Ch. 231..235: Inherit Billions Chapter 231-235
Chapter 231
Complaints
Seraphina stood there, trembling, a sudden chill running down her spine.
The branches, soaked in fish oil, caught fire. The flames were growing taller and burning closer to the circle around her. The space was shrinking, and the smoke was thickening, making it harder to breathe. Her coughs were relentless. The acrid smoke was forcing its way into her lungs. Were they trying to burn her alive?
As the reality of the situation dawned on her, a wave of terror washed over Seraphina, but alongside it came an overwhelming anger.
Outside the ring of fire, the wild savages were singing and dancing with excitement, as if they were performing some kind of sacrificial ritual. Seraphina had consumed their offerings, which meant she accepted the ritual in their eyes.
She couldn't just sit and wait for her death. She had to escape.
In the darkness, besides the thick smoke, the devilish sounds and movements of her captors made it impossible to see anything clearly.
Just as the flames drew less than five feet around her, a sudden flash of lightning split the gloomy night sky, followed by rolling thunder.
The savages exchanged bewildered glances. Some were reluctantly glaring at Seraphina, who stood in the center of the fire.
In the next instant, a torrential downpour began. The cold rain poured down, sending everyone scrambling for cover. Seraphina was left forgotten.
The heavy rain extinguished the flames meant to consume her.
Amid the chaos and rising smoke, Seraphina seized the opportunity to escape. Before she could move, a savage stormed out through the smoke, grabbed her hand roughly, and started running.
Her struggles were futile; she was helplessly dragged along.
Once they broke through the smoke, Seraphina instinctively looked down and saw that the savage was wearing shoes. It was that fake wild man!
Realizing this, a wave of relief washed over her.
The rain poured down from the sky, and the night was as dark and cold as a deep abyss.
The sound of the rain beating against the leaves was loud. When it mingled with the roar of the sea and the howling wind, it created an eerie and despairing symphony.
The cold was seeping into Seraphina's bones, causing her to shiver.
As soon as she paused to catch her breath, the sound of countless footsteps grew closer. It sounded clear and sinister in the darkness.
Complaints
The cold rain lashed against her face, whipping her in pain.
Finished
Within minutes, her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. Her legs started to give up. The dim surroundings, coupled with the rain, made it impossible to see anything. Branches and leaves were scattered" o.
stumbling and nearly falling.
the ground; she had no choice but to push through, often
The savages chased them relentlessly from behind. They even threw branches at them. They hit Seraphina
in the back several times, but she gritted her teeth and continued running.
The thorns and branches had scratched and bled her hands, but the pain had numbed her senses.
The fake savage in front of her moved quickly and nimbly. His athletic prowess is evident.
Seraphina couldn't afford to lag behind. She had to push herself to the limit.
The sound of the pursuers grew closer-she would die when they caught up with her.
Suddenly, she tripped over a thick tree trunk and fell hard to the ground. Her elbow was throbbing with pain as she let out a cry.
The fake savage glanced back from the front. Seraphina gritted her teeth, getting back on her feet.
"I'm fine; keep running."
Suddenly, just as she stepped over the tree trunk, her foot slipped, and she plunged downward.
Desperately, she grabbed at anything she could, her hand catching hold of a branch that bit into her skin.
Her entire weight hung on that branch. The thorns dug into her hand, drawing blood.
She could feel her body trembling, and she was well aware that she had reached her limit.
footsteps echoed behind her like the harbingers of death-cold and terrifying.
The sava
Despair had never felt so overwhelming, the cold seeping into every pore.
When all hope seemed lost, the fake wild man, who should have been far ahead, reappeared.
He reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her from the trap.
Seraphina had narrowly escaped death.
Before she could catch her breath, she instinctively looked back at the trap, noticing the sharp, jagged branches that lined the pit below.
In that moment, her blood ran cold.
It was a trap set by the savages.
If she hadn't grabbed that branch, she would have fallen, and that would be the end of her. Everything would have ended here, lost in the cold, relentless rain of the night.
Chapter 232
Dros
The fake savage yelled, "Run!" He tugged her forward.
Seraphina wiped her face, which was damp. It was unclear whether it was rain or tears. There was no time to think. She continued to run forward, her movement stiff and numb.
She couldn't look back; she couldn't stop, not even for a second.
Finished
They dashed through the forest. The path ahead splits into several smaller trails. The fake wild man led the way. He made sharp turns, confusing their pursuers. The sound of footsteps from behind grew fainter until it vanished completely. Finally, he stopped and turned to look at her.
