๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
Chapter 55
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2025-01-24 23:43:38
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FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 56
Noah's POVAs I drove from the warehouse, I glanced back in the rear-view, expecting to see one of Lisa's henchmen hot on our tail. The car was so tense you could practically coat it with black oil and Avery sat in silence looking at the window blankly.Her hands were clutched in her lap as I could tell that the whites of each were white-knuckling.โI feel like Iโm losing it,โ I finally told her, breaking the silenceShe blinked like coming out of a daze. โI donโt know,โ she said. Well, it's likeโฆ โALL OF THIS. I can't DO this. Lisaโฆ this driveโฆ that blackmailโฆโ She choked up.My hand landed on hers where I was grounding herโI reached over. โWe can get through this,โ I said firmly. โWe have all we require now. This week is ours to turn the other cheek.Avery turned back to me only to look absolutely skeptical. But what if it isnโt nearly enough? What if she gets pissed, finds out we have it and hunts us down before we can get it over with? What ifโweโโAvery.โ I tone was even but firm
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-24FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 57
Noah's POVAs I drove from the warehouse, I glanced back in the rear-view, expecting to see one of Lisa's henchmen hot on our tail. The car was so tense you could practically coat it with black oil and Avery sat in silence looking at the window blankly.Her hands were clutched in her lap as I could tell that the whites of each were white-knuckling.โI feel like Iโm losing it,โ I finally told her, breaking the silenceShe blinked like coming out of a daze. โI donโt know,โ she said. Well, it's likeโฆ โALL OF THIS. I can't DO this. Lisaโฆ this driveโฆ that blackmailโฆโ She choked up.My hand landed on hers where I was grounding herโI reached over. โWe can get through this,โ I said firmly. โWe have all we require now. This week is ours to turn the other cheek.Avery turned back to me only to look absolutely skeptical. But what if it isnโt nearly enough? What if she gets pissed, finds out we have it and hunts us down before we can get it over with? What ifโweโโAvery.โ I tone was even but firm
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-24FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 58
Avery's POVMorning sunlight filtered into the room through these blinds, creating gold streaks on the walls. I momentarily lost myself for a second. And I virtually recollected the jungle, the terror, the perpetual edict of danger. But then the full strength of it hit, crashing me like a boulder in choppy waters.Noah had already rolled out of bed, laptop on the small kitchen table. He was intently focused, his hands darting across the keyboard. He didn't see me yet, and I hesitated to look at him.โMorning,โ I whispered through the clumps.He raised his head, startled, gave me a quick smile. Morning?I shrugged. โPardon, I was as capable as one might assume for my circumstances.He nodded, got the hang of it. โWell, I have been thinking about our choices,โ he said, pointing at the laptop. On the information from that USB drive โ not a whole lot, but enough to turn the situation on itโs head. If we could just get it to the right people then maybe this could be enough to stop her.โ B
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-24FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 59
Noahโs POVFinally, โWe need a planโ Avery said her voice even but firm.โI do,โ I said, white knuckling the steering wheel. โFirst we shall wait for Dimitri to tell us the data has been disseminated. After that we will be set in reality and you can start timing it. Until then, you continue to blend in.โAnd then? โ she prompt, moving over to me. They were wide, full of fear and bravery.โAfter?โ I exhaled slowly โThen we protect you in the endHer eyes browed thinned. โOk, you too? Can you not just play the god for me Noah? Lisa will hunt us both.โYou think she targets you first,โ I purred bluntly, pointing at her. You are number 1 She WILL try to hurt you for my sake. My focus is to prevent that.She turned away, mouth pursed to a thin line. โI hate this,โ she stated, almost to herself. She hated being this way.โNot helpless, youโre not,โ I stated. Youโre surviving. That is not nothing Avery; That shits will take power.She did not answer, and I let the silence reassert itself. We
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-29FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 60
Averyโs POVIn the morning when the sun filtered in through the thick curtains and lit up small room with soft golden light. Sweet but the heat in my palms distracted me from the never ending cycle on thoughts busy inside my brain.Noah was by the window looking for movement in the treeline, he hadn't said much since we got here last night but the mere fact that he was there put me a little more at ease even as the edge of sanity started to get gnawed open.โTrouble?โ I sounded, my voice piercing what little silence there was.โNope โ but again, not in the morning. Still it does not stop it from arriving.I swallowed hard and looked at the opaque in my mug โDo you think they are already hunting her?โโNever did,โ Noah said eventually turning to me. But his eyes were so very tired โLisa does not hang up.โAnd what does she want?โ I pressed, this time confident with my guess.You are,โ Noah said bluntly.Those words made a deep fog descend over me. I put the mug down, the coffee taste m
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-29FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 61
