Bella's crystal-clear eyes narrowed sharply.
Chris...
The n"Chris" echoed faintly in her ears. It was a distant memory she had nearly buried in the past.
The image of the gentle, pale-skinned boy who once smiled so warmly resurfaced in her mind.
However, the harsh realities of life consumed that boy. He beca demon who brought suffering to others.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWith no other choice, but for the sake of her loved ones, the people he controlled, and those he harmed, she had to rid the world of this evil.
Seeing Bella lost in thought, Christopher mistook her hesitation as a sign of emotional sway.
His intense desire surged uncontrollably in his chest. He leaned closer, his breathing heavy, his long lashes lowered as he moved in to kiss her lips, which he had yearned for.
Click- A sharp click cut through the darkness.
In an instant, Christopher's tall, slender body froze.
Along with the icy chill at his neck, he felt a sharp, cool sensation. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a pale smile played on his lips as he spoke, “Bella, your skills are just as good as before. Is Justin unable to give you the sense of security you need? Do you still feel the need to protect yourself so vigilantly?" Bella's eyes were as cold and sharp as a blade, her butterfly knife pressing firmly against his trembling throat.
"Justin and I are partners. He provideswith an irreplaceable sense of security. But I've never been the kind of woman who seeks refuge through men. I can protect myself, and if necessary, I can protect him without hesitation." Christopher's deep eyes were blood-red as if threatening to engulf Bella.
He struggled through a thicket of darkness and pain all his life. Everything he had achieved, though supported by others, was a result of his own bloodied battles.
No one had ever protected him. He even fought to shield his frail mother with his weak body.
Now, the woman he loved most stood before him, declaring that she would protect the person he hated with all his being.
He felt as if she was cruelly mutilating his heart, piece by piece, and then trampling on it.
"Christopher, do you not find it ridiculous that you are using yourself as a bargaining chip?" Bella's crimson lips curled into a sneer, the angle of the butterfly knife shifting slightly. "With your current level of evil, what's left of your humanity? Do you think you're in any position to negotiate with me? Do you think you can makegive up on Justin? In this life or the next, I will never choose you. If you have any shred of conscience left, stop your wicked schemes. Otherwise, I will stop at nothing. Even if it costsmy life, I'll destroy you and the person hiding behind you!" With a swift motion, Bella cut a narrow slit in Christopher's expensive suit with the butterfly knife, then forcefully shoved him aside and walked away with determination.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWith a resounding bang, the door to the stairwell slammed shut.
The sensor lights flickered overhead as Christopher chewed his lip and slowly raised a hand to touch his throbbing neck.
Looking down, he saw his fingertips stained with vivid red blood. However, despite the pain, he broke into a twisted smile, his eyes dark with a psychopathic gleam.
Outside the door, Taylor's voice cthrough.
"Mr. Iverson, are you in there?" e in." Taylor entered immediately, closing the door softly behind him. He addressed Christopher's rigid, darkened back.
"Mr. Iverson, Chairman Thompson, and the others are leaving soon. Would you like to see them off?” "Whether I see them off or not makes no difference. No matter how much I try to please Wyatt, his attitude towardwon't change." Christopher's gaze remained fixed l on the blood on his fingertips. The image of Bella's luscious red lips continued lingering in his mind, stirring his heart. "Justin is now Wyatt's son-in-law. He can grovel and flatter Wyatt, but I can't I only have eyes for Bella." "Hmph, aside from groveling, what else can Justin do? Yet, Ms. Thompson and Chairman Thompson are still in favor of him!" Taylor's expression showed disdain and frustration. "A fierce woman sure fears a persistent man!" "Bella knows about my secret dealings with Aaron." Christopher's eyes turned icy, his fingers clenched tightly. "She even found out that I instructed Aaron to sell so-called drugs and use the members of the Southern Star Syndicate as test subjects." Taylor looked stunned. "H-How did she find out so quickly?!" The Thompson family's heiress was truly exceptional. Though a woman, she was a formidable opponent that should not be underestimated! "Arnold has kind of be part of the Thompson family, and Elias is the Southern Star Syndicate's boss Besides, Bella is also in contact with her police officer brother. It's only a matter of tbefore she ungovers something." Even at this stage, Christopher's gaze toward Bella remained full of admiration.
"Did Ms. Thompson only find out about Aaron? What about Deputy Chief Hopkins?" Taylor could not help but worry.
"She probably hasn't found out yet. Otherwise, with Bella's cunning nature, she would have reportedto the police by now if she had such a crucial witness." Christopher adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his lips curling into a faint smile. "However, Bella has givena reminder this tWe need to be more cautious. know Bella and Justin's methods. Since they've uncovered Aaron, he's now a ticking tbomb. So, I need to get rid of him before they do something with him." "Now that the drugs have spread through the underground market to half of Savrow, Aaron is no longer of much value to us." Taylor's expression turned scheming. "Keeping him around is a risk." "I'm the type who prefers to make full use of resources. He must die for a worthy cause." Christopher stared grimly at his reflection in the fire extinguisher glass.
His face was a haunting sight.
"I'll need the entire Larson family to clearoff my dark crimes." "Rest assured. They will take the blame. You agreed on this with the Boss a while ago, didn't you?" Taylor bowed slightly. "I'll notify Deputy Chief Hopkins to make preparations in theing days." "It's also tto take action against the Southern Star Syndicate," Christopher said coldly, brushing past Taylor as he turned away.