She stood, soaked to the bone, in the dim light of the night, surrounded by the rustling of leaves. Her face was streaked with tears.
In less than thirty seconds, her quiet sobs escalated into a full-blown cry.
Seraphina had finally let go of the tears she had been holding in for days.
Her sobs were hysterical, yet they were drowned out by the rain and blended into the night.
The fake savage crouched down in front of her and comforted her in a flustered manner.
"Stop crying!"
Seraphina had finally vented her emotions. She felt much better now, but she knew this wasn't the time to relax.
The savages could find their trail at any moment. They couldn't stay here for long.
She wiped her face; her voice was hoarse but steady.
"Let's go."
The rain revealed his true features as it washed away the dirt from the fake savage's face. Deep-set eyes, flawless features, and a hint of mixed heritage-he was even more handsome than Justin. He was a young and dashing young man. This man must be a gift from the heavens.
Given how quickly Seraphina composed herself, the man was slightly surprised. Despite this, he continued to lead the way.
"It won't be long until we're safe. Don't worry," he reassured her.
Now calmer, Seraphina was full of questions but didn't know where to start.
"How did you get here?"
"Where are your clothes?"
Dros
"How long have you been here?"
Finished
The man chuckled, and his laughter was rich and clear in the darkness.
A glint of mischief sparkled in his eyes.
"I'm not telling you!"
Seraphina was speechless.
His lightheartedness, however, lifted her spirits.
She looked at her only companion and felt an inexplicable closeness.
Reaching out to touch his bare arm, smeared with dirt, rough and solid beneath her fingers, she smiled as she caught up with him. There was no ulterior motive in her gesture-just a simple concern.
"Are you chilly? I can give you my jacket," she offered, starting to remove her tightly wrapped coat.
She meant nothing by it; she was simply worried he might freeze to death.
Before she could finish, he stopped her with a gesture.
"It's okay; I'm not cold."
Seraphina didn't press the issue, suddenly remembering the phone in her pocket.
"I am Seraphina Cross. What's your name?"
At the mention of her name, the man's back stiffened slightly. He turned and asked, "The one in the tabloids with Justin?"
Seraphina's eyes widened in shock.
"Do you know Justin? You know who I am?"
He responded with a nonchalant hum, choosing to answer a different question.
"Weren't you all over the news a while back?"
Seraphina was even more surprised.
"You just came here?"
She only made the headlines recently.
The man laughed as he pushed branches out of the way and spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Yeah, I got here just a month before you."
He'd only just arrived, yet he'd already blended in so well, becoming one of the savages.
If it weren't for those shoes she wouldn't have reconized him at all
Dros
What a talent! Truly impressive!
3
Finished
A heavy feeling settled in Seraphina's chest, like a boulder pressing down and making it difficult to breathe. He'd been here for a month and still hadn't found a way out. When would she ever escape this cursed place? "What's your name?" She asked, eag
Chapter 233
WB
Finished
Regret
Seraphina asked, "Your last name is Dros? Are you related to Orion?"
Kaveh paused for two seconds before replying, "How could I be related to someone as wealthy as him? I'm just an independent explorer, trying to make a living." Seraphina nodded in understanding.
In all the wealthy circles she knew, none of the rich kids would risk their lives coming to a place like this.
When Seraphina heard that name, she couldn't help but think of him.
What's he doing now?
A thousand nautical miles away, aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Numerous helicopters roared overhead, and drones scoured the ocean depths for any sign of life or debris.
Even military-grade equipment was deployed, but there were no results at all.
Justin received a call from Sivir.
"Orion had gone home."
"Understood."
At the Dros Estate.
Orion's private doctor stepped out of his room. Ramona hurried over and asked, "How is Orion?"
The doctor sighed and spoke in a serious tone.
"Mr. Dros has been running himself ragged without rest for days. His body is exhausted, and he's reached his limit. What he needs now is plenty of rest and proper nutrition."
Ramona nodded and quickly ordered the preparation of a variety of rare and valuable medicinal supplements.
Theresa, standing nearby, couldn't contain her anger. She cursed, "That jinx! She did nothing but cause trouble for my son. It's a blessing she's dead. If she wasn't, I wouldn't let her off so easily." Ramona shot her a furious glare.
"Shut up! If word of this spreads, do you think the Crosses will let you off?"
Theresa mumbled awkwardly and said, "But we're at home..."
Ramona's mind was heavy with thoughts. Theresa seized the opportunity to speak again.
"Dad, can we bring Hannah back now that Seraphina's gone?"
