Clutching his abdomen,he coughed up a mouthful of blood,yet he continued to gaze at Brandon with unwavering determination.”It’s my fault.I was overwhelmed when I received your message.I unintentionally let Corinne in on it,so she secretly joined me,leading to this grave mistake.”
Stepping on Harrell’s chest,Brandon looked down at him with a murderous glare and declared,”I don’t want an explanation,I want Corinne’s life!”
He sneered,”No,that’s not enough.If anything happens to Natalie,I will slowly torture Corinne to death!”
Wide-eyed in shock,Harrell stared at Brandon’s cruel face,consumed by despair He knew Brandon would keep his word.Ifanything happened to Natalie,no one could save Corinne.
After giving Harrell a cold glance,Brandon turned around and left.
As soon as Brandon stepped out,Harrell suddenly stood up,wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth,and smiled.”Brandon,I saved your life once.”
Brandon halted.
Holding his chest,Harrell leaned against the wall and spoke slowly.”You owe me,so I’m asking you to spare Corinne this time.”
After a moment of silence,Brandon turned around, entered the fitting room,and changed his clothes. Before leaving,he looked at Harrell and asked,”Is it worth it?”
Harrell didn’t answer.It wasn’t until Brandon departed that he bitterly smiled and muttered,”Is it worth it?I don’t know.I just know I can’t refuse any of Corinne’s requests …”
In the hall,Corinne awkwardly rose from the floor, intending to chase after Brandon.
At that moment,Britton,who had been listening to music,glanced at her and snapped,”Stop.Are you not ashamed?”
As she gazed at Brandon’s retreating figure, Corinne wept.”Grandpa,I can’t watch him die …”
She suddenly turned around and knelt before Britton.”Grandpa,please stop the boxing match!I don’t want Brandon to die!I don’t want him to die!” Staring at his tearful granddaughter,Britton showed no pity.Instead,he said sternly,”Do you still remember your identity?”
Corinne dropped her gaze,a river of tears tracing its course down her cheeks.”I understand.I do.“ she whispered through the heartache.”But Brandon and l..Weve grown alongside each other since childhood.Can’t you see how I feel about him…?”
A disdainful snort escaped Britton.”You’re my flesh and blood,Corinne.A scion of the Darkmoon Assassin Group.Our interests,our mission,must always come before your personal sentiments. Your emotions,especially those towards any man, have no place here.And truth be told,Brandon harbors no such affection for you!”
His blunt words cut through Corinne like a serrated blade,leaving her wounded.She offered him a desolate look,and her words dipped with surrender.”Grandpa,I understand…But must you be so unyielding?You were Brandon’s mentor. Didn’t you once admire him?”
Her voice hitched,choking on the lump in her throat.”Why,then,can you so callously condemn him to the underground boxing ring,forcing him to fight for his life?Haven’t you ever envisioned him leading Darkmoon?”
Britton sneered,his eyes tracking Brandon’s retreating silhouette.”I once saw a future with him as my successor,which is why l lavished him with opportunities.But what did he give me in return?” His tone took a chilingly ruthless turn.”He committed the highest act of treason against our organization!Has he forgotten who lifted him from the depths of obscurity?If it weren’t for me,he’d be long dead!l offered him a chance,alifeline,yet he threw it away with both hands.If he doesn’t want to return to us,then let him exchange his life for our best interests.”
Corinne was petrified,her words failing her in the face of Britton’s fury He regarded her sternly,his warning ringing clear. “You’re my granddaughter,Corinne.Don’t let your personal feelings compromise the well-being of our group.Do I make myself clear?”
Under the formidable glare of Britton,Corinne meekly nodded,her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes,Grandpa.”
The Darkmoon Assassin Group had an arena as big as a football field in its underground headquarters.
There were hundreds of spectators surrounding the arena,each of them staring intently at the boxers on stage with their bloodshot eyes, cheering wildly.
Brandon furrowed his brows slightly at the sound of the cheers.
It seemed as if everything remained unchanged. How frustrating Brandon was Darkmoon arena’s former best boxer. He had defeated countless opponents,helping Britton to win one bet after another.
