Chapter 391 Died in His Arms
"Don't go!" Aaron furrowed his brow but was unable to reach Emmeline in time.
Upon seeing her mother rush out, little Millie scrambled to her feet, her intention to follow clear. "Mommy!" she cried out, only to be halted by Billy's firm grip on her arm.
"Millie, there are bad guys; you can't go out," he warned her, his voice laced with urgency.
Tears cascaded down Millie's cheeks as she sobbed, "But Mommy and Daddy are out there."
Billy, his gaze fixed on the approaching man, hardened his resolve. "Millie, your Mommy said that man is not your daddy; he's a bad guy. If you go out now, he will kill you."
Millie vehemently shook her head, her tears falling like shattered pearls. "No, he is my daddy. My daddy loves me the most; he won't kill me!"
Billy's heart ached at her distress. He gently covered her ears and turned her away, blocking the unsettling view. "Let's not go out; everything will be alright soon," he reassured her.
Millie, still sobbing, offered no further protest about venturing out.
Aaron cast a glance at the two children and sighed softly. The little girl was endearing, but her father was a troublemaker.
His gaze shifted outside, where he saw Stov, gun in hand, confronting James and Emmeline.
Stov's men formed a protective circle around him, effectively preventing Ross's people from taking a clear shot.
At that moment, James was a bloody spectacle, with Emmeline anxiously helping him up. "Why did you come out? Hurry and go!" he implored, her frustration evident.
Emmeline's face drained of color as she shook her head in despair. "I can't escape on my own. If it weren't for me, you would still be the respected Mr. James."
Three years ago, she had been deceived and coerced into becoming Stov's woman. Her numerous attempts to escape had only resulted in further torture at Stov's hands.
Stov had administered a slow-acting poison to her, necessitating a monthly antidote. Without it, she would experience unbearable pain, akin to being tortured to death. During those times, she had contemplated suicide.
Once, she had stood on a high platform, ready to jump. But James had appeared, advising her against brute force and urging her to bide her time. He assured her that she would eventually escape and find a doctor to purge the poison from her body.
James, a minor leader in their world, had become her beacon of hope, and she had placed her faith in him. From then on, she had stopped resisting, becoming Stov's obedient plaything.
Over the course of three years with James, she had sensed his affection for her in their sporadic interactions. What had started as sympathy had gradually morphed into love.
Three years had passed, and the opportunity to escape had finally arrived. James had orchestrated everything, all in an effort to aid her escape. But if he were to die at the hands of Stov for her sake, how could she ever find peace?
"Who said I betrayed Stov for you? I've despised his methods for a long time. My goal was to overthrow him; that's why I colluded with outsiders for this day!" James retorted, his chest heaving with the strain of his injuries.
Emmeline bit her lip, remaining silent. She knew James was intentionally shouldering the blame, hoping to divert Stov's wrath from her. But how could Stov, a ruthless demon who killed without a second thought, ever let her go?
James, staring up at Stov who held the gun from a higher vantage point, struggled to his feet, shielding Emmeline behind him. "Stov, you can't escape today. If you want to kill, kill me now, but spare her. After all, Emmeline gave you a daughter, didn't she?"
Stov's face contorted grotesquely, his smile chilling. "You bastard, you think you can play the hero at the last moment? I'll kill you first, then settle the score with my woman!"
With that, he aimed his gun at James' heart, his finger poised on the trigger. A light pull was all it would take to end James' life.
James stood quietly, his eyes closed, as he awaited the inevitable.
Behind him, Emmeline's face paled, and she screamed, "No!" In a swift motion, she pulled James away.
A gunshot rang out.
Emmeline stumbled, her gaze slowly dropping to her chest. A dark hole marred her chest, blood gushing forth. Her body swayed lightly before she collapsed.
Stov, having pulled James down, watched in horror as Emmeline was shot, his pupils contracting in shock.
"Emmeline!" he cried out, scrambling over to cradle her in his arms.
At this juncture, fresh blood had seeped through Emmeline's clothing, staining the material that covered her chest. Lines of pain were etched into her forehead, her chest rising and falling with each strained breath.
As James noticed the glimmer of crimson in her eyes, a bittersweet smile graced Emmeline's face.
"James, thank you. It has been a pleasure knowing you in this lifetime," she managed to say. "Please, take care of yourself. After I'm gone, make sure my ashes find their way back to my hometown. And look after my daughter. Don't let her mistake a wolf for a guardian."
Emmeline's words came out in stuttered fragments, her expression changing with each sentence. Eventually, she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
James, witnessing her fragile state, wept unabashedly. His tears mixed with his snot, a man of considerable stature reduced to a state of profound sorrow. "Emmeline, you will be fine. You said you wanted to start afresh with me, and soon we will have our wish granted. Hold on, I will find a doctor," he assured her as he attempted to lift her.
Stov stared at Emmeline in a daze. After a brief moment of shock, he shouted, "Put her down!"
James glared at him, "Get out of the way! Are you going to stand there and watch her die?"
Stov's hand tightened around his gun, his face twisting in anger. "She deserves to die! Let go of her! Even in death, she's mine!"
James paid him no mind, struggling to lift Emmeline. She, seeing Stov's finger twitch on the trigger, summoned the last of her strength to cling to James.
With a resounding bang, a bullet struck Emmeline from behind once more.
Emmeline's eyes widened as she looked at James, her lips moving in a whisper. "James, live well...my daughter..."
A gust of wind blew through, stirring up a cloud of dust and carrying away the woman's final words.
James stared at Emmeline's lifeless form in his arms, his eyes instantly turning a deep, blood red. He held her close, crying out, "Emmeline!"
Stov's hand, still clutching the gun, trembled as he looked at the lifeless woman, his eyes filled with rage.
"Let go of her; I told you to let go of her!"
Slowly, James loosened his grip and gently laid Emmeline on the ground. He then slowly raised his gaze to meet Stov's.
His bloodshot eyes shimmered with a hint of murderous intent. Driven by despair, he seemed to be filled with a newfound energy.
In an instant, he sprang up and delivered a swift kick to Stov, who was caught off guard and sent sprawling to the ground.
Several of Stov's men were about to shoot at James, but Aaron, ever vigilant, quickly ordered Ross's men to back James up.
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire filled the air.
Caught by surprise, Stov's men no longer had the time to concern themselves with Stov.
James fought fiercely with Stov, his determination fueling him.
With two resounding bangs, James wrestled the gun from Stov's hand and fired at his heart.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
