Ch. 2211..2220

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2211-"Tell her to come inside and join us." Justin's stoic expression softened slightly.

Shortly after that, Camilia managed to persuade Yvonne to enter the room. The latter entered with her head lowered. "Thank you, Mr. Salvador." Yvonne bowed, expressing her gratitude.

She had not managed to properly thank Justin ever since she was rescued, nor could she ever find a chance to do so.

"No need." A solemn look appeared in Justin's eyes. "I didn't do much. It was Drew who saved you."

"I have lived in Sentania for a long time with Christopher, so I'm familiar with this country to a certain degree. I hope I can be of help in this search." Yvonne was sincere.

Justin was taken aback by the thought. It had just occurred to him that Yvonne was once under Christopher and that there was nobody who knew him better than she did. It would be ideal to have her on his side!

Yvonne stood by the table and observed the various red crosses on the map. She shook her head and remarked, “There's no use searching blindly like this. You should start by searching the private islands in the region that are not registered or purchased by anyone yet.

"Most of these islands you marked are owned by the state and have plenty of residents inhabiting the island, which doesn't make it an ideal hiding place. The police can easily access these places as well. I wouldn't hide there if I was Christopher.” Justin frowned. "So, you're saying that he must be on the unregistered islands?"

"Yes. I think aside from the unregistered and unnamed islands, you should look at the private islands as well. It is very likely that Christopher would have bought them using an alias or fake identity. A lot of those islands are very tucked away and don't have many visitors. Since they are private property, the Sentania government has no regulations over them either.” Justin's eyes brightened. He was impressed by Yvonne's analysis.

"I will have someone work on compiling a list of the islands purchased by private buyers!" Camilia perked up and immediately sprang to the task. Justin was anxious. "How long will it take?"

"Even if they have been privatized after the purchase, there must still be a transaction record and an associated registration. I will contact the related authorities and have them sort it out before sending it to you. It won't take long!"

…

Two hours later, the members of the Thompson family returned one after another.

Everyone gathered in the study and looked at the pile of documents with the buyer's information as well as the island registration forms aeross the table. They were confused by the display. Drew wrapped his arms tightly around Yvonne's shoulders with a deep look in his eyes. "Investigating all of these buyers will take a lot of time and effort! We can't make Bella wait any longer!" Justin was a very perceptive man. Though his memory was not as good as Bella's, it was still easily above average.

He scanned the pile of documents on the table and was intently focused on the task.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped short on something. Rose Island.

That specific island caught his eye.

"Rose Island…"

Justin picked up the file with trembling fingers and clenched it tightly. All the while, he was mumbling incoherently to himself.

Everyone else exchanged confused looks with each other.

"The private nursing home where Christopher's mother stayed was also named Rose, wasn't it?!" Justin suddenly asked.

Yvonne instantly connected the dots and nodded, "Yes, Christopher is et very fond of roses and always compare's Miss Thompson to a rose as well. This is why all of his properties in Sentania, including the clubs, villas, and even nursing home, have roses in them." It was always the subtle things that gave one away.

Justin had an eureka moment. His instincts were telling him that this was it!

"We're going to Rose Island!"

Asher was baffled. "When are we going?"

"Now!"

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2212-Everyone was taken aback by Justin's sudden epiphany.

"Mr. Salvador's hunch must be correct. There is a high chance that Miss Thompson is on Rose Island!"

Hope ignited in Yvonne's eyes. She was convinced as well. "I remember Taylor mentioning Christopher buying an island in passing. He said Christopher was fond of the island and would frequently go there for short getaways.

"I never thought much of it at the time since Christopher had many properties, so another island didn't make a difference. Now that I think about it, there must be something more to the island because of how often he heads over there in person. It's quite unusual, even for him. He must have been planning it for a while. That island must be his final hiding place!"

If anybody else came up with this theory, it would have just been speculation.

However, Yvonne was Christopher's confidant, so her theory was highly plausible.

"We're going right now! I'll pilot the helicopter!"

Justin's heart pounded violently against his chest.

His eyes were bloodshot. After he strapped a gun to his waist, he grabbed his phone and other equipment to prepare to leave. That was when Ralph and Declan rushed over to stop him at the door.

"No, you can't go!" Declan put his arms out to stop Justin. "There's been a typhoon warning around the region, issued by the officials. Starting tonight, all flights will be suspended for three days! You're going to die if you take a helicopter now!"

Justin's eyes were rabid. "In that case, I'll take a boat and go by sea!"

Frantic, Ralph started cussing. "You bloody fool! How is that any better? I know you want to find Bella, but you shouldn't lose your life trying to find her! We all know you're anxious, but you have to calm down!

"It's been so many days. If something was going to happen to Bella, it would have happened long ago! So what if you have to wait three more days? If you go now, there is a 99% chance something bad is going to happen. I don't want to have to lose another family member!"

