Chapter 24
“You two…”
Lennox stared at the pair in the doorway, too shocked to speak.
Suri had already rushed forward, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the exit: “No time to explain–we need to leave now!”
Lennox was dragged forward as Lucas flanked them, blocking the servants who tried to approach.
“What’s going on? Suri, how did you end up coming with him?” Lennox asked while running.
“After getting your SOS message, I immediately had people investigate and found out Hayes brought you to this island.”
Suri spoke rapidly. “But I didn’t have enough manpower to rescue you from under Hayes‘ nose. That’s when he showed up, said he knew you and wanted to cooperate.”
She shot Lennox a knowing look, her tone teasing: “Not bad–where’d you meet this golden boy?”
“He’s heir to old European nobility. Without his private armed forces, we probably wouldn’t be standing here today.”
“What?”
Lennox froze. She’d always thought Lucas was just an ordinary person who liked pottery–she never imagined he had such a background.
Just as the three reached the helicopter, urgent footsteps sounded behind them.
Hayes returned with a group of bodyguards, his black coat whipping in the sea breeze, his face covered in frost.
“Len, come here.”
His gaze locked onto Lennox, who was protected behind Lucas.
Lennox instinctively shrank further behind Lucas, who calmly stepped forward half a pace, completely shielding her.
“Breaking into someone else’s territory to steal people–not very honorable, is it?”
Hayes looked at Lucas with undisguised hostility.
“Lennox doesn’t belong to anyone.” Lucas‘ tone was firm. “You illegally detained her, violating the law. I’m just here to take her away.”
“Leave her, and I’ll let you go.”
Hayes waved his hand, and his bodyguards immediately formed a semi–circle around them. “Otherwise, you all stay here.”
Lennox’s heart leaped to her throat, her grip on Suri’s hand tightening.
“Suri, we…”
Before she could finish, a roar came from the sky. Three helicopters broke through the clouds, blinding searchlights shining directly on Hayes.
A cold warning voice came through the loudspeaker: “Ground personnel drop your weapons immediately and submit to inspection!”
Lucas looked at Hayes, a cold smile curving his lips: “You really thought we came here alone?”
Hayes‘ face instantly turned ashen.
15:21
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A Billion–Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances. Mr. Ex
Chapter 24
He couldn’t lose Lennox–absolutely not!
Once she left, she’d never come hack.
A crazed thought flashed in his eyes. He suddenly pulled a gun from his waist, the black barrel pointing straight at Lucas.
“Len, come here! Or I’ll take him to hell with me!”
“No!” Lennox burst out from behind Lucas, blocking him. “Hayes, if you’re going to shoot, kill me first!”
Hayes‘ gun hand trembled violently, the barrel wavering between them as tears finally rolled from his bloodshot eyes:
“Do you have to leave? Won’t you give me even one last chance?”
“Yes.” Lennox’s voice was unwavering.
Hayes looked at her resolute expression, feeling like his heart was being torn open.
He suddenly turned the gun on himself, pressing it to his temple, a tragic smile twisting his lips: “Fine. I’ll fulfill your wish.”
Bang-
The gunshot echoed across the empty estate, painful to the ears.
Hayes fell straight back, blood spreading across the grass.
Lennox stood frozen, only a buzzing in her ears, everything before her blurring.
“Don’t look, Len!” Lucas quickly covered her eyes, forcing her to turn away. “Let the police handle this. We’re leaving.”
Suri also grabbed her arm, her voice choked: “Let’s go, Len. We’re going home.”
Like a puppet, Lennox was half–carried, half–supported onto the helicopter.
As the aircraft lifted off, she looked down through the porthole. She could only see a group of people surrounding Hayes, that glaring red particularly vivid against the green lawn. As they climbed higher, it gradually shrank to a blurry dot.
“Are you okay?”
Lucas‘ voice sounded beside her ear, cautious.
Lennox slowly shook her head, but her eyes reddened uncontrollably.
Images from many years ago suddenly flashed through her mind.
She’d been locked in the attic punishment room by her father.
In the darkness, teenage Hayes had kicked down the door, reaching out his hand against the light: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here–no one can hurt you.”
Back then, he’d been the light in her life.
But later, that light became the fire that burned her.
The helicopter passed through the clouds, sunlight streaming through the porthole onto her face. Lennox closed her eyes and whispered in her heart:
“Goodbye, Hayes.”
In this life, they were even.
15:21
A Billion–Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances, Mr. Ex