He thought he could leave Darkmoon for good. Never did he expect to be back to fight and entertain the audience.
Brandon felt restless from the contempt he felt from re entering the arena as he gazed fixedly at Brandon’s coat soaked in blood,Corinne exclaimed in distress,”Brandon,your injury is getting worse. We need to tend to it immediately!”
Brandon ignored her and got into the driver’s seat. Corinne was angry and helpless as she stood in front of the car,shouting,”How do you plan to save someone in your current state?You might even faint from blood loss before finding Jeremy!” Brandon turned on the ignition and glared at Corrine coldly.”Get out of the way,”he warned.
However,Corinne ignored the warning.She shook her head and implored,”I won’t let you leave until you get your wounds bandaged.”
Brandon gripped the steering wheel tightly,trying to restrain his temper.”I won’t repeat myself for the third time.Get out of the way!”he growled.
Harrell felt his head aching as he watched the stubborn pair from the side.He pulled Corinne and said in concern,”Corinne,you know Brandon’s temperament.You should let him go.”
“How can he save Natalie in that state?If he plans to go without treating his wounds,he needs to run over me first!”Corinne argued as she locked her immediately got up and pounced at Brandon.
This time,Brandon didn’t dodge.He let his opponent close in and fought him head-on.
He was running out of time as Natalie’s life was in danger.The faster he defeated his opponent,the higher the chance of rescuing Natalie from Jeremy. In a blink of an eye,several rounds were fought. Amidst the audience’s thunderous applause, Brandon finally landed a decisive punch on his opponent’s temple,knocking him out cold.
Brandon leaned on the ropes,trying to catch his breath.Only when he calmed down did he feel the pain in his arm.The pain was like a tearing sensation,making it hard for him to breathe.
However,he did not rest for long.He soon picked up his jacket and strode out of the arena.
Fresh blood streamed down his left arm,dripping onto the floor as he walked.
Brandon paid no attention to his wound and went straight for his car instead.Just as he was about to get into the car,Corinne and a doctor stopped him.
Seeing the bloodstains on the ground and Harrell stayed silent.
He knew she was lying.When Brandon’s car had charged towards her earlier,she had trembled in sheer terror.
She made such declarations only to keep him from getting involved in her trouble again.
“Brandon!”As the car sped away,Corinne stomped her feet in frustration.“That woman will be the death of you yet!”
Harrell hobbled to his feet,cradling his injured arm, he sighed.”Weve known him for years,don’t you understand the kind of person he is?He’s a stubborn one.”
Corinne spun around,ready to berate him but seeing his bleeding arm,she bit her tongue.
Instead,she turned her ire towards the dazed doctor.”What are you waiting for?Attend to his wounds!Can’t you see he’s hurt?”
Harrell gave a weak smile.”It’s nothing.”
His words sparked a flare of anger in Corinne. “Why did you dash in and pull me away?Are you seeking death?Do you even realize how dangerous that was?”
“If I hadn’t,you’d be the one in danger,”Harrell replied helplessly,as he let the doctor attend to his injuries.
Corinne scoffed,”I don’t believe he’d dare to hit me!” Seeing Corinne’s stubborn expression,Harrell sighed in resignation.
Once the doctor left,he glanced at the blood- stained bandage on his arm.After a moment’s hesitation,he voiced out,”Brandon knows.”
Corinne froze,pretending ignorance.“What?”
Harrell dropped his gaze and calmly stated,”Don’t feign ignorance.We’ve known each other long enough,I know you’re an expert shot.When you shot at Jeremy,you deliberately missed,enabling him to escape with Natalie,didn’t you?”
Corinne paled.
When she had aimed at Jeremy,she’d intentionally shifted her sight just a bit.Given the darkness,it wasn’t unusual for her to miss.Corinne was sure no one would discover the truth.
How had Brandon found out?
Corinne swiftly looked up at Harrell,fear lending sharpness to her voice.”How could Brandon have found out?Did you tell him?Are you trying to sow discord between Brandon and me?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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