Ralph's eyes were also red as he spoke. Upon hearing his caution, Justin suddenly blurted out, "You said 99 %. There's still a 1% chance that it would work out."

Justin could not control his surging emotions. He felt as if something was jammed in the middle of his throat. "As long as there is a sliver of chance, I will save Bella, even if I have to risk my life!"

He was born as stubborn as a mule, and there was no use trying to persuade him.

The only person who could ever hope to persuade him was not by his side, and Justin was on the verge of breaking down entirely at this point.

Asher was burning with anxiety. "Justin, please listen to us and wait just a little longer!"

"Wait?! It's been almost half a month! Now that we finally have a lead, you're telling me to wait again?!" Justin growled with exaggerated movements. "You want me to wait three more days?! What if Christopher suddenly loses it and hurts Bella? What if he knows we are on his tail? What if he takes her somewhere else?! Do you lot have any idea how big the world is? Where do you suppose I go to find her at that point?!" Everyone fell silent.

They were just as aware of this.

However, there was only so much that mere mortals could do in the face of destructive natural phenomena.

"I'll go with you." Drew took a step forward and fixed a resolute look on Justin's pale complexion. He suddenly grinned and became more confident than ever. "We go way back, don't we? If it's anyone who should come with you, it's me!"

Justin was touched. "Drew…"

Yvonne looked at Drew's imposing figure from behind, her eyes slowly welling up with tears.

It was a mix of nerves, admiration, and deep affection.

Needless to say, there was a lot of concern mixed within as well.

After all, she had lived in Sentania for years and was familiar with how dangerous the typhoon in the region could get. The slightest mistake could get someone killed!"

"Screw it… What else is there to say at this point? I'm a police officer. I should be the one leading the charge! I'm coming too!" Ralph stepped up and declared while thumping his chest.

The younger siblings could get away with making a rash decision, but the elder siblings could not afford the same rashness. Declan and Asher were still strongly against the idea of them setting out to sea in the middle of a typhoon.

"Justin, Drew."

Edward stepped forward with a grave look on his face and advised them gently. "We know there's no stopping you at this point.

"I had someone check with the meteorological department. They told us there will be a brief opening at around midnight. The winds will slow slightly, and the tides will subside briefly. So if you insist on doing this, that is the best time to leave.

"It takes about four hours to sail to the island. It's too risky to fly there. Besides, you'll draw too much attention with a helicopter and risk alerting Christopher. We don't know if he has manned the island with artillery weapons yet, so it's not a risk that you should take.

"I don't recommend anyone else to go because there is only a two-hour window before the typhoon comes raging again. If the situation changes, all of you are going to be stuck in the middle of the sea with nowhere to go.

"Justin and Drew, you two should stay low after getting on the island and scope out the situation first. Figure out if Bella is on the island and remember to keep in close contact with us. We will head over there to offer backup."

Edward spoke as a President should. He was pragmatic, composed, and considered all factors. This was an ability that was far above the common man.

Justin himself had already considered the points he had stated. This was why he wanted to head to the island stealthily to look for Bella.

If he mobilized large forces, he would risk alarming Christopher. He was afraid that the madman would lose his mind and do something rash to hurt Bella.

"Justin, Drew, get ready. We're setting sail."

Asher gulped with great difficulty and went up to hug both of them in turn before saying solemnly," Promise me that you two will return safely!"

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2213-The last five days had been grueling for Bella. It was as if she was in hell.

She could not eat or drink anything. In just half a month, she had wilted significantly. When she sprawled herself out on the bed, her shoulder blades poked through like the wings of a butterfly about to take flight.

It was a sight that evoked pity and sympathy.

One would be filled with the desire to cradle her in one's arms and never let her leave again.

For the last five days, she had been in a permanently nervous state. She only allowed herself to take short naps and avoided falling asleep because she was terrified of never waking up again.

She was also afraid of what Christopher would do to her.

So far, he had only been hugging her and kissing her. However, there was no guarantee that something inside him would snap without warning. If so, he would do something profane to her during such an outburst.

It was just past midnight. The sky was ominously dark, and the wind was roaring.

Christopher injected himself with a shot of adrenaline in the study before dragging his lethargic body outside.

Then he met with Jace, who was leaning against the wall along the dark corridor. Christopher drew to a stop and gulped the metallic scent of blood in his mouth before asking, "Did you need something?"

"I don't think your wedding is going to happen."

Jace stared icily at Christopher's bloodless complexion and continued with a rigid look in his eyes." Someone tipped us off that the coordinates of the island have been leaked. There is a high chance that Miss Thompson's family and Justin are on their way already. The Boss wants me to take Miss Thompson away from this place."

Christopher had never been delusional enough to believe that he could keep Bella imprisoned here for life. However, he thought he would at least get to spend the final moments of his life together with her. He was not expecting Justin and the others to find the place so quickly.

