Chapter 7

Elijah's POV

The bodyguard delivered the warning in a low voice. Then, he started the car and sped away, leaving me standing in a cloud of dust.

I gritted my teeth and had no choice but to follow.

The car moved at an incredible speed. As I ran, my bones seemed to crack, and my wounds tore open all over again. Bloody footprints marked the ground behind me.

Half an hour later, I finally reached the coast. My breathing was ragged, and I couldn't stop myself from bending over and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Are you alright?" A concerned voice came from beside me.

Then, a clean silk handkerchief was held out in front of me.

Startled, I hurriedly straightened up and stepped back, only to find a woman with alluring features smiling at me.

She laughed and said, "Don't you remember me, Mr. Storie? I'm from the eastern shores."

I pressed my lips together and said nothing. She didn't seem offended.

Instead, she gave me a meaningful look and said, "I heard you're planning to leave the Powell family. Let me offer you a friendly warning, Mr. Storie. Gregory isn't someone you want to cross. When he promises to let someone leave, it often means… death."

My pupils dilated, and cold sweat broke out across my body.

She was right. Gregory was arrogant and domineering. Would he really let me leave, behind Sinead's back? Or was he simply waiting for the right moment to silence me permanently?

"I can help you," the woman said with a smile.

Before I could react, she pressed the handkerchief into my palm. Then, she walked away with her entourage and disappeared into the crowd.

I lowered my gaze to the handkerchief. A string of numbers had been written along one of its folds.

It was a phone number.

After a moment's hesitation, I tucked the handkerchief away, steadied myself, and swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. Then, I walked toward Sinead and Wesley, taking up my position beside them as their bodyguard.

The people around us looked at me with a mixture of pity and amusement. I lowered my head, kept my body rigid, and remained silent.

Everyone on the western coast knew what Sinead and I were to each other.

Just then, Wesley spoke. "Come here."

I walked over to him. He picked up a piece of goose meat with his fork and turned toward me with a smile.

"Good dog. Open your mouth."

My breathing caught upon hearing that.

Sinead was standing nearby, holding a champagne flute as she chatted with other guests. At the sound of Wesley's voice, she turned to glance at me. Her gaze fell on my knees.

My entire body stiffened. But under their watchful eyes, I knelt, tilted my head back, and opened my mouth for Wesley to feed me.

Seafood, pasta, cake, wine…

In the end, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I retched uncontrollably in a disgraceful and wretched manner.

"Useless piece of trash." Wesley scolded and flung the knife and fork he was holding at me.

In an instant, a deep gash appeared on my cheek, and blood streamed down my face.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out above the yacht.

The crowd descended into chaos. I sprang to my feet, reacting on instinct, and lunged toward Sinead. The gun aimed at her missed its target.

"Nobody move!"

Screams rang out. I looked up and saw a blond man holding Wesley hostage with a gun pressed against his forehead.

"Sinead, save me!" Wesley shouted in panic.

"Let Wesley go. I'll give you whatever you want." Sinead addressed the man with a grim expression, her body tensed.

But he merely smiled and said, "Ms. Powell, you destroyed my family. So, I'm going to play a little roulette with you."

He raised the gun slightly and continued, "I have seven shots in total. Each time, you get to choose who the gun is pointed at. Will you choose your fiancé, or your lover?"

My heart dropped to my stomach. I could already guess how this would end.

Sinead's expression remained icy, but she slowly turned her gaze toward me.

"Let's begin with the first shot." The man raised the gun. "Ms. Powell, who will take the first shot?"

"Elijah."