?<strong>Chapter 981:</strong>


    Joelle’s grip on the gun tightened, her resolve unshaken. “Rnd, I lost you once, and I’ll never let it happen again.”


    His eyes narrowed, disbelief flickering in his expression. “Are you crazy?”


    “Then just think I’m crazy!” Joelle spread her arms wide, defying the danger. A bullet zipped past, narrowly missing her as it struck a nearby tree. Adrian’s shout rang out, his voice filled with panic. “Joelle!”


    Ignoring the chaos around her, Joelle surged forward, tackling Rnd to the ground. She wrapped her arms protectively around him, shielding his head with her body as the chaos raged on.


    The crowd scattered like a startled flock of birds, and Hooper’s voice rang out, frantic in the localnguage.


    Rnd understood. Hooper was shouting for everyone to retreat, pushing them back to safety.


    Rnd could have escaped on his own, but in the split second the bullet came, Joelle hurled herself at him. Her long hair whipped around her face as she threw herself in front of him, and the bullet barely skimmed through the strands. His heart stopped in that moment.


    If that bullet had hit her, this reckless woman wouldn’t be here now, standing protectively in front of him, muttering softly, “It’s okay. Don’t be scared.” Rnd’s throat tightened painfully. His eyes burned with a sting he couldn’t quite shake.


    Momentster, Adrian rushed over, yanking the two of them toward the safer area. Joelle gasped as Adrian suddenly pped Rnd, loud enough for everyone to hear.


    Rnd lowered his head, no trace of resentment on his face.


    “If you’re looking to die, find somewhere quiet to do it. But if you ever make Joelle risk her life for you again, you better stay out of my way. Understand?” Adrian’s voice was filled with raw anger, the authority in it unmistakable. Joelle had rarely seen him like this.


    She stepped in, trying to diffuse the tension. “Alright, everyone’s safe. We’ve done what we needed to do. Let’s just get home, okay?” Adrian kept his gaze locked on Rnd, silent and unyielding.


    Joelle tugged at Adrian’s sleeve, and he finally exhaled, easing up as he turned to make a call to the airline.


    Joelle nced at Rnd. In that quiet moment, with no words from him, she realized how much he resembled Adrian.


    “Does it hurt?” she asked.


    “Don’t touch me.”


    Rnd swatted away Joelle’s outstretched hand. Without flinching, she pulled a pack of tissues from her pocket, and without asking, she took his hand and started wiping away the mud and blood, bit by bit.


    “Adrian might seem tough on the outside, but inside, he’s got a heart. He may not say it, but he really does care about you. We never stopped searching for you all these years. Now that we’ve finally found you, all we want is to see you safe and well.”


    Rnd jerked his hand back, his expression cold. “Why did you save me?”


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