Christopher clenched his jaw tightly and swallowed a trace of blood. "When?"

"The sooner the better."

"Just Bella?"

"Were you expecting me to take you too?" Jace chuckled. "Look at you now. Do you think you can protect her at all? You don't have much time left. Do you think you can still be of use to the Boss? This is a beautiful island. The weather is usually pleasant too. It's a good place for ceremonies, both weddings and funerals alike."

Was Jace hinting that Christopher should be buried here?

How cruel.

However, Christopher knew he should not protest anymore. He was nothing but a burden.

He should accept his fate and fade away quietly.

"There is a typhoon raging out there. You can't leave just yet." Christopher tried his best to keep her longer. "Even if you have a death wish, don't drag Bella into it."

"Don't worry, if the Boss wants her, I'll make sure she gets brought to him even if I have to die for it." Jace angled his wrist to check the time on his watch. "I will take Miss Thompson tomorrow morning," "That's more than enough…"

"What?"

"There is more than enough time for a wedding."

Christopher pressed a hand against his chest and braced himself against the wall while he dragged himself toward the bedroom.

Jace stared at Christopher's desolate, withered figure from behind. An indiscernible look flashed in his eyes.

Bella was not sure how long she had been lurking in the dark, listening to the whistle of the raging wind. At last, she could not withstand the wave of sleepiness anymore. Her brain was muddled. She was just about to close her eyes when she heard a raspy voice calling her name.

"Bella."

It was Christopher's voice.

She woke up with a start. The silk nightgown soaked with cold sweat stuck to her skin, accentuating her slender waist.

Bella leaned forward and tried to hide. Immediately after that, the man grabbed onto her ankles and pulled her toward him.

Then he lifted her by the waist and embraced her tightly in his arms.

"No need to dress up, Bella. You are beautiful as you are. You are always so effortlessly beautiful." Christopher gently kissed her ear. His voice drawled into the tunnels of her ear and seemed to scorch her from the inside.

"What… What are you trying to do?" Bella trembled in his arms.

"We are getting married." Christopher's ashen lips rubbed against the skin of her neck. His eyes became bloodshot. Every word he spoke drummed into her heart. "Marry me, Bella. We are going to see our wedding through."

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2214-"What did you say…? Wedding… Now?!"

Bella was trembling all over. She shoved Christopher's chest and stared outside at the trees. The shadows they cast fluttered in the wind. She wished she had misheard him because of the roaring wind outside.

"Yes, right now." Christopher looked at her solemnly, his eyes laced with affection.

Her enchanting eyes widened, and her heart nearly stopped right then and there.

Why was he suddenly proposing a wedding in the middle of the night, in such ominous weather?

Could this mean that his hidden lair had been exposed and he had grown desperate?

Could this mean Justin and the others finally found her? This must be why Christopher was suddenly in such a hurry to get married!

Christopher settled Bella back on the bed and leaned over to pick up a pair of crimson high heels on the floor that he had prepared earlier. He carefully tucked her dainty and pale-white feet into the shoes. "When I was little, my mother told me that girls who get married in stormy weather are the feisty ones." Christopher fixed a look on her delicate features with a grave look in his eyes. Then he gently pressed his lips against her cheeks in a manner that barely resembled a kiss. "Do you see how bad it is storming outside? It's true that you have quite a sharp temper. After we get married, I want you to keep me in line. I like it when you get angry at me and when you have your outbursts. That's how I know you care about me."

The more he spoke, the more choked up his voice became. His eyes gradually reddened several shades as well.

'He must be mad!' Bella thought to herself. She let Christopher caress her all he wanted while she remained still and rigid in his arms.

Still, she gritted her teeth and endured it. She had been tolerating him for long enough, and she would have wasted all her patience if she were to lash out at him now.

Justin was going to find her. She was sure he would!

Christopher removed his suit and wrapped it around her shivering body. Then he picked her up in a princess carry and advanced toward the rose garden.

There was no wedding dress to speak of, nor were there any relatives to observe the ceremony.

The wedding he was to give her would just be like a microcosm of his life, full of regrets and shortcomings.

Still, marrying her and cementing his place as her husband was his lifelong wish.

Christopher was going to see the wedding through even if God opposed it.

The rose garden was protected underneath a glass shed. However, it hardly offered much sense of protection due to the raging storm outside. It felt as if the structure was going to collapse at any given moment.

There was nothing resembling the exuberant spirit a married couple should have.

Outside the garden stood a row of helpers and the other hired men.

Jace was among them. He stood at the front without a trace of emotion on his face.

He watched as Bella stumbled along, with Christopher keeping a death hold around her waist. As the couple walked across the field of blood-red roses scattered on the ground, Jace noted the pain, hatred, and sorrow written across Bella's face.

As beautiful as she was, Bella was also broken inside.

The sight brought an inexplicable feeling that came over Jace. He felt uncomfortable all over, making him frown.

