Chapter <b>282 </b>
Gunshots rang through the <b>sky</b>.
The nearby residents barely reacted. They had gotten used to it by now, assuming some film crew was shooting a scene again in the abandoned high–rise,
What they didn’t know was that the scene unfolding inside that building <b>was </b>far more intense than any movie.
Ten minutes earlier, <b>Sean </b>had arrived on time and made his way to the 26th floor.
What <b>he </b>saw made <b>his </b>vision go red with rage.
Charlotte was covered in blood, her face bruised and swollen. Joseph had her by the neck, lifting her off the ground. Her feet dangled in the air, her face turning crimson fromck of daypen.
Beneath her was the crumbling, unpurded i
ed edge of the unfinished building
If Joseph let go, she would plummet from twenty–six stories up.
Even with all of Sean’s usual calm, there was no way he could stay yposed after seeing this. His heart seized<b>, </b><b>and </b>he felt like he couldn’t breathe.
Joseph’s grip <b>only </b>tightened around Charlotte’s throat as he turned to look at Sean, raising an eyebrow. “You <b>made </b><b>it</b>.”
Sean’s throat was dry, his mouth filled with the taste of blood.
He forced his voice to stay <b>steady</b>. “Let her po.”
<b>“</b>Touched a nerve?” Joseph’s smile curled with amusement, but he didn’t ease up
Charlotte’s breathing was growing more strained by the second, her face turning an rming shade of purple. It looked like she could pass out or die <b>any </b>
moment
Watching her suffer like that was worse than being stabbed a thousand times. It tore Sean apart
His voice came out hoarse. “I’m here, just like you asked. Let her go.”
Joseph let out a lightugh, ncing at the woman he still held in the air.
She was soaked in blood and clearly
y on the brink of <b>copse</b>.
With a casual flick of his arm<b>, </b>Joseph turned his grip, dragged her back into the building, and tossed her to the ground like trash.
“You” Sean’s jaw clenched, veins bulging on his forehead<b>. </b>He instinctively took two steps toward ber.
A pushot rang out
“Not so fast,” Jourph said coolly, now toying with a gun in his hand. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.
The bullet struck the ground right in front of Sean’s feet–a clear warning not to move any c
“Let my men check if you really came alone,” Joseph said with a smirk. “If you’re ying games, neither of you is leaving here alive.” Sean stood still, his entire frame wrapped in icy tension. The air around him tumed razor sharp.
He didn’t respond. He just stood there, cold and silent.
A momentter, one of Joseph’s men came back and reported, “He’s alone.”
Joseph gave a low hum and shot Sean a mocking nce. “Such a romantic.”
m’s voice was colder than steel “Can I take her now!
Joseph smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Of course
sady passed out
her side and kelt down to check her condition.
Why drager into this?”
trembled with anger. “This is between you and
She’s innocent. Why hurt her?”
twisted grin. “because she’s your worluan
“There’s nothing i
(matching you andler,
nae dregged 10s fists elmnd tight, eyes burning with fury
<b>+25 </b>Bonus
But he swallowed the rage <b>for </b>now and began performing CPR, desperate to bring her back
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Charlotte stirred.
Sean. Her voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and broken.
His heart felt like it was being torn in half.
“I’m here, !
Lottle.”
She opened her eyes and saw him. For a split second, there was joy in her gaze but it was quickly reced by <b>fear</b>.
What are you doing here?” Her voice cracked with <b>panic</b>. “You have to go. Leave me. Don’t worry about me–just go!”
Sean’s eyes were filled with pain.
Before he could say anything more, <b>Joseph </b>pped his hands slowly<b>, </b>mockingly. His voice dripped with <b>sarcasm</b>. “Wow. What a touching love story.”