Chapter 326 He's Forcing Himself
From the moment Victoria grabbed Saskia's hand, she knew there was no turning back. They had to jump into the river together. Behind them, a raging inferno threatened to consume them, and ahead lay the unknown depths of the river.
Victoria chose the river. It was risky, but at least there was a chance, however slim, and she was willing to take it. Staying put meant certain death.
The car crash, the bomb's blast, and the hidden snipers—Victoria couldn't protect Saskia from all that. But she wasn't about to give up.
As they hit the water, Victoria held on tight to Saskia. The explosion's shockwave and the sudden plunge knocked Saskia out cold.
Barely conscious, Victoria gritted her teeth and managed to get Saskia to the surface. The current had already swept them downstream. Ignoring the pain in her back, Victoria scanned the surroundings. The cliffs loomed, and Nine Heavens Bridge was nowhere in sight.
Victoria knew they couldn't stay in the river; they had to get to shore fast. The water was just as dangerous as the fire, with hidden threats everywhere. Underwater forces could drag them to their doom.
And if Victoria cramped up or got too tired, the river's swift current could swallow them both. She had to save herself while she still had the strength. At the very least, she had to keep Saskia safe.
Half an hour later, Nine Heavens Bridge was swarming with people—firefighters, rescue teams, police—all forming a massive rescue effort without wasting a second. Saving lives was their job, but these two weren't just anyone.
Besides the official rescue team, Alexander's own people were there too. "Alexander, don't worry, we'll do everything we can to save your mother and wife," the rescue team leader assured him.
Right now, Alexander looked like the king of hell. He was known for being cold and distant, but now he was downright terrifying. If looks could kill, the place would be a massacre.
Caleb, understanding Alexander's mood, replied for him, "Thanks for your help." The rescue leader nodded at Caleb, then led his team into the river. Even a powerful business tycoon like Alexander was just a man.
Preston and Landon showed up soon after. On the way, they'd heard from Garrett that Victoria and Saskia had jumped into the river. No one dared tell Nathan, and Caleb had kept the media away.
Preston and Landon hadn't seen the crash and explosion, but the wreckage and chaos painted a clear picture. Both of them clenched their fists, eyes filled with worry and anxiety.
Preston never thought something like this would happen. He knew Saskia well; she might seem tough and straightforward, but she'd been sheltered her whole life and had never faced anything this terrifying. After marrying Preston, she was even more protected. Just thinking about how scared and helpless she must be right now made his heart ache.
"Alexander, where are you going?" Caleb quickly grabbed Alexander, who was heading forward.
Garrett, Quentin, and Dylan had already gone down with the rescue team, and Caleb stayed behind to keep an eye on Alexander. They couldn't let him go down in his current state.
"Let go!" Alexander snapped, glaring at Caleb. "I'm going down!"
"No," Caleb insisted. "There are professionals down there, and Garrett is with them. They'll handle it."
Alexander's lips pressed into a thin line. "Don't make me say it twice!" The cold fury radiating from Alexander was bone-chilling.
"Alexander, I'll go down. You and Dad wait up here," Landon said, unusually serious.
Alexander shook off Caleb's hand and said, "Take care of Dad!" before striding towards the path the rescue team had taken.
Down by the river, the current was swift, and it was winter, with cold winds blowing. It was already 5:30 PM, and the temperature was dropping fast. Everyone was speeding up their search.
The rescue team leader said, "Garrett, given the current speed, Saskia and Victoria must have been swept downstream the moment they hit the water."
He added, "The river under Nine Heavens Bridge connects Summer Sea and Red Sea. Upstream is Summer Sea, with three sluice gates. About two miles downstream from Nine Heavens Bridge is the fourth sluice dam, below which is Red Sea. These days, the upstream gates have been open."
Garrett saw the leader hesitating and frowned. "Just say it."
The rescue team leader looked grim. "I wanted you to give Alexander a heads-up. The chances of survival are slim. Even our professionals, no matter how good they are, can face accidents in these conditions."
Garrett's face darkened, and he pressed his lips together before speaking, "Don't worry about anything else. We need to find them, dead or alive."
The rescue team leader nodded. "Got it."
Victoria had always given Garrett a sense of mystery, as if she could do anything. This time, Garrett hoped she could maintain that ability. Otherwise, it was hard to imagine how Alexander would face it.
Suddenly, Garrett noticed a group of people who didn't belong to the rescue team or their own. Among them was a person with gray hair who looked familiar. "Who is that?" Garrett asked.
The rescue team leader followed his gaze and shook his head. "No idea."
Garrett squinted, and a name flashed in his mind: Ellington, the head of the black market. He thought, 'How is Ellington here? Is he looking for someone too? That can't be such a coincidence. Unless we're after the same person. It can't be Saskia, so he must be here for Victoria.'
As Garrett pondered how Victoria knew the head of the black market, Alexander arrived. "I couldn't stop him," Caleb said helplessly.
Garrett said nothing. After all, seeing his mother and wife in danger and being unable to save them was something Garrett couldn't fully understand, but he knew Alexander was suffering. Even he felt terrible, let alone Alexander, whose closest family and loved one had fallen.
If Alexander weren't mentally strong, he wouldn't still be standing. In fact, Alexander was holding on because he knew they were waiting for him to save them.
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