Soon, a man dressed in a pastor's robe approached.

Christopher held tightly onto Bella and forced her to turn around to face Jace, who was standing nearby. "Mr. Bailiff, this way, please."

A sharp look came across Jace's frown, but he obliged nonetheless.

"I have heard Bella referring to you as family. I suppose you do resemble her brother who passed away in an accident."

Christopher continued clenching Bella's waist. He put on a sincere smile. "Since Bella has been away from home for so long, she must miss her family. This is why I decided that you should be the witness to our marriage. I'm sure she will be relieved to have you around. After all, nothing feels like home here." Bella stared at him with stark disbelief. A seething red glow shone in her eyes.

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2215-Christopher seemed to have taken Bella's feelings into account and did this to accommodate her and express his thoughtfulness.

However, all Bella felt was disgust.

He was psychotic!

"Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?" Jace spoke while glancing at Bella, whose complexion was sickly and pale. Then he looked at Christopher, who seemed eager for approval, before chuckling. "I am not Miss Thompson's relative, and I am not your friend either. Why should I be your witness? Having to be here and watch this entire thing go down is jarring enough for me, and now you're expecting me to be a part of it? Quit mocking me."

Bella's eyes were swelling with tears at this point. She cast a pitiful look at Jace.

Jace blinked sporadically before turning away from Bella's gaze.

He could not decide if he had done it because he simply did not want to meet her eyes or he simply could not stomach seeing her in such a state.

Despite Jace's refusal, Christopher was not upset. He continued to cast a doting look at the woman lying stiffly in his arms. Then he grew exuberant again at the thought that he was about to become married.

"It doesn't matter. I have the heaven and the earth as my witness. That is more than good enough."

His voice choked, and he seemed to be at the point of tears. He then looked up at the goddess statue that stood tall and mighty over them.

The eyes of the statue were slightly narrowed. It stood as a symbol of all things beautiful and holy. He had ordered it to be carved after Bella's features.

Outside the glass shed, the trees were shaking violently amidst the raging wind.

The wedding had an awfully grim and depressing tone.

"With the heaven and earth as my witness, I, Christopher Iverson, shall take Bella Thompson as my wife." Christopher forcefully pried Bella's fingers and made her interlace her fingers with his. Then he continued to declare in a jarringly hoarse voice, "From this day onward, I shall love her through all circumstances, through the times of joy and all the mundanity of life. I will always protect her and never leave her, no matter what happens. I will love her forever until my heart stops beating."

Trails of tears streamed down Bella's colorless cheeks. She wanted to pry her hands away, but she could not manage to, no matter how hard she yanked away.

This was no wedding. This was torture! She felt as if she were thrown into a pit of fire, burned alive.

Toward the end of the wedding, the storm eased slightly.

Bella was completely drenched by the rain and seawater splashed up by the wind.

After Christopher took her back to the room, she shivered from the cold.

"Bella, let's go take a shower. I'll hold you." Christopher suggested while lowering himself to plant a kiss on her forehead.

Bella's eyes were red with resentment. She turned toward him and snapped at him. "No, I don't want to He watched as Bella stumbled along, with Christopher keeping a death hold around her waist. As the couple walked across the field of blood-red roses scattered on the ground, Jace noted the pain, hatred, and sorrow written across Bella's face.

As beautiful as she was, Bella was also broken inside.

The sight brought an inexplicable feeling that came over Jace. He felt uncomfortable all over, making him frown.

Soon, a man dressed in a pastor's robe approached.

Christopher held tightly onto Bella and forced her to turn around to face Jace, who was standing nearby. "Mr. Bailiff, this way, please."

A sharp look came across Jace's frown, but he obliged nonetheless.

"I have heard Bella referring to you as family. I suppose you do resemble her brother who passed away in an accident."

Christopher continued clenching Bella's waist. He put on a sincere smile. "Since Bella has been away from home for so long, she must miss her family. This is why I decided that you should be the witness to our marriage. I'm sure she will be relieved to have you around. After all, nothing feels like home here." Bella stared at him with stark disbelief. A seething red glow shone in her eyes.

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2216-Christopher was not going to touch her at all.

That was because he loved her so much that he was afraid of hurting her. He did not have the heart to do so.

Furthermore, he was just as much aware of how informal and improper the wedding was. It was completely absurd to begin with. However, he could not accept that Bella would not at least go along with the arrangement, knowing that he was nearing his death.

He was anguished that she would not do the bare minimum for him.

Bella watched as he removed his shirt and exposed the pale white skin of his chest.

Beads of sweat trickled down his body, which was flushed red from the excitement coursing through his veins.

Her eyes widened in horror while her cheeks flushed red from a mix of horror and embarrassment.

The pain was beyond description. She could feel every pore of her skin and every inch of her nerves burning.

Christopher shifted his bony fingers toward her nightgown and prepared to tear it off.

