Silly Bride Chapter 265
Chapter 265
Winnie thought staying inside the car was boring, so she decided to stay outside for a little longer.She
reckoned Xavier would get out of the car to look for her after sensing she was gone for some
time.However, she didn’t expect to hear Xavier and Christopher’s voices so soon.Therefore, after they
were done discussing, she immediately turned around and waved at Xavier.Although the moon was not
visible that night, the lights from the twinkling stars adorning the night skyyered the ground with a
silver glow.As they weren’t very far apart, Xavier could vaguely see Winnie grinning at him in a rxed
and carefree manner.At that instant, a thought popped into his mind. I’m sure she isn’t cheating on me.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be smiling at me like that.Feeling the heavy burden lifted off his chest, Xavier
hastened in her direction.He realized regardless of his state of mind, whether he was feeling angry,
restless, happy, or rxed, nothing could ever impede him from wanting to be reunited with her.He
strode forward and arrived next to her in no time. Without uttering a word, Xavier pulled Winnie into his
embrace.She rubbed her face affectionately against his chest and looked up at him. “What’s the
matter? I notice you like to hug me this way recently.”“Hm.” He held her tighter. “It’s nothing. I just feel
like doing it. Why are you out here enjoying the breeze by yourself without asking me to apany
you?”“That’s because I know you wille looking for me.” Winnie held his hand as she smiled.
“Come sit with me.”“Okay.” Holding her in his arms, Xavier sat down on the grass. He asked her, “What
did you talk about with Christopher earlier?” Winnie nced at him.“Why do you ask? Don’t tell me
you’re jealous again. I risked my life to rescue him this time, so he thanked me and asked about how I
was doing. We also discussed our subsequent ns, but I told him we’ll follow your lead.”“Is that
so?”“What else do you expect? We are considered very good friends who have experienced life-and-
death situations together. Our friendship has undergone and survived the toughest challenges. Can
you quit assuming there’s something romantic going on between Christopher and me?”“You’re right.
You may not have these ideas, and I can also be magnanimous and heed your advice, but can you
guarantee he’s not harboring such thoughts?”Winnie could not help but frown after listening to Xavier.“It
sounds like you’re really overthinking this matter. You’re so petty. I’m already lying in your arms, soProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.
what else do you have to worry about? Once we return, we’ll ask Professor White to concoct the
antidote for you.”He shot an assertive look at her. “I don’t need the antidote. I only want you. Anyway, I
forbid you from having further intimate interactions with Christopher. Otherwise, he will bear the
consequences.”“You’re getting jealous too easily.”Winnie sensed he wasn’t kidding, but she knew she
couldn’t persuade him at that moment.If she had told him not to think that way or asked him not to hurt
Christopher, Xavier’s envy would undoubtedly be intensified.Since she couldn’t convince Xavier with
her words, Winnie decided to coax him using another method.Fully utilizing her status as a wounded
person, she mercilessly pinned him on the grass andy on his chest while appreciating the scenery
featuring sparkling stars and fireflies.Sleeping on the grass on such a wonderful night was, without a
doubt, a better experience than resting in the cramped space inside the car.Having said that, Winnie
remained vignt no matter how much she enjoyed the ambiance.She would wake up even when she
heard the slightest noise.And this time, the source of the disturbance was Xavier talking in his
sleep.Initially, she heard him murmuring the word “Dumbo.”Winnie was amused after hearing
that.Sometimes, she even suspected whether the version of her he loved the most was when she
pretended to be a fool instead of her current persona.Nevertheless, both versions are part of me.Then,
Xavier suddenly furrowed his brows and muttered, “Christopher, you’d better stay away from her. She’s
mine. I’ll kill you if you look at her again!”Winnie was rendered speechless. There’s really no end to his
jealousy. He wants to kill Christopher even in his dreams. What a dangerous thought!The sky slowly
brightened.After Xavier opened his eyes, he noticed Winnie was already sitting beside him.He
immediately propped himself up as well. “Why did you wake up so early?”Winnie rolled her eyes at him.
“Thanks to someone, I could not fall back asleep after waking up an hour ago.”He knitted his brows. He
knew she was referring to him when she mentioned “someone.”“What did I do?” He ventured a guess.
“Did I snore in my sleep and woke you up?”“Well, that’s not the case.” She pinched between her brows
and said, “You talked in your sleep, and I’m a light sleeper, so I was awakened.”“Did I?” Xavier
pondered briefly. “I don’t remember doing that.”“Normally, people won’t recall anything when they
sleep-talking. What did you dream aboutst night?” she asked.“I’ve forgotten.” He patted his head.
