You Hit My Heart by Kylie Stanford

Chapter 2063: Dawnblade "I only play with guns, I don't understand swords," Joyce said with a cold smile. She dodged the sword and turned to leave, knowing he wouldn't do anything to her, at least not yet.

"Its nis Dawnblade. Doesn't it sound nice?" Clint stood behind Joyce, speaking softly.

Naming a sword seemed so pointless. Joyce didn't bother to respond. Ignoring Clint, she walked away.

As she walked, she suddenly stopped as if remembering something. She stood still, a flash of realization crossing her mind. She remembered! Kane's branch office in Rohomes and its phone number! She finally recalled it.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, it was 1 AM. She wasn't sure if anyone would be in Kane's office at this hour, but she decided to try anyway. No matter how late it was, she had to try.

With this thought, she turned back and took a few steps towards Clint. "Why aren't you asleep at this hour?" she asked.

Clint glanced at her with his cold eyes. "Why? Do you want to sleep with me?" "You're sick," Joyce retorted bluntly.

"There are so many guards outside; something must have happened. They can't all be here just to watch me, right?" Joyce asked knowingly.

"Watching you is unnecessary," Clint chuckled softly before his eyes darkened. "Do you want to meddle in my affairs?" Seeing Clint's bad mood, Joyce shrugged. "Not interested. Do whatever you want; I'm going to sleep." With that, she deliberately went upstairs in front of Clint.

Once in her room, she immediately locked the door and picked up the phone to dial the number she had remembered. Meanwhile, Luther was taking a short nap on the sofa in Kane's office. He had rushed over without stopping and was exhausted. Just as he closed his eyes, the phone rang abruptly, echoing eerily in the empty office during the silent night. Luther woke up with a start.

It was early morning; no business calls should be coming in at this hour, especially since there wasn't much business here anyway. This place was just a shell for communication purposes.

He leaped from the sofa and grabbed the phone, his fingers trembling as he picked up the receiver. "Hello, who's this?" His voice trembled as well.

On the other end, Joyce recognized Luther's voice and could hardly believe it herself. Tears streamed down her face upon hearing his voice.

"Is it you?" she asked shakily.

There was a brief silence before Luther's hoarse voice cthrough. "It's me." Joyce choked up. "I'm fine. Why did you come?" "Foolish girl, how could I not come?" His voice was so tender it could melt water. "Where are you? I'll cfind you." "You can't chere. Listen to me: Grayson is Clint. Wait for me; don't go anywhere. I'll find a way to cto you." Joyce dared not say more despite having checked her phone for bugs as Karl had taught her; for safety's sake, she couldn't reveal too much. "Okay," Luther replied softly. "I'll wait for you." Joyce quickly hung up the phone. Instantly, she felt her blood boil with excitement and determination.

She went to the window and peeked hrough the curtains at the scene elow. Earlier, she had studied the ayout of this place and the guards shift times carefully. There was a short window every two hours when 10 one was on guard due to Shift hanges. If she moved quickly nough, she could use this gap to limb over the wall and escape. Thou risky, tonight seemed different. Most of the ards were concentrated at the front gate; something big must have happened for Clint to be so vigilant.

She considered taking advantage of Clint's distraction to sneak out. Any thoughts of dark magic control were long gone from her mind; all she wanted now was to see Luther-immediately.

Glancing at the clock again, there were less than thirty minutes until the next shift change-a single chance she'd have to take boldly.

Acting faster than thinking, she quickly retrieved sheets and duvet covers from her wardrobe-four sets in total-and tied them together end-to-end before looping themaround a load-bearing beam. When the shift change occurred, she'd climb down using this makeshift rope and reach the ground floor swiftly and nimbly. Once on the ground floor, Joyce pulled down the sheets and hid them in sbushes so no one would know she'd left.

She had rehearsed this plan mentally several times and executed it flawlessly when it mattered most.

Everything went smoothly; indeed, tonight was an opportune moment. After the shift change, even the guards who were supposed to cdidn't show up-likely busy with whatever crisis was unfolding at the front gate. Under cover of darkness, Joyce scaled the wall and made her escape. Clint's mansion was located in downtown Eastern Capital City; once over the wall, Joyce found herself on an almost deserted street- unusually quiet except for frequent patrols by black jeeps followed by transport trucks carrying armed military personnel.

Though unfamiliar with their uniforms or which faction they belonged to, Joyce sensed something significant was happening as autumn's chill swept across the land-change was in the air.

Sticking close to walls and occasionally hiding in alleyways to avoid patrols' notice, she moved quickly through empty streets until spotting an armored vehicle adorned with cherry blossom flags fluttering in autumn wind-a Yoshikawa family crest! Her spine tingled with fear; intuition told her something monumental had occurred-the emperor must have died leading to impending civil unrest! If Clint were successfully ascending power now how could Yoshikawa family's armored vehicles roam freely? The more terrified she felt-the faster she moved-recalling Kane's office address & phone number amidst growing urgency regardless what Clint planned next-all that mattered now-was reuniting with Luther! Fortunately Kane's office wasn't too far within Eastern Capital City itself-a distance manageable given recent map studies & Luther's presence here! Walking faster & faster-sweat drenched despite cooling night air-legs numb from relentless pace until abruptly stopping upon arrival! Climbing stairs each step trembled under weighty anticipation-a dim light peeking through slightly ajar office door ahead! Joyce rushed forward excitedly...