Chapter 454 Assassination
George's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest. In an instant, he realized he had walked right into a meticulously planned death trap. This wasn't about finding Emma; someone was out to kill him!
He sprinted down the narrow, cold alley, the roar of an engine echoing behind him. The SUV barreled down the alley, clearly intent on running him down or crushing him.
In a split second, George leaped onto a fire escape. The metal ladder screeched as he scrambled up, bullets peppering the wall behind him, leaving a line of holes .
"For Emma, I have to survive!" Determination flared in George's eyes. He mustered all his strength and jumped to the platform of the adjacent building, his body tracing a desperate, swift arc through the air.
Suddenly, a figure appeared from the side, shoving him out of the way just as a bullet struck the person's shoulder. Blood stained the man's crisp white shirt a deep crimson.
"Are you okay?" The man asked, his tone eerily calm despite the injury.
It felt like the wound was barely a bother.
George finally got a good look at him—a man in his forties, dressed in a sharp gray suit. Despite the blood streaming from his shoulder, his expression remained as steady as a statue, his eyes sharp and experienced, as if he had faced countless dangerous situations.
"It's Zachary's trap!" George realized, a wave of shock crashing over him.
He had been completely duped. Zachary had no intention of helping him find Emma; he wanted George dead! A chill ran down his spine.
The man seemed to anticipate George's reaction. He pulled a dark gold card from his suit pocket and handed it to him. "I'm an agent with the National Security Agency, code name Tempest. There's a bigger conspiracy behind this assassination attempt. You need to leave immediately."
Tempest pointed to another alley below. "Go that way. I'll cover you." George didn't hesitate. He quickly descended the rickety fire escape, keeping low to minimize his exposure.
As he reached the alley's entrance, he heard intense gunfire behind him. Tempest was buying him time. George didn't look back; he darted into a waiting cab.
"To the airport!" he shouted to the driver.
The cab weaved through the city streets, George constantly looking over his shoulder, fearing pursuit. The driver, sensing his urgency, navigated with practiced skill, as if familiar with such high-stakes escapes.
On the way to the airport, George's body trembled slightly, as if he had just escaped the jaws of death.
He finally understood how perfectly Zachary had set him up. The address, the supposed lead—it was all a deadly lure!
"Emma, what happened to you?" George muttered, his voice a mix of confusion and anger.
Upon returning to the country, George wasted no time. He drove straight to the Auris Group headquarters, still seething from his narrow escape. His expression was dark.
"I need to see Zachary!" he demanded at the front desk, his voice leaving no room for refusal.
The security guard blocked his way, expressionless. "Mr. Baker is not in the office. Please leave."
George slammed his hand on the marble counter. "This is between me and Zachary! Get him out here!"
Employees around him began to whisper, and security started to close in, ready to escort him out. Just then, a news broadcast on the lobby's TV wall caught his eye.
The headline made his heart skip a beat: #Emma to Address Plagiarism Scandal in Dreamscape Peak Presser.
"Emma!" His heart raced as if shocked by electricity.
Emma was at Dreamscape Peak!
She had never left Lakeside Haven!
George sped towards Dreamscape Peak, the scenery blurring past him. He couldn't think of anything else. He kept rehearsing what he would say to Emma, "I'm sorry, give me a chance; I'll change."
When he finally arrived at the beach, the crowd was overwhelming. The waves crashed against the shore, the sun shone brightly, but he felt like he was in darkness. He pushed through the throng, desperately searching for Emma.
"Let me in!" he shouted at the security, his voice tinged with urgency. "I need to see Emma!"
The guard shook his head firmly. "Sorry, you can't enter. The organizers have strictly prohibited unauthorized access."
"Let me in, I have something important to tell her!" George shouted.
"This is a press conference. No unauthorized entry," the guard replied coldly.
Frustration flashed in George's eyes. He tried to force his way through, desperate to see Emma and explain everything. He needed to hear from her why she left.
Was she being coerced by Michael?
But Emma's supporters couldn't stand it. They shouted angrily at George, "How dare you come back? Get lost!"
"Emma doesn't need a jerk like you!"
As the shouting escalated, George felt increasingly isolated. He struggled to push through the crowd, but their anger blocked his way. His goal was so close, yet unreachable.
Emma watched from a distance, her emotions in turmoil. She realized her disgust for George far exceeded her imagined pain. The memories made her sick, but seeing him so humiliated in public, she felt a twinge of pity. How had their love turned so cold?
"Enough!" Emma finally spoke. "Leave. If you're here to apologize, I don't accept it."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