Just as he was about to do so, he caught a gleam of light reflected off a metallic surface. His breathing stopped in an instant.

Bella produced a sharp knife out of nowhere and pressed it against his chest before he could even react.

She only needed to nudge the blade forward to plunge it into his heart!

"Bella, where did you get this from?' After Christopher recovered from his shock, he smiled gently and seemed bizarrely composed.

"If you dare to touch me… I will kill you!"

Bella's eyes were red while she cried out at the top of her lungs. Her fingers trembled as they tightened around the knife.

The other day, when she went to see Jace, he had forgotten to put away the fruit knife he used to cut apples with and left in a hurry. She took the chance to swipe the knife and kept it under her pillow the entire time.

Christopher had injected her with a small amount of anesthetic. Though she could still manage small movements, she could hardly exert any strength.

This gesture alone had used up all her strength.

If Christopher touched her at all, she swore that she would kill him.

Christopher grinned. An eerily tender look came upon his eyes as he began to lean forward again.

He slowly pressed down on her, allowing the tip of the blade to sink into his flesh.

"You…?!" Bella was so astounded that she could hardly hold the knife steady.

“Bella, I don't have long to live anyway." Christopher shuddered from the pain while blood slowly streamed from the tip of the knife. “I have a terminal illness, and I am going to die soon. Will you at least offer me some comfort in my final moments?"

"You have done so many terrible things… You killed so many innocent people. This is what you deserve!"

Bella cried out furiously with tears in her eyes. "How dare you still think you deserve sympathy in your final moments? Dream on! The only reason you were in such a rush toet hold a wedding is because you found out that your location has been exposed and that you can't Keep hiding much longer, will make S sure you are captured alive! I want you to confess all the terrible things you have done. It's the only way your victims can rest in peace!" She never planned to confront him directly in such a dramatic fashion, until she realized that Christopher was determined to make her his woman in his final moments.

She belonged to Justin.

She would much rather die than allow herself to be tainted by Christopher.

"Yes, you're right." Christopher าวน suddenly burst out laughing. His haggard and bony features were twisted sadistically as he howled with laughter. "But Bella, you of all people should know that I am a twisted man. I am the devil I can't have you, Justin shouldn't think about it either!" With that, he snatched the knife away in one swift gesture. He seemed completely unfazed even when the blade slashed his chest, leaving behind a deep gash.

"Ugh!"

Immediately after that, he subdued Bella's wrists by pinning them above her head. Then he pressed his lips against hers and suffocated her with his lustful kisses.

It was as if he wanted to devour every part of her and fuse her body into his forever.

*

The night was coming to an end, and the first light of dawn was about to break.

A speedboat had broken through the turbulent waves, drawing closer to Rose Island.

Soon, it docked by the shore.

Justin and Drew hopped off the boat in turn. The suits they wore were completely soaked with seawater.

Drew was also from a military academy and had a superior physique to show for it. Despite that, the difficult journey on the sea overnight had completely drained him. His lips were colorless, and he was shivering from the cold.

He gritted his teeth and observed Justin.

Justin's complexion was pale, but he stood upright like a totem. He stood completely unbroken and seemed to defy the conventions of mere mortals. There was no trace of fatigue or any ounce of hesitation within him.

Drew sighed. He would never consider himself inferior to any man. But now, he had to yield to Justin.

"This is not a small island. It's going to be very hard to scope the area with just the two of us. Do you want to try sneaking inside first?"

"No, we're marching right in there." Justin declared with a prating look in his eyes.

Drew was taken aback. "What?"

"I caught a figure somewhere in the woods just now. I'm sure someone is going to alert Christopher about our arrival very soon."

Justin scanned the vicinity with his eagle eyes. Then he unstrapped the gun at his waist and clenched it tightly. "Is just like you said, both of us cannot possibly scope the entire area. The best way to do this is to become the live bait and draw the viper out of its den!"

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2217-In the morning, a warm glow of sunlight was cast upon the entirety of Rose Island. The shore, filled with fine grains of pure white sand, reflected the sunlight off its surface.

Meanwhile, the window of Bella's bedroom was covered with a layer of heavy and velvety curtains. Its fabric was so thick that sunlight could barely prate through it.

For someone who had to endure a devastating, grueling experience all night, such a setting was the perfect place to fall asleep until the end of time. Christopher, on the other hand, managed to wake up very early.

He was jolted awake by a nightmare and woke up drenched in cold sweat.

When he opened his eyes, his complexion was pale and sickly. The first thing he did was to shift his trembling hands to the side to feel for a body. Soon, his touch reached Bella's soft and supple body. He sighed in relief upon feeling her presence and sat himself upright on the bed.

The bedsheets were sprawled out haphazardly on the bed.

It was not the product of their consummation but Bella's determined and relentless struggle all night.

In the end, Christopher forced himself to suppress his desire and keep away from her.

