All Chapters of A Divorce She Regrets: Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
56 chapters
CHAPTER 31
James drove like a man possessed.The military vehicle weaved through traffic, sirens blaring, lights flashing. Other cars pulled aside quickly when they saw the military insignia.Ethan sat in the passenger seat, his phone pressed to his ear."Mrs. Kim, is the ambulance still there?" he asked."Yes! They are loading her now. She keeps asking for you. She is so scared, Mr. Cross.""Tell her I am coming. Tell her I will be there in five minutes."He ended the call.James glanced at him. "We will make it."Ethan said nothing. His jaw was tight, his hands clenched into fists.They arrived at City General Hospital in four minutes.The ambulance was parked at the emergency entrance, paramedics rushing Lily inside on a stretcher.Ethan was out of the vehicle before it fully stopped.He ran to the stretcher. "Lily!"Her eyes were closed. Her face was pale, covered in sweat. Her breathing was shallow and rapid."Sir, are you family?" one of the paramedics asked."I am her brother.""She has a
CHAPTER 32
Ethan stepped into the hospital corridor, his phone pressed to his ear. "Why will they not sell?" he asked. Harrison sighed heavily on the other end. "Because the Drake family runs the second-largest herbal medicine empire in the country. They have been our direct competitors for over thirty years." "Competitors," Ethan repeated. "Not enemies." "In business, there is often little difference," Harrison said. "We compete for the same markets, the same suppliers, the same government contracts. Every deal they win, we lose. Every deal we win, they lose." Ethan walked toward the window at the end of the hallway. Outside, the city stretched into the distance, lights flickering in the darkness. "But it is more than just business," Harrison continued. "Lord Edmund Drake hates me personally." "Why?" "Fifteen years ago, the government awarded me a knighthood for my contributions to traditional medicine research. I was recognized nationally. Honored by the prime minister himself." Harri
CHAPTER 33
The military vehicle left the hospital parking lot at five in the morning.The sun had not risen yet. The city was dark except for streetlights and the occasional lit window.Ethan sat in the back seat. James was in the front passenger seat. A soldier named Davis drove. Three other elite soldiers sat in a second vehicle following close behind.Nobody spoke for the first hour.James had made calls throughout the night. Arranged the escort. Cleared schedules. Made sure everything was ready.Now they were moving.The highway stretched ahead, mostly empty at this hour. They passed a few trucks, some early commuters heading to work. Otherwise, the road belonged to them."Six hours to Black Wind Ridge," James said, breaking the silence. "Maybe less if traffic stays light."Ethan nodded but said nothing.James turned slightly in his seat. "The Drake family has private security throughout the area. Armed. Well-trained. Expect resistance.""How many?" Ethan asked."Unknown. But enough to secur
CHAPTER 34
The four guards at the gate shifted their positions, weapons no longer slung casually across their chests but held ready in their hands. Not aimed directly at James or Ethan yet, but the message was clear. James's expression darkened. "You are threatening a military officer?" The older guard with gray temples kept his voice steady. "We are defending private property, sir. Mr. Vincent Drake has instructed us to deny entry to anyone without authorization. That includes military personnel." "I could have you arrested for obstruction," James said. "You could try, sir. But you would need local law enforcement cooperation. And I think you will find that difficult to obtain in this region." James knew the man was right. Harrison had warned him. The Drake family owned the local authorities here. Ethan stepped forward, moving past James. The guards tensed, fingers tightening on their weapons. Ethan raised his hands slightly, showing he was unarmed. "I am not here to cause problems. I j
CHAPTER 35
The eight martial guards moved as one, surrounding Ethan in a tight semicircle.They were professionals. You could see it in how they positioned themselves, spacing evenly, covering angles, blocking escape routes.One of them held a collapsible staff. Another had his hands wrapped in leather strips. The others relied on their training, their bodies honed into weapons through years of practice.Vincent stepped back, crossing his arms, confident. "Try not to kill him. Just break a few bones."The guards attacked simultaneously.Ethan did not retreat.Did not dodge.He advanced.The first guard came from the front, staff already extended, swinging hard toward Ethan's head. A blow meant to incapacitate, maybe kill if it landed wrong.Ethan's hand shot up.He caught the staff mid-swing. His grip was iron.The guard's eyes widened in shock—nobody should be able to stop a full-force swing like that—and then Ethan twisted.The staff snapped. Just broke in half like it was made of cheap plasti