“What did I sayst night?”“I couldn’t fathom your mumbles.” Winnie did not wish to voluntarily speak of
Christopher’s name in front of Xavier since thetter could easily get jealous. “Anyway, you muttered
many things, but I couldn’t understand you. What a shame. Not only did I lose sleep because of you,
but I even failed to hear what you said. Come on, let’s go. Greta and the others are awake.”“Okay. Let’s
go.” He got up and walked toward the car while holding her hand.Soon, the few vehicles
departed.Approximately an hourter, they finally reached Salinsburgh.In less than ten minutes, they
arrived at the hospital Jacinta and Rachel stayed.Christopher remained in the car since he was
wounded, while Winnie and Xavier led the other mercenaries into the hospital.Before going to the
hospital, Xavier informed Winnie that Rachel’s condition had improved on the second day they had left
Salinsburgh.She had been transferred from the intensive care unit to a regr ward and could now
travel in a ne.Jacinta recuperated well from her injuries too.Now, the only thing left for them to do
was to return to their country.Winnie was already getting impatient to meet Jacinta.However, upon
arriving at the ward’s entrance, Winnie suddenly noticed no one was guarding the door.She instinctively
furrowed her brows. “Where are the bodyguards?”Xavier frowned slightly as well. “Maybe they’re
inside, or they went to the toilet.”She nodded and picked up her pace.Unexpectedly, right after she
pushed open the door, she was met with the scene of the bodyguard lying in a pool of blood.At the
same time, the two mercenaries behind her were held at gunpoint.The next second, someone closed
the door behind them.After Winnie and Xavier exchanged nces, they shifted their gazes onto the
person in front of the bed.Jacinta, lying on the bed, was bound, and her mouth was sealed with duct
tape.Someone sat beside the bed, and judging by his outfit, that person was undoubtedly a man.
However, his face was covered with bandages, leaving only his eyes, nostrils, and mouth
exposed.“Who are you, and what do you want?” Winnie subconsciously questioned that man.That man
let out a long sigh and stood up. “I’m so disappointed. We’ve only parted with one another for a few
days, yet you’ve already forgotten about me.”As soon as that man spoke, Winnie recognized his
voice.She knitted her brows instantaneously. “You’re Harold!”Harold heaved a deep sigh. “Very well. At
least you haven’t forgotten about me. Actually, I don’t me you for not recognizing me because
you’vepletely ruined my face!”Toward the end of his sentence, Harold suddenly grew agitated and
screamed hysterically.“How should I address you? Vivian or Winnie? I heard your granny calls you
Winnie, so I suppose that is your real name?”He touched the bandages on his face. “How should I take
revenge against you to vent my anguish and resentment? You and Chris are a shameless couple. I’ll
never let anyone of you go. Now that you’ve shown yourself here, I assume Chris should be nearby
too.”Winnie’s head ached at the sight of Harold. This man is ruthless. I don’t know what he would do
after this.She said with her brows furrowed, “Let go of my granny, Harold. Let’s talk.”“What is there to
talk about?” Harold was beside himself. He booted the stool next to him. “You blew up myboratory,
burned my factored, and snatched away my subordinate. Do you think you’re qualified to discuss terms
with me?”Winnie attempted tofort him. “Calm down. All you want is money, right? I can give you a
lot of money. Just tell me an amount, and I pay you.”“Ahh!” Harold could not help but bellow as intense
resentment churned within him.He gritted his teeth. “Unfortunately, b*tch, I have never been short of
the ability to generate cash. I don’t want even a cent from you. All I want now is to torture you and y
you alive. No! That’s not sufficient. I want you to suffer pain worse than death and experience living
hell. Can you understand my feeling? I can’t stand to see you all well and alive. Oh god! Who can
understand my feeling right now? Argh!”On the verge of losing his mind, Harold kicked the bedside
table.“No!” He did not feel better even after repeatedly booting the bedside table. His eyes gleamed
maliciously as he stared at Winnie. “I need to kick your granny a few times to feel better. Even kicking
you won’t do the trick.”“No! Don’t do that. Listen to me, Harold.” Winnie wanted to step forward but was
held back by Xavier.As a result, she had no choice but to stay rooted in her spot. “You need to be clear
of one thing. This is Salinsburgh, not Lightspring and this is not your territory. Have you wondered why I
dared to let my granny stay in this hospital? That’s because this hospital belongs to General
Kane.“Everyone in Salinsburgh knows this, so no one has ever dared to cause amotion here.