Noahโs POVI woke up to the sound of Avery pacing. Her steps were light but restless, echoing faintly in the quiet cabin. I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock on the wallโit was just past 4 a.m. The sky outside was still cloaked in darkness, but the faintest traces of dawn were beginning to bleed into the horizon.โAvery,โ I said, my voice groggy. She stopped in her tracks and turned toward me, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the wood-burning stove.โDid I wake you?โ she asked, guilt written all over her expression.โNo,โ I lied, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. โWhatโs wrong?โShe hesitated, hugging her arms to her chest. โI couldnโt sleep. I keep thinkingโฆ what if weโre wasting time sitting here? What if Lisaโs already moving against us?โI stood and crossed the room to her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. โWeโre not wasting time. Weโre regrouping, preparing. If we rush in without a plan, weโll be playing right into her hands.โAvery nodded, but I
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-29FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 62
Averyโs POVThe weight of Dimitriโs words sat heavy in the room even after he left. Noah had escorted him out, scanning the woods as if expecting Lisaโs mercenaries to materialize out of thin air. When he returned, his face was set like stone, his jaw tight.โNoah,โ I started, unsure of what to even say. โDo you really think Lisa will find us here?โHe didnโt answer right away. Instead, he placed his gun on the table and ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. โI donโt know, Avery. But we canโt take any chances.โI hated this feelingโthe constant fear, the anticipation of the worst. It felt like Lisaโs shadow was looming over us, always one step closer no matter what we did.โWe need to leave, donโt we?โ I asked softly.Noah sighed and leaned against the table. โYes. Dimitriโs warning wasnโt for nothing. If Lisa has people sniffing around, itโs only a matter of time before someone points her in our direction. Weโll pack up and move at dawn.โI nodded, even though my ches
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-29FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 63
Averyโs POVShe was already in quick typing mode, eyes focused on the screen. Laser-like, the glow of the laptop reflected on her sharp and assessing gaze. She was younger than I expected, early twenties maybe, but she exuded confidence, as if she were sure that she was the smartest one in the room.The way I was staring at her had my stomach in knots. I wasn't sure if it was nerves from the meeting or something else weighing on my mind, but this just felt wrong. Finally, she leaned back and drummed her fingers on the table while speaking. "Okay," she turned her head toward Dominic. "You weren't lying. Lisa's network is tight but not tight enough. I can get in."Dominic nodded, unaffected. "How long will it take?""Depends," the hacker said, flicking her eyes at me and Noah. "On how much risk you're ready to run." I stiffened. "What is that supposed to mean?"She sighed and closed her laptop with a snap. "Look, I can siphon her accounts, reroute funds, and create chaos on her system
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-01
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 83
Noah stood beside me, his body tense but composed. Across from us, Dominic checked his gun, his expression unreadable.Ravenโs voice crackled through the comms. โSecurity is heavier than expected. She knows somethingโs coming.โDominic didnโt flinch. โDoesnโt matter.โHe motioned for his men to move.I exhaled slowly, steadying myself.And then, we went in.---The first thing that hit me was the smell.Oil. Dust. Gunpowder.The warehouse was massive, stretching into darkness, illuminated only by flickering industrial lights overhead. Crates were stacked high, some sealed, others cracked open to reveal weapons, cash, documents.Lisa had been preparing for war.And we had just walked straight into it.A guard rounded the corner, rifle raised.Noah moved before I could react.A single shot. The man crumpled.No hesitation. No wasted movement.The others followed. Dominicโs team swept through the warehouse like a shadow, taking down guards with brutal efficiency.We advanced quickly, clea
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 82
The city never slept, but for once, I wished it would.I sat by the window, watching headlights streak past on the rain-slicked streets below. The low hum of traffic and the distant wail of sirens blended together, forming an eerie symphony that filled the silence in my head.Behind me, Noah was still asleep.His breathing was slow and steady, the rise and fall of his chest almost hypnotic. He hadnโt gotten real rest in daysโnone of us hadโbut exhaustion had finally caught up to him. I knew he needed the sleep.And yet, I couldnโt close my eyes.I reached for the passport again, flipping it open under the dim glow of the city lights.A new name. A new identity.A way out.Dominic had left it for me before disappearing into the night, his expression unreadable as heโd placed it on the table between us.โNo strings. No pressure. If you want to disappear, Iโll make sure no one finds you.โNo one.Not Lisa. Not her people. Not even Noah.The thought sent a hollow ache through my chest.I s
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 81
Averyโs POVThe weight of it all didnโt hit me until I stepped outside.The cool night air rushed against my face, mixing with the distant scent of smoke and gunpowder. The mansionโLisaโs fortressโwas a mess of flashing red and blue lights, agents moving in and out like a swarm.Lisa Monroe was in custody.It was over.I wanted to feel relief. I wanted to let out the breath Iโd been holding for what felt like years.But all I felt was exhaustion.โAvery!โI turned just in time to see Noah pushing through the crowd, eyes wild with panic.Before I could say a word, his hands were on my face, his touch firm but careful, like he was checking to make sure I was real.โYouโre bleeding.โ His voice was sharp, urgent.I blinked, and thatโs when I felt it. The dull ache in my shoulder had sharpened into something burning and raw. The bullet wound.โIโm fine,โ I managed, even as my knees threatened to buckle.Noah didnโt believe me for a second.His arm wrapped around my waist, holding me upright
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 80