He leaned listlessly against the head of the bed and stared at the delicate features of the sleeping woman.

A smile containing what seemed like relief and happiness graced the corners of his cracked and pale lips. Then he slowly and gently stroked Bella's cheeks.

He was reluctant to part with her. Countless other emotions swirled within him.

"How am I supposed to look into those eyes and transform all of my doubts into trust? When can I hold your hand tightly in mine and kiss you?" His fingertips gently grazed against the tip of Bella's dainty nose as he chanted a love song he was familiar with.

His chest felt suffocated, and every note he sang was off-key. It was horrendous.

Bella could not hear him.

Despite that, he realized that this was going to be his last chance to sing to her.

"Good morning, Bella." Christopher leaned over and pecked a kiss on her forehead.

He wished he could address her as Mrs. Iverson.

For some reason, he could not bring himself to say it.

Deep down, he realized that despite the wedding and having spent the night in the same bed, Bella would never truly belong to him, not even for a fleeting moment.

He knew he was nearing his end and did not want to spend it in delusions.

Then there was a knock on the door. The maid entered with a tray.

"Mr. Iverson, it's time for you to take your medicine."

As soon as the maid approached Christopher, she noticed the hideous knife wound on his chest. She was so terrified by the sight that her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the tray. Mr. Iverson! You're injured! I'll caffa doctor to dress the wound!" "It's fine. No need for that."

The wound was completely exposed and may very likely be infected.

et In the face of such a threat, all Christopher did was lower his eyes and pick up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bedside table to put them on, as if it were not a big deal. His eyes were bloodshot, and his vision was blurry. Then he took several painkillers and swallowed them all. He followed it up by picking up another bottle of epinephrine and injected himself with it in a practiced fashion. To be precise, it was the searing pain that woke him up.

Every throb of pain he felt coursing through his body seemed to mimic the ticking of a clock, foretelling the final moments of his life on this earth. "Christopher."

He heard a deep and grave voice.

He glanced in the direction of the voice with narrowed eyes and found Jace's towering figure walking up to him.

"It's time to wake up from your fantasy. Justin and Drew have landed on the island. The Boss has given orders to evacuate Miss Thompson from the island immediately."

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2218-Christopher was absurdly calm given the circumstances. He stared intently at Bella, who was still sleeping soundly. "You can take Bella away, but not now."

A sharp look came upon Jace's eyes. "Are you going to defy the Boss's orders?"

“Like I said, you can do it, but not now." Christopher suddenly covered his mouth and coughed violently.

When he removed his hand from his mouth, he clenched his fingers which were smeared with fresh blood. "So much has happened between us, all that love and resentment… Today is the time that I will finally settle the score with Justin after drawing it out for so long. What am I to do if Bella is not by my side at such a crucial moment?"

Jace's eyebrows were locked into a tight frown. He cast a puzzled look at the madman who seemed to have lost his senses in his final hours.

"What are you going to do?"

"I know that the Boss has always had feelings toward Bella. He just was never willing to express them."

Christopher stopped coughing, then he started to slowly and gracefully button up his shirt as if this was just another ordinary day. "But like me, he will never have her heart, even if he does manage to claim her. It's all just a fantasy. Reality always wins in the end. Her heart will always belong to Justin, unless…"Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Something icy gleamed in Jace's eyes, and then he asked in a grim voice, “Unless?"

"Jace, if you do swear loyalty to the boss, I want you to do as I say."

Upon reaching this note, Christopher took Bella's hand and lowered himself to kiss the smooth back of her hand. He lovingly stroked her skin with the tips of his fingers before declaring, "Consider this my last action to repay the boss for saving my life."

The terrain of Rose Island was not as rugged as the other undeveloped islands.

Justin and Drew nimbly cut across the jungle at breakneck speed. They were agile as panthers and ferocious as a pair of tigers.

Both of them were top graduates of the military academy. Justin was especially experienced in being deployed in field operations in the wilderness.

As long as Bella had not been secretly evacuated from the island yet, it was only a matter of time before they found her.

Before they delved into the jungle, they had gotten in touch with Asher and sent him the coordinates of the island through the Sky Eye surveillance system. He had vel subsequently scanned the vicinity of the island for more intel. There were no other yachts or speedboats detected along the coast.

Even if Christopher were to put Bella on a boat to get away, he could barely get out of Sentania's seas before they locked onto his position.

In other words, his only option for escape was by using a plane.

However, the island was relatively small, and the roar of the engine would nearly instantly give away his position.

"Justin, there's a big villa up ahead!"

Drew had been scouting the area with his binoculars and spotted a white building covered with a bramble of vines burrowed deep within the jungle. Justin took the binoculars from him and scoped the same area. He could feel his heart beating like a drum against his chest, ready to burst out. "Do you think Bella and Christopher are in there?!"