You’ve been here for so many years, so don’t tell me you aren’t even aware of basic knowledge like
this.“You killed my bodyguard, and that means you caused trouble here. Although not many people
follow me to the ward at the moment, my men are still waiting for me outside. If I don’t leave after ten
minutes, they wille up here looking for me. By then, the situation will no longer be a simple grudge
between us. It will escte to a fight between two parties. “Once the circumstances get out of control,
General Kane will definitely send his subordinates over. Your firearms dealings have progressed rapidly
in recent years and are even close to surpassing General Kane’s influence. He has long since thought
of you as a thorn in his side.“Now, you’ve foolishly left your turf at Lightspring ande to General
Kane’s hospital to cause trouble to the patients and their family members here. Not to mention, you
might even hurt those innocent people.“Do you know how many doctors and nurses here are General
Kane’s rtives? He has seven wives, so you can imagine how many extended families he has. If you
identally kill any of them, do you think General Kane will ever let you off the hook?“Since you
managed to survive all the predicaments, why are you so anxious toe here and seek death? Ask
your men to leave and let go of my granny. I’ll give you any amount of money you want. What do you
say?”“Argh! Vivian! Winnie!” Harold closed his eyes and looked up. “You’re indeed an eloquent
speaker. It’s no wonder even I was fooled by your words!”He abruptly fired a shot at the bed as he
spoke.Even though his shot did not hit anyone, Jacinta and Winnie were scared out of their wits.Just as
Winnie wanted to move, Harold’s subordinate immediately aimed his gun at her.She gazed at Harold
and uttered anxiously, “Please don’t open fire anymore. I beg you, okay? If you do this, you’ll attract
General Kane’s attention and prompt him to send his men here.”“You’re right.” Harold scratched his
head with the gun. “You’re absolutely right. I am indeed quite afraid of Shaun, and I don’t dare to cause
trouble in his territory, so let’s change the venue. We’ll go somewhere no one can interrupt me.” He
paused briefly before adding, “Oh, I’m also bringing Professor White and your friend, that idiot named
Rachel, along. Aren’t all of you in this together? There’s no need for you to be separated anymore.
Naturally, I’m not excluding that traitor, Chris. If I can catch you, he will not stand a chance to escape
me!”With that, Harold turned to yell at his subordinates, “What are you three standing there for? Hurry
up and bind them!”Winnie felt extremely dejected while being escorted out of the ward.She didn’t
expect she would end up in Harold’s control again when she was so close to pulling that mission
off.Soon, they were brought to the car, and just as Harold had mentioned, Riley and Rachel had also
been seized by them.Winnie was also clueless about Harold’s n. While escorting them to the car,
those men deliberately separated her and Xavier.Undoubtedly, she wanted to stay together with
Xavier.Before getting into the vehicle, Winnie gave Xavier a knowing look.Simultaneously, he was
gazing at her too.Moreover, he even mouthed a few words at her in silence.He intended to tell her not
to worry because he was there to support her.In the past, Winnie had never trusted anyone besides
herself.Caught in that tight spot at the instant, she could not devise any method to handle Harold. In
fact, she did not think Xavier could think of any effective solution too.Nevertheless, she inexplicably
ced her faith in him when she caught sight of his determined gaze.After getting into the vehicle,
Winnie realized that Rachel was in the same car as her. Meanwhile, Harold sat in the passenger seat in
front.When Winnie saw Rachel leaning unmoving against the back of the seat, she could not help but
frown. “What did you do to her? Why is she unconscious?”Harold red at Winnie in annoyance. “You
should mind your own business. It seems like you’re very concerned about this idiot. So tell me, who do
you care about the most? Is it this idiot or your granny? Answer me! Who do you regard with more
importance? I’ll treat them exceptionally well in your steadter!”Winnie gritted her teeth and fell silent
for a few moments before saying, “I said I’ll give you money. Isn’t it better for you to take the money
and leave?”Harold sighed. “Stop provoking me, b*tch! As you mentioned, I don’t want to stir any trouble
in Shaun’s territory. If you continue to infuriate me, I don’t mind tossing one of these people you care
about and repeatedly running them over with my car on the road!”She knew he was a lunatic who could
do something as inhumane as that, so she immediately shut her mouth.Winnie was cing all her
hopes in Xavier at that moment. She believed him because he told her he had a n.However, nothing
she had hoped to happen urred even after they left the city.She could not stop herself from ncing
backward at the car behind them. Xavier is inside that car. I want to know the n he has in mind, or
was he merely trying tofort me? But I don’t need this kind of unconstructive and meaningless
constion.After the momentary dismay, Winnie began racking her brain, thinking about what else she
could use to bargain with Harold.While her mind raced, the car suddenly swerved onto a bumpy dirt