Averyโs POVThe gunshot cracked through the hallway, sharp and deafening.Instinct took over.I dove to the side, barely registering the blur of motion as Noah grabbed my arm and yanked me behind cover. The bullet struck the wall where I had been standing a second ago, sending a spray of plaster into the air."Move!" Dominic barked, already drawing his own weapon.Noah shoved me behind a marble pillar, pressing his back against it as Lisa took another shot. The bullet embedded itself in the wood of a nearby door.I gasped for breath, my pulse hammering. Lisaโs footsteps clicked against the floor as she advanced, slow and deliberate."You never should have come here," she called out, her voice eerily calm. "You had your chance to walk away."Noah shot me a lookโsilent communication. He was going to flank her.I nodded, gripping my pistol so tightly my fingers ached. My whole body was screaming at me to run, to escape, but I forced the fear down.Not this time.Lisa had hunted me for to
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 79
Averyโs POVThe night dragged on in silence, thick and suffocating. Sleep wasnโt an option, not when my mind wouldnโt stop racing. Lisa was out there, hunting us. We had barely escaped the warehouse, and now we were holed up in a safe house that felt more like a waiting room before a battle.I sat by the cracked window, watching the city beyond the darkness. A few flickering streetlights cast long, distorted shadows across the empty road. The world kept moving, oblivious to the war we were about to start.Behind me, the soft click of a keyboard filled the room. Raven was still working, hunched over her laptop, eyes flickering across the multiple screens in front of her. Dominic had disappeared into one of the back rooms, probably getting whatever sleep he could manage. Noah was standing near the doorway, arms crossed, his entire body rigid with tension.โWe should be doing more,โ he muttered, barely loud enough for me to hear.I turned to him. โRavenโs doing everything she can. We hav
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 78
Averyโs POVThe tension in the air turned thicker as it pressed against me while we moved through the alley way. The sound of our footsteps against the wet pavement was an indelible reminder of how exposed we were. Every threat is in form of shadow, each sound outside seems to promise danger.I kept my head down, fingers wrapped tightly around the strap of my bag. Noah walked beside me, scanning the surroundings with his eyes, muscles tense under the coat. Caught behind were Dominic moving as carefully as we were, presence that stood silently as his assurance. Raven had given us a safe house, which it turned out was across the city and far from where we could get caught before reaching. "We need a car," Dominic muttered with his voice barely above a whisper.Noah gave a sharp nod. "We can't risk public transport. Lisa's people will be watching every terminal, every bus station." Swallow hard-groomed nervously, trying not to let it win me. Only hours before, the explosion at the ware
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 77
Averyโs POVLisa grunted as we fell down, her haggard hair disarrayed in perfect arrangements; her face sculping great twists of frustration. I didn't allow her even a second of respite. I straddled her, took the front of her pricey silk blouse and slammed her head against the marble floor.She gasped, but I could barely hear it over the chaos that erupted around us. Gunfire cracked through the air, and Dominic's deep curses mixed with the sharp clicks of Raven's tech. Noah was shouting my name, but I couldn't focus on him right now.To put it another way, Lisa has been tearing my life apart over many years. If I did not end this thing now, she would never stop.She recovered quickly, raising her knee into my ribs to knock the breath from my lungs. I rolled away instantly to just slide out of the way of her next attack when she lunged at me.Well, she was not some pampered socialite-she was trained and ready for situations like this. Her punches are controlled, deliberate, but mine ar
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 76
Averyโs POVThe alarms screamed so loud, they had me rattling through my bones. Red warning lights flashed on in the estate halls, sending spooky shadows down the marble floors. My heart hammered in my ears as Raven seized my wrist and pulled me across a tall display cabinet, just before a couple of guards sped past."They know we're here," came Raven's angry whisper, tightening her fingers on my arm. "We've got to move." I swallowed. I nodded. There was no time to digest what we had just heard in that meeting room-the cold, calculating voice of Lisa, condemning me like another obstacle in her way. The weight was heavy on my chest, but there was no way fear would help me. Action would.Outside were Noah and Dominic. If the alarm had reached them, they surely were racing to get to us. Or were they? I turned to Raven. "What's the exit plan?" Her gaze flicked across the hallway, darting from door to door. "We have to make it to the southern wing; that's where the utility tunnel is-it
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATEย ย ย Chapter 75
Avery's POV The SUV sped through the darkened roads, a whiff of burnt rubber still hanging in the air. The sound of gunfire had finally faded away behind us, while inside the vehicle, the tension was all-consuming. Nobody said anything, but the unspoken truth was palpableโwe had barely managed to escape, and Lisa would not let us go that easily.I leaned my head against the cool window, while my body rattled with tremors from blood loss and an adrenaline crash. Every now and again, I would slip in and out of consciousness as Noah clutched me tighter into him to keep me propped upright. His face hard with concern. He held my hand as though he were afraid to let go, his eyes on my face."Stay with me," he said roughly.Dominic was still gripping the gun in the front seat, still glancing intently between the side mirror and the road ahead. "How bad is she?"Noah bit out, "She needs a hospital. She's losing too much blood."I tried to speak, to soothe them, to say I was okay, but my tong
