?<strong>Chapter 902:</strong>


    Suddenly, a hail of bullets rained down. Rnd and Wade ducked behind the jagged rock, every shot driving the reality of death closer to them.


    “Rnd…” Wade’s voice gurgled as he pressed his hand over the bullet wound in his chest, blood spurting from his mouth. “Run. Get out of here.”


    “Dad, I’m not leaving you! We’ll get out of here together!”


    Wade smiled faintly, his vision blurring as he gazed into Rnd’s eyes—eyes so much like Chris’.


    He reached out with a trembling hand, brushing Rnd’s cheek. “Listen to me. It’s okay if I die, but you have to live. Go find your mom. She’ll protect you.”


    “Dad!” Rnd grasped Wade’s hand tightly. The warmth was still there, but it was slipping away fast.


    “I was wrong…” Wade murmured, his eyes unfocused, his voice a fading whisper. “Chris, wait for me.”


    Rnd froze, his mind reeling as the realization hit him. Then, with a gut-wrenching cry, hepletely lost control. “Dad!”


    Joelle awoke abruptly, a sharp cry tearing from her lips. “Rnd!”


    Adrian jolted awake beside her, switching on the bedsidemp. “What’s wrong?”


    “I had a nightmare,” Joelle murmured, her body trembling, drenched in sweat. “I dreamed that Rnd was covered in blood.”


    She hugged herself, her hands and feet ice cold, any trace of sleeppletely gone.


    Adrian wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. His voice was soothing as he whispered, “Don’t worry. Dreams are just dreams. They rarelye true. Rnd is definitely alright.”


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    Joelle leaned into his embrace, but her unease only grew. The dream felt too vivid, too real to simply dismiss.


    The thought of Rnd out there, possibly suffering, sent a wave of guilt crashing over her.


    How could she possibly sleep again?


    Throwing off the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed.


    Adrian frowned, sitting up. “Where are you going?”


    “I’m going to book a flight. I need to find Rnd.”


    Adrian grabbed her arm, pulling her back. His expression turned serious. “Joelle, Aurora’s university entrance exam is tomorrow.” More precisely, in just a few hours, at the break of dawn, the most crucial test of Aurora’s life would begin.


    Aurora had always been the brightest of their children, mature beyond her years and highly responsible.


    Joelle had meticulously mapped out multiple paths for her, envisioning a future filled with opportunities. The entrance exam was fiercelypetitive, a test of endurance and intellect.


    Aurora, however, had rejected many prestigious universities’ offers of guaranteed admission. She had insisted on taking this challenging path, determined to experience the entrance exam firsthand.


    Adrian, Joelle, and their friends had all agreed to apany Aurora to the exam venue tomorrow.


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