Drew's eyes glowed with hope. His voice was trembling with equal agitation and hope. "We have been running around here for long enough and haven't been able to spot a building until now. This has to be it!" Justin was wearing a pair of black military gloves. He balled his hand into a fist and thumped it against his chest while calling out. "Send our location to your brother! We're going to go in there and investigate!" As soon as he spoke, both of them stiffened and stopped at the same time.

They heard the crunch of boots against snapping branches. It sounded especially eerie in the middle of the quiet jungle.

Soon, they spotted Jace, dressed in a black T-shirt, black overalls, and boots. There was a foreboding sense of doom emanating from him as he walked out of the depths of the jungle and approached the two intruders.

Every measured step he took was filled with murderous intent.

He brazenly exposed himself without the slightest consideration for stealth. It seemed as if he was completely unconcerned about Justin and Drew recognizing him.

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2219-The sheer impact of Jace's familiar face was momentous for both Drew and Justin.

Drew widened his eyes in utter disbelief. His iris quaked in his eyes as he cried out exasperatedly, "Hugh! Is that you, Hugh?!"

Jace stared at him expressionlessly, his eyes completely still.

"Drew, calm down. Take a closer look!"

Justin was just as astounded.

For his part, he had never met Wyatt's fifth son. His only encounter with this man was through a family portrait, where he could identify the handsome captain. He was able to suppress his turbulent emotions and remarked with a tense expression, "Didn't he die in a plane crash? Even after all these years, they could not find his body at all. How could he still be alive?! This person looks like Hugh, but that's all there is to it. This must be one of Christopher's tricks to stall us! Pull yourself together, Drew. Don't let yourself be fooled by such a cheap trick!"

Jace frowned upon hearing the rational deduction provided by Justin.

Another one of them. No, two of them this time.

The man named Hugh had so many relatives and friends. Despite having been dead for more than four years, there were still countless people who missed him dearly.

After his argument with Bella the other day, he searched for more information about Hugh to acquaint himself with the facts.

This was the first time he could remember himself developing such a deep interest in another person.

Soon, he found the picture of handsome Hugh dressed in a tailored uniform befitting a captain. His eyes were sharp, and he wore a handsome, beaming smile.

Upon seeing the picture, Justin felt a strange feeling surging inside him. He had a sense that there was something indescribable drawing him toward this person.

How could it be possible?

His name was Jace Bailiff, an orphan since birth who had always worked for Grant Salvador. He was a professional hitman.

The only thing Jace had in common with Hugh was their appearance.

The world was a big place. There must be many people who resembled Hugh as well.

"Justin, I grew up with all of my brothers, and I have always been closest to Hugh!"

Drew stared at the man in front of him without even daring to blink. He became so emotional that he could hardly curb his reaction. "No one knows Hugh better than me. That's him! There's no mistaking it!"

"I am not him." Jace stared at them expressionlessly, his tone neutral. "I am not the man you are talking about. Still, I suppose dying at the hands of your so-called 'brother' will offer you some solace."

Before he even finished speaking, his figure seemed to vanish before their eyes. A blur of a shadow suddenly charged toward Drew.

"Watch out!"

Justin's forehead was pouring with sweat. His hawk-like eyes were fixed on the moving target as he aimed the barrel of his gun and prepared to unload a bullet on Jace.

He placed first in shooting back in the academy and was beyond excellent at hitting moving targets.

Jace was fast as lightning, but despite that, he was confident there was a 90% chance he could gun him down.

"Justin! Don't shoot!"

Drew cried out frantically before feeling a rush of murderous intent descending upon him. Something silver gleamed before him.

A sharp dagger swiped right before his eyes and missed him by a hair's breadth.

Fortunately, Drew was a trained fighter with good instincts and dodged just in time. Otherwise, he would have been blinded.

"Drew!" Justin was stunned.

How could this man be Hugh?!

This man was a ruthless killer with nothing but murder in his eyes. He could not possibly be Hugh!

Jace did not hold back in his attack and was surprised that Drew even managed to dodge it at all.

He suddenly flashed a sadistic grin at the thought of finally encountering a formidable opponent. Without warning, the bloodthirsty tip of the dagger sliced across the air toward Drew again.

This time, Jace was aiming for the neck.

"Justin! Go!"

Drew nimbly dodged out of the way again and cried out, "His job is to stall us and buy time for Christopher! He must be trying to get Bella away from the island!I'll hold him back. Go save Bella!"

Midway through his sentence, he dodged to the other side and narrowly avoided death again!

This man, who seemed like Hugh's doppelganger, was coming at Drew with the intent to kill every time. This was not the first time Drew had encountered such a skilled fighter in his long career.

Men like this were trained to be killing machines. Every attack they initiated was lethal. They spared no fuss nor added any flair to their attacks, and every move they took was optimized to kill.

One hit was all they needed.