road, causing the vehicle to move unsteadily and shake violently.A hint of excitementced Harold’s
voice. “Great. We’re very close to leaving Salinsburgh. No one is capable of restraining me
soon.”However, as soon as he finished his sentence, the car came to an abrupt halt.Due to inertia,
Winnie lurched forward and mmed into the back of the front seat.After the car wentpletely still,
she hastily sat upright and instinctively nced ahead.Instantaneously, the scene before her eyes
shocked her because a tank was blocking their vehicle from moving forward.That was not all. Parked
behind the tank were two amphibious fighting vehicles. The polished surfaces of artilleries on the
vehicles gleamed under the sunlight, giving them a dominant and powerful vibe.Harold subconsciously
turned his head around to look at Winnie. “Are they yours?”Winnie hesitated in silence for a split
second before nodding calmly.“That’s right. And that’s why I suggest you let us go at once. Otherwise,
all of you will die here today. How do you intend to put up a fight against us with your puny guns?”He
narrowed his eyes at her and sized her up. “Who exactly are you?”She nced at him. “Why are you
asking the obvious? I’m someone you can’t afford to mess with.”Harold took a deep breath and tried his
best to contain his burning rage.At that moment, someone got out of the tank ahead, and he was
holding a megaphone.Winnie widened her eyes in disbelief when she saw that person’s face. That man
was none other than Josiah.rity washed over her as she finally understood Xavier’s “n” referred
to Josiah. But how did Josiah manage toy his hands on thesebat vehicles?Having said that,
Winnie could not be bothered with the details at that instant. Since Josiah was the one blocking their
way, she had nothing to worry about now.She gazed at Harold and sneered. “I suppose you didn’t
anticipate this, right?”Indeed, Harold didn’t expect that to happen.Josiah started to speak as well.
“Harold, I’ll give you one minute to get out of the cars with your men. Otherwise, do not me me for
not showing mercy.”Winnie shot Harold a look. “Why aren’t you doing as he says?”Clearly, Harold’s
desire to live was too strong, or else he would truly want to kill Winnie. Worsee to worst, he
could’ve chosen to perish with her, but he wanted to live very badly.He suppressed his boiling fury and
reluctantly got out of the car.As soon as he did that, his subordinates followed suit.After they gathered
around, Harold asked Josiah, “Can you let us leave now?”Josiah roared, “Put down your
weapons!”Harold and his men had no choice but to concede and do as Josiah instructed.Josiah lifted
his hand after sensing that Harold was no longer a threat.When the men behind Josiah noticed his
gesture, they immediately pulled the trigger, firing consecutive shots at the ground near Harold and his
subordinates’ feet, causing them to flee quickly into the jungle.After that, Josiah jumped down from the
tank to untie Winnie, Xavier, and the others.Xavier hugged Josiah and said with a smile, “You’ll be
picking up our dead bodies if you show up a few minutester.”“How can I let that happen?” Josiah
grinned. “I don’t like to do something like that.”Then, he sized up Winnie. “What happened to you? You
look so pathetic with your arm in a sling.”Winnie guffawed. “What other choice do I have? This is what
happens when the great Dr. Houghton is not around us. How did you acquire these vehicles? You gave
me a huge fright earlier.”Josiah adjusted his sses. “I saved someone, and because of my
extraordinary looks, she was determined to marry me to repay the favor. I thought that repayment was
more than I could handle, so I requested for her to express her gratitude in another way.”“Who is that
amazing person you saved?”“General Kane’s precious daughter.” Josiah pointed at the tank behind
him. “That belongs to their family. However, she told me I could only use the vehicles to intimidate
others but not in a battle. Therefore, we should leave immediately. I saw you engaged in a lengthy
conversation with that man wrapped in bandages. Did you lie to him?”“Yes. He asked me if the tank is
mine, and I said yes.”“It won’t be long before he sees through your deception because all of General
Kane’sbat vehicles bear simr logos. Still, Harold and his men won’t be able toe back here
so quickly after we chased them away without their weapons. However, once they regain their strength,
things will only get messier when they try to settle all the cores with us. Hence, we need to leave this
ce at once.”Winnie nodded. “My hand is not fully functional, so you and Xavier should drive a vehicle
each.”Then, she turned to look at Xavier. “Also, we’ll have to establish contact with Greta to get an
update on Christopher and the others’ situation.”“All right. Leave that matter to me.”“Let’s hurry up and
leave then. I’ll check on Rachel. I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Josiah, you shoulde with me
and take a look. After all, you’re a professional in this field.”“Okay. I’ll drive this carter. Xavier, you’ll
drive in front of us and lead the way.” With that, Josiah and Winnie got into the car Rachel was
in.Initially, Xavier wanted to sit in the same car as Winnie, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on such a
trivial issue.He hastily strode toward the car behind and drove the vehicle carrying Riley and Jacinta to
the front.