2026-10-27 07:06:28Evening had already descended when Cornell Bateman drove a military Hummer H2 down the road toward the docks, Hannah Beatty seated beside him.
Sweat seeped from his palms, dampening the steering wheel cover bit by bit. As the hours ticked by since Maria Sten's abduction, the tension coiling inside Cornell wound tighter and tighter, threatening to snap. His knuckles whitened against the wheel, every second stretching unbearably long."Please be safe, Maria," he whispered under his br
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Chapter 055
Cornell was exhausted. Without explaining anything further, he returned to his room, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep immediately.When he emerged the next morning, he found Maria already sitting on the sofa in the living room. She had gradually begun to recover from the pain of losing General Sten, but now a new burden weighed on her. The company's troubles had replaced grief with worry, her face clouded with anxiety, tension visible in the way her fingers worried at the edge of a document folder resting in her lap.The moment she noticed Cornell, the troubled expression vanished. Her features settled back into their usual cool composure, distant and guarded.After a quiet breakfast, Maria changed into a fitted blazer and prepared to drive to Sterling Group. Cornell found his bicycle and got ready to follow, but she stopped him at the door."I'm not the president of Sterling Group anymore," she said flatly. "You should leave."Cornell saw through her
Chapter 054
The thug kept trying to stab Cornell, and kept getting slapped for it.After a full minute, his face had swollen into a grotesque mess, his movements sluggish and unsteady as if he were drunk. The other thug stood frozen, staring at Cornell with naked terror in his eyes."Get lost. Now."Cornell's voice cut through the night. Both thugs dropped Maria's purse and scrambled away, stumbling over themselves in their haste to escape before he changed his mind.In the car afterward, Maria said nothing. Her silence filled the space between them, heavy with unspoken grief.The cemetery behind the hospital was a sea of black. Hundreds of people stood in somber rows, white flowers pinned to their chests. Some were members of the Sten family itself. Others were businessmen eager to curry favor with the clan. And of course, there were military officers, including several major generals. Their presence alone spoke volumes about General Sten's reputation within the armed
Chapter 053
Maria was walking toward them. The moment she spotted the guard sprawled on the ground and Cornell surrounded by the security detail, she understood exactly what had happened.Anger simmered beneath her calm exterior, but watching Cornell strike down Uncle Edmund's men brought a rush of satisfaction. But the realization chilled her. Now that General Sten had been murdered, no one could rein in her uncle anymore. Edmund would come after her openly, with no restraint and no regard for consequences. He wouldn't have to answer to anyone.That was what worried her most. The protection her grandfather had provided was gone, and with it, any illusion of safety.The moment Maria arrived, the guards backed off. They retreated to the sides, their faces tight with frustration, watching helplessly as Cornell climbed into Maria's car and drove away. None of them dared move with her standing there.Outside the hospital entrance, Edmund emerged from the building, his face twist
Chapter 052
The lobby of the Grand Royale Hotel was quiet, save for the soft hum of conversation from scattered guests.Maria Sten sat upright on one of the leather sofas, wearing a purple coat that complemented her composed posture. Though worry lines marked her brow, they did little to soften the cold detachment in her eyes. A few flashily dressed young men from wealthy families had considered approaching her, their gazes lingering, but one look at her icy stare had been enough to send them elsewhere.Cornell Bateman settled into the chair across from her without a word.Maria's brow furrowed immediately. Her tone was flat, edged with disapproval. "Who told you to sit? I'm your employer. Don't you understand basic courtesy? Just because you saved me at the harbor doesn't mean you can act however you please in front of me."General Sten's sudden death had left Maria's mood dark and brittle. She had been standing by the window, staring down at the street below, anxiety knott
Chapter 051
Cornell Bateman still remembered the time Hannah Beatty had turned her gun on him in a fit of rage, forcing him to apologize. Wounded as he was, he had no intention of provoking Hannah into doing something she might regret.As his thoughts drifted to their current predicament, Cornell's expression grew somber. Gritting his teeth against the bone-deep pain radiating through his body, he forced himself upright. Every movement sent fresh waves of agony through his injuries, but he pushed through it."Thanks, Hannah. You took good care of me, and I'm feeling much better now," he said, his voice tight. "But I need to see General Sten. Right now."After a full night's rest, his strength had returned considerably. His priority was confirming the General's condition, no matter the cost."You can't go." Hannah reached out to steady him, her grip firm on his shoulder. "Edmund Sten isn't an idiot. He won't let you anywhere near General Sten. He'll have people waiting for yo
Chapter 050
"Bear with me."Hannah Beatty furrowed her brow as she pressed the blade into Cornell Bateman's mangled wound, carefully working to extract the bullet lodged inside. Without anesthesia, this kind of flesh-cutting agony tested the limits of human endurance. Several times, Cornell nearly passed out from the pain.When it came to field extraction, Hannah had no experience. She fumbled with the knife for nearly a minute, yet still hadn't managed to remove the bullet. Cornell could barely hold on anymore. Sweat soaked through his clothes, clinging to his skin."Cornell, I..." Watching him suffer like this, Hannah began to blame herself. Tears welled up in her eyes as panic made her clumsy hands even more unsteady. What had started as a small wound was now a gaping gash, blood flowing freely."Don't rush. Take your time," Cornell said, forcing a smile despite the agony.Hannah took a deep breath, willing herself to focus. She steadied her nerves and resumed the ex
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