CHAPTER 36
The gunfire came from the forest. Not single shots. Automatic weapons. Dozens of them, firing in coordinated bursts. The gate guards dove for cover behind their posts. Vincent Drake dropped to the ground, covering his head with his hands.James shouted to his soldiers. "Defensive positions! Return fire!" The four soldiers moved immediately, using the military vehicles as cover, weapons up and ready. More explosions. Closer now. Trees splintered. The ground shook. From the forest emerged figures in black tactical gear. Not Drake family security. These were different. Professional. Military-grade equipment. Moving with precision that only came from real combat experience. Mercenaries. James's eyes narrowed. "Poison Scorpion syndicate! Take cover!" Ethan did not take cover. He moved toward the attackers. "Ethan!" James shouted. "Get down!" But Ethan was already running. Not away from the gunfire. Toward it. Bullets tore through the air around him. You could hear them, sharp c
CHAPTER 37
Ethan stayed crouched behind Claire's car, his mind working rapidly. The ring. How did they know about it? The old man in prison had given it to him three years into his sentence. A simple silver band with strange markings etched into the metal. The old man had said nothing about what it meant, only that Ethan should keep it safe and tell no one. Ethan had left it at home, hidden in a place only he knew. He stood slowly, hands visible, and called out toward the forest. "I do not have any ring!" He was not lying. The ring was miles away, safe. Movement in the trees. Then a figure emerged. The man wore black tactical gear like the others, but his equipment was different. Better. Military-grade body armor, multiple weapons, a helmet with a darkened visor that hid his face completely. The syndicate leader. He held a rifle in one hand and a megaphone in the other. "Then we will tear this place apart until we find it!" His voice boomed across the estate. Behind Ethan, James was
CHAPTER 38
The rocket hit the building's upper floor. The explosion was massive. Fire and debris erupted outward, shattering windows, ripping through walls. The concussive force knocked Vincent Drake flat on his back even from fifty yards away. Ethan was closer. Much closer. He reached the building just as the explosion detonated. The shockwave hit him like a physical wall but he did not stop. He dove through a ground-floor window, glass shattering around him, landing hard on the floor inside. The building groaned. Structural supports damaged. Parts of the upper floor collapsing inward. Smoke filled the air. Thick and black. Ethan pulled his shirt over his mouth and nose, moved deeper inside. "Help!" A voice. Female. Young. Panicked. "Please! Someone!" Ethan followed the sound. He found her in what looked like a sitting room. The ceiling had partially collapsed. A massive wooden beam had fallen, pinning a young woman to the floor. She could not have been more than twenty. Short black ha
CHAPTER 39
Ethan emerged from the building, the Celestial Frost Orchid in one hand, the folded document tucked securely in his pocket.The fire was spreading but James's soldiers had already begun containment efforts, using extinguishers from their vehicles.Vincent Drake stood near his sister, watching Ethan approach.When Ethan passed him, Vincent stepped forward."Wait."Ethan stopped.Vincent's arrogance was gone. His expensive suit was ruined, covered in dirt and ash. His perfectly styled hair was a mess. But it was his expression that had changed most. No more contempt. No more mockery.Just grudging respect."You only took one herb when you could have taken everything."Ethan met his gaze steadily. "I am not a thief. I only need what I need."Vincent studied him for a long moment. "Most people would have taken more. Those herbs are worth millions.""I am not most people."Vincent almost smiled. Almost. "No. You are not."He pulled out his phone, his hands still shaking slightly from the a
CHAPTER 40
Ethan rushed to Lily's room, Dr. Hoffman following close behind. Lily was unconscious, her face pale, machines beeping frantically. Her breathing was shallow and rapid. The monitors showed her vitals dropping. "Her organs are failing," Dr. Hoffman said. "We have maybe an hour." "I have the herbs," Ethan said. "All three." Dr. Hoffman stared at him. "You got them?" "Yes. I need to treat her now." "Mr. Cross, we have protocols—" "She will die if I wait." Dr. Hoffman looked at Lily's monitors. The numbers were getting worse. She nodded. "Fine." Ethan pulled out the three herbs Harrison had given him, plus the Celestial Frost Orchid from Black Wind Ridge. He worked quickly, grinding them into powder using a mortar and pestle Dr. Hoffman provided. Mixed them with exact measurements. Added distilled water, creating a paste. Then he pulled out a small leather case from his jacket. Inside were silver acupuncture needles. Dr. Hoffman watched, fascinated. "You practice acu