Despite that, Drew still had a feeling that there was a distinct lack of aggression. It seemed as if this man was not truly out to kill him.

Besides, why bother with a knife if the goal was to eliminate him?

The island was this man's territory. If he had ambushed them with a machine gun, they were bound to get hit at least once, no matter how sharp their senses were!

Justin felt a burst of emotion, and then he steeled his spirit and called out, "Hang in there, Drew! The others will get here very soon!"

Drew dodged another slash and even managed to flash an "okay" gesture at Justin.

It certainly inspired confidence.

Justin felt like his heart was about to leap out of his throat. He forced himself to calm down and ran toward the villa as fast as he could.

The Divorced Heiress Revenge Chapter 2220-Justin clenched his teeth tightly and sprinted as fast as he could.

He was charging so quickly that the bramble of sharp branches sliced against his cheeks, but he could not be bothered about the minor cuts.

He kept running to the point where his legs had been conditioned to run ahead mechanically.

The only thing that kept him going forward was his conviction to rescue Bella.

Justin could not tell how long he had been running. By the time he arrived at the entrance of the villa, his legs were trembling underneath him. Even a gentle breeze was enough to make his tall and striking figure sway.

Anyone else would have completely expired by this point and lay crumpled on the ground without the strength to get up again.

There were no guards stationed outside the villa. It was eerily quiet.

Justin took a deep breath and clenched his gun tightly.

His leather boots tapped against the white stone floor as he began to advance toward the door.

With a grave look in his eyes, Justin vigilantly pushed the door open and stepped into the luxurious living room.

His heartbeat accelerated rapidly. He had never been in such an extreme state of focus and tension.

That was when he caught a distinct scent.

It was something primal that could only be explained as intuition.

Only the most elite soldiers who had honed their natural senses and were professionally trained could develop such an acute ability to gauge the level of threat surrounding them.

Suddenly, he caught a faint glimpse of light flashing across the room.

Bang!

Without waiting for the assassin lurking in the dark to make the first move, Justin initiated first.

He knew he had to conserve his bullets, so he only fired a single shot. It was a direct hit against the sniper's forehead, whose lifeless body tipped over the railing on the second floor and fell down. Bang! Bang!

Two more gunshots rang out. Justin dodged just in time for the bullets to hit the ground at his feet.

He pranced around in the living room, using the table, wall, cabinets, and whatever he could as cover from the lurking snipers.

In the blink of an eye, the living room had transformed into a "dance floor".

Soon, more than a dozen bodies sprawled everywhere.

Justin was drenched in sweat. He clenched his jaw to sharpen his focus and swapped the magazine within two seconds.

"Justin! Save me!"

Suddenly, he heard Bella's penetrating cry echo through the concrete walls of the living room.

"Bella!"

His bloodshot pupils shrank as he felt his blood rush to his head.

"Justin… Save me…. Get me out of here!"

Bella's anguished cries cut into his heart like a sharp dagger, as if he was being skinned alive.

His chest rose and fell heavily with every drag of breath he took. His head throbbed from a combination of agitation and heartache, and his vision blurred in an instant.

Whoosh--!

"Ugh!"

Justin was thrown off by Bella's sudden cry, so he lost his focus in the heat of the moment. A sniper took advantage of the split second and managed to land a shot on his left shoulder.

A burst of red blood gushed out from the wound, followed by a searing pain that ran across Justin's body. All the color drained from his face in an instant, and he nearly slumped over.

His left shoulder had once sustained a serious injury when he was rescuing Bella in South Island.

This bullet plunged viciously into the same spot. Mere words could not describe the pain.

However, he had no time to care about the pain. He fired three scattered shots in the direction where the bullet came from.

The final foe was gunned down right then and there.

"Heh… Hahaha!"

This time, it was no longer Bella's frantic cry but Christopher's familiar and sinister sneer. His voice was rabid, filled with angst and madness. "I knew it! The only way to get to you is by using Bella. She is the only one that can throw you out of your focus and disorient you. I should have used her against you first. That way I wouldn't have lost a dozen of my men."

The voice he heard just now was not Bella's.

It was Christopher who used an intricate device to fabricate Bella's voice. It was just as he claimed, Bella was Justin's only weakness. She was the only one who could distract him!

He had walked right into the trap.

"Christopher, you sneaky rat! Quit hiding in the darkness and come out here to face me!"

Despite blood still oozing out of the fresh wound on his shoulder, Justin stood upright and composed himself. "You have been hiding in the darkness all your life. Are you still going to keep doing that at such a critical moment? Come on out and settle this once and for all!"

"I was with Bella just now, so I didn't have time to deal with you."

Christopher smiled mockingly. "That's why I had my men arrange a welcome ceremony for you. How was it? Did you like it?"

The sheer mention of "I was with Bella" made every nerve and muscle twitch inside Justin's body. All his veins bulged to the surface as he roared. "Christopher! Give Bella back to me!"