Chapter 422 Chris Gets Caught
Chris grabbed Ashley's hand, preparing to leave.
As they reached the foyer, Ashley hesitated. "Chris, I need to use the bathroom... my stomach hurts."
Chris checked his watch. "Make it quick."
Ashley nodded and reluctantly headed to the bathroom while Chris stood guard outside. Seated on the toilet, her mind raced. Given Ethan's resources, he would eventually find her—she just needed to buy time.
After thirty minutes, Chris's impatient voice came through the door, "Ashley, are you finished yet?"
"Yes," she replied, deliberately taking several more minutes before flushing and emerging.
Chris, visibly annoyed, grabbed her hand. "The boat won't wait. Let's go."
Ashley followed reluctantly, scanning the surroundings. The villa looked familiar, though she couldn't place where she'd seen it before.
"I think I left something in the room," she said. "I'll just go back and..."
Chris gripped her arm. "There's no time. I'll have someone bring your things later."
"No, it's important. I need to get it myself."
Chris's gaze turned cold. "Ashley, if you keep stalling, I'll make your unborn child pay for it."
Her body stiffened. She dared not resist further.
Chris led her through the forest to a mountain peak where a helicopter waited. Ashley was surprised—the Scott family had gone bankrupt overnight after the Yates' attack, yet Chris seemed to have considerable resources at his disposal.
Forced aboard, Ashley frantically plotted her escape as the helicopter took off.
Near the forest road, police officers hidden in the underbrush watched the helicopter depart.
"Mr. Reid, a private aircraft just left. We believe it's carrying the victim."
At headquarters, Ryan's expression darkened. "Lock down the city. No one leaves—not by air, subway, or water—until we recover the hostage."
He paused. "Track that helicopter. Find out where it's headed."
"Yes, sir!"
The police mobilized immediately.
Ethan, just arriving at the scene, followed the officers without hesitation.
Through their tracking system, they located the helicopter near the harbor. "Mr. Reid, the aircraft has landed near the docks."
"Seal off the harbor," Ryan ordered. "Identify the suspects and prioritize the hostage's safety."
Ethan rode in a police vehicle to the harbor as panic spread throughout Aurora. All exits were temporarily blocked while authorities focused on the harbor, where they had spotted Ashley and Chris.
Chris, pulling Ashley toward a waiting boat, sensed something was wrong. Despite no visible police presence, the unusual vehicle activity and suspicious expressions on passersby's faces put him on edge.
Suddenly, he lifted Ashley into his arms and sprinted toward a vessel where two men stood guard.
"Start the engine!" Chris shouted.
Ashley noticed the tension too. Though she saw no uniformed officers, the vigilant looks from people around them suggested plainclothes police were everywhere.
Once aboard, Ashley complained, "Chris, my stomach hurts. I need to use the bathroom."
This played into Chris's plans. Eyeing their surroundings warily, he muttered, "Go quickly."
Ashley entered the cabin with a concealed smirk.
Inside, two men immediately covered her mouth, gesturing for silence.
She eyed them cautiously until one produced a badge. "Mrs. Yates," he whispered, "we're police officers. All vessels in the harbor are under our control. Come with us quietly."
Ashley nodded her agreement.
Suddenly, gunshots erupted from the other end of the boat. Panicked screams filled the air.
"Everyone on board! You are surrounded! Surrender now or face the consequences!"
Ashley knew Chris had been exposed. Following the officers, she carefully boarded a small boat that quietly pulled away from the larger vessel.
As they distanced themselves, she finally relaxed.
More gunshots rang out, followed by Chris's furious shouts, "Let go of me!"
Though Ashley couldn't see it, she knew Chris had been apprehended.
The police escorted her to a safe location where Ethan immediately embraced her. "Darling, are you alright?"
Watching the monitors as Chris had forced Ashley onto the boat, Ethan's heart had raced uncontrollably. If Ryan hadn't held him back, he would have rushed in to confront Chris himself.
Ethan examined her anxiously for any signs of injury.
Ashley shook her head. "I'm fine, honey. I knew you'd find a way to save me."
Ethan's heart swelled. No words were needed—holding each other was all the reassurance they required.
Ryan approached them. "Ethan, Chris is in custody. He won't escape this time. We'll handle the rest—you should take Ashley home. She's been through enough."
Ethan looked at him gratefully. "Thank you, Ryan."
Ryan smiled, patting his shoulder.
Ethan took Ashley's hand. "Let's go."Ashley nodded firmly. "Yes."
Ashley nodded firmly. "Yes."
As they left the monitoring room, neither noticed Felicity lurking in the shadows, her eyes wild with madness as she watched Chris being arrested and the couple walking away together.
Ethan opened the car door. "Get in. I'll take you home."
As Ashley bent to enter, a figure suddenly lunged toward them. "Ashley, for my child, you're done for! Prepare to die!"
Ashley felt herself being violently grabbed. Before she could react, a powerful impact sent her tumbling toward the sea.
Ethan's eyes widened in horror. He reached out desperately, his fingers barely grazing the edge of her clothing. "No, Ashley!" he screamed, his voice raw with anguish.
Without hesitation, Ethan plunged into the dark waters after her.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
