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Chapter 11
Elijah slammed the gas pedal all the way down, driving like his life depended on it as he sped home. He didn’t even bother changing out of his blood–stained clothes. His eyes were red, and he snatched the item from Dominic’s hands.
The banner showed the exact same time and place as the day he had fallen into the river.
Elijah’s hands trembled as he pulled out his phone and dialed the police station that had issued the banner. As he waited for someone to pick up, it felt like his heart had stopped.
Finally, the call went through. His voice was hoarse and shaky as he asked, “I’d like to confirm, did you issue a banner for saving someone 15 years ago?”
After a few clicks of keys on the other end, the officer replied, “Yes, I gave that banner to the girl myself. I never expected someone so young to be so brave. The person she saved was the son of a wealthy family. I even saw him on TV a few days ago… What was his name again?”
Elijah’s nails dug deep into his palms, then he blurted out, “Elijah.”
“Yes, that’s the name,” the officer said.
His mind went completely blank. Avery–the one who had saved his life–had been by his side all along, and he had mistaken her.
Elijah gritted his teeth as the metallic taste of blood spread through his mouth.
After hanging up, the world around him darkened, and familiar objects in his house began to blur. He hit his head hard to force his eyes open and picked up the document.
But the moment he saw what was on the page, he collapsed.
He curled up on the ground, feeling every muscle and organ ache. Tears of regret streaked his
face.
Avery had never loved him, yet he had fallen for her completely without even realizing it. What could he do now?
He lay alone on the floor deep into the night, lost in thought. When he finally made sense of everything, he said with resolve, “Avery, once I have avenged you, I will come for you. I will make you love me.”
Meanwhile, news of Walter’s kidnapping spread like wildfire overnight. People argued about whether it was for money or revenge.
Walter was trapped on a ship in international waters with Lara.
They were both thrown onto the deck, while Elijah sat at the bow with a dark expression.
Chapter 11
“Elijah, what are you doing?” Walter demanded, unsure what he had done to anger him.
After what had happened last time, Lara didn’t dare speak. She trembled and curled up on the deck, terrified that Elijah might lose control and throw her overboard for the sharks.
Elijah let out a cold laugh. He rose, looming over Walter like a dark shadow. Without hesitation, he dropped two knives to the deck. Lara immediately crumpled, sobbing in fear.
If this had been the past, he would have held her close, comforting her and granting her every request. But now, his eyes held nothing but disgust.
“Both of you betrayed Avery,” he said. “Today, I’m going to avenge her.”
A cruel idea flickered in his mind, and a dark smile curved his lips. “Your blood is too dirty. I don’t want Avery to see it and get angry, so you’ll settle this yourselves. Whoever loses today will be thrown into the water. Whether the sharks eat you or not, that’s on you.”
Walter suddenly realized what Elijah intended–they were being forced to fight each other to the death. Rage coursed through him, and he shouted, “How can you do this to me? What do you mean I betrayed Avery? What about you? Aren’t you the one who should be dying here?”
He continued, “I only refused her love, but you hurt her and left her covered in wounds. What right do you have to avenge her?”
Elijah froze for a moment, then leaned down and grabbed Walter by the throat. “She loves you. If you die, then she’ll have no choice but to love me.”
Walter froze, stunned by the madness before him. “If I die, Avery will hate you forever.”
Elijah suddenly laughed. “And what’s wrong with that? It’s better than her not caring about me at all.”
Then his face went cold. “Now, begin.”
Walter opened his mouth to argue, but Lara suddenly lunged at him with a knife. He dodged just in time, though the blade still nicked him, sending cold sweat down his back. He grabbed
the other knife without hesitation.
Half an hour later, both Lara and Walter were drenched in blood. They panted heavily, waiting for the other to strike again.
Lara’s strength couldn’t match Walter’s. Seizing the moment when she faltered, Walter lunged, driving his knife deep into her side. Blood spurted, splashing across his face.
Lara cried out and collapsed.
Elijah clapped slowly as he stepped over her, teasingly nudging her with his toe. “What a worthless thing.”
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The guards dragged Lara up and threw her into the endless sea. Blood spread across the water, quickly attracting sharks.
Walter watched in horror, yet his lifelong selfishness kept him from saying a word of plea.
Lara’s consciousness was fading fast. She thrashed, trying to get free from the sharks, but their jaws clamped down, tearing her broken body apart like a piece of tattered cloth.
“Elijah! Please, save me!” she cried out, begging for mercy.
Elijah didn’t move.
Just when she thought she was about to die, she finally heard his voice.
“Pull her back up. Don’t kill her. I still need her to come with me to pick up Ave.”
Chapter 12
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Chapter 12
