wound since she had been injured a while ago, and pulling it away was painful. She gritted her teeth, refusing to make a sound. The helicopter cabin wasn't spacious, and the scent of blood began to fill the air. Felicia glanced cautiously at Stephan, worried the smell might anger him.

Fortunately, Stephan leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, indifferent to the chaos unfolding in the corner.