Chapter 1511


    Clutching the family seal ring in his fist, Oliver turned on his heel and walked away without a backward


    nce.


    With a gentle touch, Ian brushed Maja''s hair from her sweat-dampened forehead as shey on the


    ground, lost in a fitful slumber that even her dreams couldn''t soothe.


    His heart ached for her, and guilt gnawed at him for not being able to save her mother.


    But right now, protecting Maja was his only focus.


    He buried his face in the crook of her neck, a rare moment of vulnerability washing over him.


    Ever since they had set foot on Forbidden Ind, he hadn''t dared to rest, working tirelessly to convince


    Oliver, investigate the elders'' secrets, and familiarize himself with the treacherous terrain.


    He regretted dragging Maja into this mess.


    The situation with Patric had spiraled beyond his understanding. He wasn''t omnipotent; even he could


    make a mistake.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Oliver, you''ve got ten minutes. If you''re not back by then, I''m leaving without you," Ian said into his


    phone, his voice steady but firm.


    "Okay," came the terse reply.


    Oliver was already a good distance away, his figure gradually swallowed by the smoke and chaos of


    the battlefield.


    Ian started the ten-minute countdown on his phone, determined to keep his promise to Oliver.


    Leaning against the wall, he held Maja tightly in his arms as the seconds ticked by. Seven minutes


    passed without any sign of Oliver, causing Ian''s brow to furrow with concern.


    Two more minutes slipped away, and still no Oliver.


    As the final minute approached, Ian''s gaze was fixed, unblinking on the ticking clock.


    He didn''t know that Oliver, who had gambled everything, was now lying bloodied and broken, his body


    failing him.


    Gazing up at the murky sky, Oliver felt raindrops kiss his cheeks. Desperately, he tried to crawl toward


    the rendezvous point with Ian, but could only manage to move a mere meter.


    As his eyelids grew heavy, a figure approached, stopping close by. A pair of shoes came into Oliver''s


    fading vision.


    "Can you walk?" It was Ian''s voice.


    Oliver wanted to shake his head, but he couldn''t even muster the strength to do that.


    Ian crouched down, taking in the gory sight of Oliver''s chest wound. It was clear there was no saving


    him. A direct hit to the heart, he was merely in his final moments.


    Ian closed his eyes for a brief second, swallowing the lump of sorrow in his throat.


    Oliver raised his hand, a pained smile on his lips, but his arm fell limp, crashing to the rain-soaked


    earth.


    Taking a deep breath, Ian felt a newfound contempt for Forbidden Ind. It seemed Oliver was the only


    one who truly wanted to escape from the Inner Ind. He shouldn''t havee to confront Robin,


    driven only by a flicker of brotherly loyalty.


    But as Robin plunged the knife into Oliver''s heart, he uttered only one cold truth.


    "The Bradshaw family must not vanish."


    It all pointed to Rp''s influence.


    The Porter family couldn''t tolerate Oliver''s defiance, and there was no way they would let him walk free.


    Before closing his eyes for thest time, Oliver whispered, "Go on, don''t wait for me."


    Ian looked up at the distant gunfire and explosions, then turned and walked toward where Majay,


    leaving Oliver''s body to be soon covered by the rubble of the destroyed surroundings.


    When he reached the entrance to the tunnel, the others were still waiting.


    Picking Maja up, he spoke softly, "Anyone who wants to leave with me,e now. Those who wish to


    stay, this is your chance."


    The remaining few exchanged hesitant nces. "What about Oliver?" one asked.


    Ian didn''t reply. Instead, he strode into the depths of the tunnel.


    After a moment, the group saluted in the direction he had gone. "Mr. Raymond, until our paths cross


    again."


    They belonged to the Porter family, and having temporarily followed Ian''smand, returning would


    mean certain death. They were unfamiliar with the world outside; it would be a fate worse than death.


    They were not like Oliver, who had the resolve to break free from it all. They only wished to protect their


    own small piece of territory.


    Ian didn''t look back, holding Maja close as he moved forward.


    Meanwhile, K sat on a ship with his face growing darker by the minute. He had expected a smooth


    operation, but Dn and Abner''s men had arrived, and to his shock, Quentin had betrayed him.


    Even if he and Quentin had never seen eye to eye, they belonged to the same organization. How could


    Quentin turn against him to help Ian?


    It simply didn''t make sense.