Chapter 1429


    After the chaos, amidst the charred remains of a forest that had weathered a bombing, only Evan and


    Gianna remained, apanied by the distant whirring of two helicopters.


    “Go on, leave,” Evan urged.


    Gianna stood frozen, her voice a stranded whisper when she finally spoke. “Evan, remember when you


    said if you didn’t make it back from the Area Opaca, I should just find someone and settle down? Now


    that you’re out, do you still feel the same?”


    Before, Gianna’s words were alwaysced with a tentative hope, never daring to confess outright.


    But now, she shed her reservations,ying her heart bare before Evan.


    Evan fet out a heavy sigh, his face a mask of resignation. “I’m a descendant of the Gregorys. Once


    Yates figures that out, he won’t stop until I’m in his grasp.”


    He knew well the ruthless nature of Xavier, who would undoubtedly betray Evan’s identity to Yates at


    the first opportunity. And with Yates on their trail, Gianna would have no future with him.


    As Evan grappled with his thoughts, Gianna reached out, her hand pale and trembling, and seized his


    wrist. Her eyes were earnest as she gazed at him. “Don’t worry about dragging me down. I chose this.


    Whateveres our way, I’m ready.”


    Her affection for Evan had deepened over the years, grown so strong that she would follow him into the


    abyss if he but asked.


    Evan, typically stoic, couldn’t help but feel the weight of her unwavering love. Yet, it was his own fears


    that held him back.


    “Think carefully,” Gianna said with a pointed look at the helicopters. “If you agree, we fly away together.


    If not, I’ll marry someone else.” Her words drew his gaze to the two aircraft, each representing a


    different future. After a long hesitation, Evan pushed her hand away.


    “Go ahead and marry,” he said tly.


    Gianna recoiled, her heart plummeting to new depths of despair. With each step backward, her


    disappointment in Evan’s indifference grew. Reaching the helicopter, she cast onest, hopeless


    nce his way before climbing aboard. Without a moment’s dy, she started the engine.


    As the rotor des began to whir, the cabin shuddered with the weight of an additional passenger.


    Evan had joined her.


    The despair in Gianna’s heart lifted instantly, reced by the fluttering of something like joy, though her


    expression remained stern.


    “I thought you wanted me to marry someone else. Why follow me?” she asked.


    Evan looked at her, his gaze falling to her lips before he spoke. “I… I’m afraid of you marrying someone


    else.”


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    It wasn’t clear to him if this was love, but the mere thought of Gianna with another filled him with


    sorrow.


    Gianna, taken aback by his candidness, could feel her cheeks warm. “Had you note aboard, I


    would’ve haunted you with that fear forever.”


    Evan was d he had followed his instincts; otherwise, it wasn’t just fear he’d have to live with, but


    lifelong regret.


    Gianna moved to sit beside Evan, puckering her lips expectantly. “Kiss me. Let it be your way of asking


    me to be your girlfriend.”


    Evan, thrown by her boldness, looked everywhere but at her inviting lips. After a tense silence, Gianna


    frowned.


    “I’m not shy. What’s your excuse?”


    Evan, ever the straightforward man, admitted, “We’re too familiar. I can’t bring myself to do it.”


    Gianna started a three-second countdown. At thest second, Evan leaned in and brushed her lips with


    his own.


    Gianna’s lips curled into a smile as she wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning into his embrace.


    “How did that feel?” she asked.


    “Too quick to tell,” he replied.


    “Maybe I should just marry someone else.”


    Evan caught Gianna as she tried to stand, his face flushed with embarrassment. “Let’s try again…”


    Five secondster, Gianna asked, “How about now?”


    “Still nothing.”


    Their first kiss might not have been perfect, but it was theirs. Meanwhile, the other helicopter had made


    a swift journey to the hospital.


    Cedric, having realized that no one had triggered the explosives, led his team to the hospital as well.


    The reunions there were joyful and tearful, a sign that the darkness had passed and a new dawn


    awaited them all.