Chapter 19 

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Chapter 19 

The abandoned chemical plant reeked of acrid fumes. 

Adrianna was bound to a rusted iron chair, her wrists raw and bleeding from the ropes. 

She stared at the deranged Cecilia with unnerving calm. “You won’t get away with this.” 

“Shut up!” Cecilia’s hand shot up, her nails raking three bloody lines across Adrianna’s cheek. “When Derick arrives, I’ll make sure you both die together!” 

Behind her, five burly men were wiring explosives. One of them asked nervously, “Ms. Reed, I thought we were just kidnapping her?” 

Cecilia pulled a thick wad of cash from her bag and threw it on the floor. “Take the money and keep quiet, or die here and now. Your choice.” 

Adrianna’s pupils constricted sharply. The bag of C4 at Cecilia’s feet was enough to flatten the entire factory. 

The roar of an engine grew louder as a black SUV crashed through the iron gate. 

The moment the car door was kicked open, gunshots rang out. 

Derick dodged the bullets, then fired a shot over his shoulder, striking the armed assailant’s knee. Fresh blood smeared his face, a clear sign of the brutal fight he had endured to get here. 

“Derick!” Cecilia screamed, grabbing Adrianna and pressing a dagger to her throat. “One more move and 

I’ll slash her face!” 

Without hesitation, Derick threw his gun away. 

Adrianna struggled violently. “Are you crazy? Run! She’s got explosives-” 

Cecilia pressed her hand firmly over her mouth, the dagger carving a bloody line across Adrianna’s cheek. “Such loyalty, Mr. Ashford.” 

She kicked the detonator at her feet. “Kneel and beg me, and I’ll let her live.” 

Derick’s eyes darkened, but he truly dropped to one knee. 

“Not enough,” Cecilia laughed maniacally. “I want you to beg!” 

Tears welled in Adrianna’s eyes as she shook her head desperately, a sob caught in her throat. 

Derick slowly bent down. 

Just as his forehead was about to touch the ground, a gunshot cracked through the air. 

Cecilia’s wrist, clutching the knife, exploded in a burst of blood. Derick sprang to his feet and yanked Adrianna into his arms. 

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“Watch out!” Adrianna suddenly screamed. 

As Derick turned, a long knife plunged into his back, piercing his chest. 

Warm, sticky blood sprayed across Adrianna’s face. 

She watched as Derick staggered but stood firm in front of her, firing three shots that killed the assailant. 

“Derick!” Adrianna clung to his weakening body, her voice trembling with desperation. “Why did you come? 

Derick leaned against the wall, blood foaming at the corner of his mouth. His trembling hand reached up to brush her cheek as he gave a faint, tired smile. “Because… You’re my fiancée.” 

Police sirens wailed in the distance. Cecilia screamed and lunged for the detonator. 

Summoning his last ounce of strength, Derick raised his gun. 

The bullet struck Cecilia’s shoulder with deadly precision. She screamed and collapsed to the ground. 

Derick’s hand fell limply to his side. 

In the hospital corridor, Adrianna sat like a statue outside the ICU. 

She was still wearing blood-stained clothes, her hands trembling uncontrollably. 

“Will he die?” she asked suddenly. 

Yannick, his eyes red-rimmed, shook his head. “Have some trust in Mr. Ashford. And you’re still here…” 

Adrianna glanced down at the dried blood on her palm. 

When she died in her past life, was he just as terrified, just as devastated? 

On the morning of the seventh day, the monitor suddenly beeped urgently. 

Adrianna jolted awake from her drowsiness and saw Derick’s fingers twitching. 

“Doc-” Her voice was hoarse and barely audible, so she frantically pressed the call button. 

Derick slowly opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused at first before finally settling on her weary face. 

Tears streamed down Adrianna’s cheeks, falling onto the back of his hand. 

He struggled to lift his hand, his fingertip gently brushing her reddened eyes. “So ugly…” 

Adrianna laughed through her tears, grasping his hand and pressing it to her cheek. “You’re the ugly one! You got stabbed in the chest, and you’re still trying to act cool!” 

Derick’s oxygen mask fogged, and he barely moved his finger. 

Adrianna leaned closer, catching his weak whisper. “If… In this life, I still lose to them… Would you regret choosing me?” 

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Adrianna shook her head, tears soaking the white sheets. “In my past life, you held me when I died. This life, I’ll only live for you.” 

Suddenly, the heart monitor’s line surged wildly. 

Doctors rushed in, only to be struck silent by the scene before them. 

The usually stoic head of Ashford Corporation was tightly clutching the hand of the Quinnen family heiress, tears streaming down his face. 

A month later, Derick stood by the hospital window, peeling off his bandages. 

Adrianna wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek against the scar on his back. 

“The doctor said you can be discharged today.” 

“Hm.” 

“James was sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder.” 

“Hm.” 

“Cecilia was declared mentally unstable and sent to a psychiatric hospital.” 

“Hm.” 

Frustrated, Adrianna pinched his waist. “Mr. Ashford, is that really all you have to say?” 

Derick suddenly turned, pressing her against the floor-to-ceiling window. Sunlight filtered through his broad shoulders, casting dappled shadows over her. 

“Adrianna,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss her. “Let’s go home.”