Ramona didn't even look at her. He found her foolishness almost laughable.
Regret
Finished
"The Crosses just suffered a major incident, and you're already doing this? Do you want to send the message that we're celebrating Seraphina's death? If Sivir targets our family, are you going to step up and fix it?" Theresa's face turned pale, and the disappointment in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"Mr. Ramona, your grandson has awakened."
Everyone perked up at this. Ramona quickly walked into Orion's room. "Orion ..."
Orion opened his eyes and looked at his familiar surroundings. A flash of panic crossed his face as he abruptly sat up. Orion disregarded the IV that tore into his skin and was ready to leave. "Where are you going?"
Ramona's voice was stern, and his anger was barely concealed.
The butler and maids moved to restrain Orion. Everyone was too afraid to speak.
Orion's expression was grim, his tone resolute.
"ed to find Seraphina."
""She's dead."
Ramona's words hit Orion like a thunderbolt. Everyone knew about this, but he refused to accept it.
That word touched the deepest, most painful part of his reality.
It made him nervous.
Finally, the last shreds of his nerves snapped.
When he looked up, his bloodshot eyes filled with a cold determination.
"She's not dead. She can't be!"
His voice was chilling and filled with an icy resolve. How could he leave Seraphina alone in the ocean?
No matter what, he had to bring her home.
Orion stood up and tried to leave, but Ramona gave a quick nod to the butler. He immediately stepped forward with the servants and held the weakened Orion firmly in his bed.
"Mr. Orion, you aren't well."
"Let me go!"
Orion's voice was frigid.
Ramona frowned in disapproval.
"I understand you feel our family owes her. If she were alive, I wouldn't stop you from doing whatever you needed to do. But she's gone. You don't need to sacrifice yourself. Are you really willing to put the entire family at risk for her? Are you even aware of the rumors that have been circulating about us during your
Regret
search? We're turning into a laughingstock!"
Orion roared, "I don't care. She's not dead. I have to find her!"
He needed to apologize to her and beg for her forgiveness.
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Chapter 234
Survival on the Deserted Island
No one would ever understand how Orion's heart felt like it was being hollowed out, piece by piece, when he heard the news about Seraphina.
He felt as though someone had torn away his very soul.
Ramona gazed at his most prized grandson. Orion was exceptional, decisive, and ruthless-a man who had made the Forbes list a permanent residence within just a few short years. Yet, was he really willing to throw it all away for a woman?
"Guard the door well. Don't let him take a single step outside this room!"
Ramona placed an order before turning to leave.
He couldn't let that woman ruin an heir whom he had painstakingly nurtured, even if extreme measures
were necessary.
Time heals all wounds, he thought. Eventually, Orion would face reality and move on.
By then, the woman would no longer matter.
The air was thick with silence and coldness.
No one dared to leave their posts, but they all feared Orion's potential for a fierce rebellion.
Everyone could feel the immense sorrow radiating from him-a grief so deep it seemed to seep from his very bones, tugging at their own hearts.
Suddenly, Orion curled in on himself. The resolute and weathered expression etched on his face gave way to a moment of fragility and deep regret. "I regret it, Seraphina. I regret the divorce."
Ramona, who had just reached the door, froze in his tracks. He wore a complex expression as he turned around and looked at Orion.
The room was deathly quiet; even the sound of breathing was cautious.
No one had ever seen Orion like this. He had always been confident, proud, and an unstoppable force.
And now he was admitting defeat and regret over a single woman?
It was clear this woman meant more to him than his very life.
-
After walking for over twenty minutes, Seraphina felt her legs go numb. Her feet rubbed raw with blisters, and the pain was unrelenting.
When they finally reached their destination, the rain had just stopped.
The sound of the waves crashing against the shore grew louder, the wind whipping fiercely, and the ocean roared as it pounded against the rocks, echoing with the fierce cry of a storm,
12
Survival on the Deserted Island
at their feet, making it difficult to walk.
Finished
The man ahead of her moved with determined strength, showing no sign of fatigue despite the long trek.
Clearly, he was accustomed to such environments.
Under the shelter of some rocks on a hillside, Kaveh pushed aside a boulder nearly half as tall as a man, revealing a small cave behind it.
He beckoned to Seraphina, who stood there in shock, before ducking into the cave.
A hidden space?
Seraphina followed him inside. The cave was just big enough for two people, with seawater trickling down through cracks in the rock, leaving barely any place to stand.
Kaveh squeezed through a gap barely wider than a foot. He turned his body sideways to slip through.
On the other side, he called out to her. Mimicking his actions, Seraphina wriggled through. Suddenly, her view opened up.
There is light?
The interior was clean, with dry, neatly arranged branches and leaves. Though the air was a bit damp, I was ten times better than outside.
Seraphina smiled as she watched Kaveh retrieve a backpack from a high ledge. It was a classic Nike backpack.
She recognized it instantly-it matched the shoes he was wearing.
He pulled out a men's windbreaker and put it on. Then he took out matching pants. Before putting them on, he hesitated and looked at Seraphina. She stared at him intently, her gaze unflinching, as if afraid he would disappear.
Kaveh smiled helplessly.
"Miss, if you want to watch, I don't mind."
Seraphina froze for a moment, then quickly realized what he meant. She hurriedly turned her back to him; her face involuntarily felt warm.
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Chapter 235
The Explorer
"Aren't you thirsty? There's some gear over there. You can fetch some seawater, and I can distill it into fresh water." He spoke, trying to break the awkward silence.
"Alright."
Freshwater-something she hadn't had in a long time. She missed the taste of plain water, even though it was so simple.
Seraphina instinctively moved towards the rock gear, pausing with a slight hesitation.
Wasn't it just a few leaves tied together to make a 'container'?
Well, given the circumstances, she figured it was the best they could do.
She sighed in frustration and carefully scooped up some relatively clean seawater from the crevice between the rocks, then carried it back.
When she returned, Kaveh was already dressed. His tall, lean figure sat on a bed of leaves, one leg bent, head down, fully focused on the tool in his hands.
A clean, short haircut replaced his messy hair.
He had a sharp, handsome face that, even without much grooming, appeared striking under the dim light. His deep-set features, particularly his bright eyes, seemed to reflect a thousand stars. This young man was about her age, though that wasn't what surprised Seraphina.
"Was that a wig you were wearing earlier?"
Kaveh nodded and admitted, "When in Rome..."
Sure, but...
Seraphina twitched her lips and asked, "Who carries a wig around?"
Kaveh winked at her, his smile pure and carefree.
"I'm an explorer; I come prepared. I run a social media channel focused on documenting and studying indigenous tribes."
Seraphina asked, "So, you came here on purpose?"/
Kaveh nodded again.
"I picked this island randomly. It's the smallest in Etrium. Although I didn't have high expectations, I wasn't prepared for the discovery of savages and an indigenous tribe here. Seraphina watched as he pulled out a small black device, no bigger than a pair of earbuds, from the leaves beside him. It was inconspicuous, but here, it was incredibly rare.
The Explorer
That was her focal point.
Kaveh pursed his lips and frowned slightly. He said, "Nope."
"Then, how do you plan to get back? Aren't you going to return after your research?"
Finished
"Well, I hadn't thought that far ahead. Another friend of mine, an explorer, dropped me off here with a helicopter, but he went on an expedition to South Pugria. I'm not sure if he's even still alive." South Pugria?
Seraphina had a bad feeling about this.
If his friend's survival was uncertain, how could they possibly rely on him for rescue?
It was wishful thinking.
After all this, was there still no hope?
Seraphina's face went pale as Kaveh casually pulled out a lighter from his bag and began boiling the
seawater.
"Then, does that mean you can't contact anyone from the outside world either?"
Kaveh looked at her with sincerity, dashing her hopes.
"No, I can't."
"You never thought about how to leave?"
I did. I reasoned that if I could bring someone else-a fool-here, I could then hitch a ride back once they were rescued. Anyway, I've already gathered most of the material ed." Seraphina was speechless.
So, she was that fool?
That bit of news quickly wiped away any joy, leaving her feeling utterly dejected.
Kaveh expertly distilled the seawater, repeating the process several times and carefully refining it with each round of distillation. After what seemed like an endless cycle, he finally brought the container to his lips, tasting a small sip. Satisfied, he handed the rest to Seraphina.
"Drink up. You haven't had water in days, right?"
Seraphina took the container and said, "I haven't had anything since l'got here."
She could still recall the flight attendant handing her a glass of champagne just before she arrived.
She quickly drank the water, then looked at Kaveh eagerly.
"That's it?" she asked guiltily.
"Next time," he replied.
The Explorer
After all, she had only brought back a small amount of seawater.
After distillation, little remained.
"Are you sure you've had enough?"
She noticed he hadn't drunk much himself.
Finished
Kaveh raised his eyebrow and smiled at her. "We explorers can survive even without fresh water or tools."
After all, urine could be life-saving in extreme situations.