Chapter 384


    Magnus, seizing a moment when Lucius was caught up in his triumphant reverie, made a stealthy


    beeline for the massive cargo ship that held Jonas in its iron grip.


    "Halt!" Lucius snapped to attention, drawing the pistol he''d purchased in advance. Its dark barrel was


    aimed squarely at Magnus. "Oh,e on, Magnus. Did you really think I''d let you walk away alive?"


    Magnus slowly turned, his icy gaze churning like a stormy sea. "I''ve paid you as agreed. What more do


    you want?"


    "What more? Have you lost your mind, Magnus? You''ve ruined me—left me with nothing. Why should I


    simply take your money and let you leave? You''re so naive!" Lucius sauntered toward Magnus, his


    eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. "You''ve been ying your games, Magnus, but did you ever


    imagine you''d meet your end at my hand?"


    "Hold on!" Natalia''s voice pierced through from afar. Disregarding the sinking sands of the beach, she


    kicked off her heels and sprinted forward, barefoot. "Wait, Lucius! Please, let Jonas go. We''ll pay you


    anything! Just don''t hurt him."


    Magnus hadn''t expected Natalia to show up now of all times. Fuming, he turned to James, who had


    followed her. "James, what did I tell you before I left? How could you bring her here?"


    James, looking sheepish, replied, "If anything happened to you and I hadn''t brought her, how could I


    live with myself?"


    "It was my choice toe, not James'' fault!" Natalia interjected, her fearlessness undiminished even


    by the pistol in Lucius'' grip. She stepped closer and pleaded, "Lucius, we''ll give you anything you want.


    Just please, spare Jonas. He''s family, for heaven''s sake. Don''t do something you''ll regret forever."


    "Family?" Luciusughed bitterly. "The day I was thrown into that cell, I lost any family I ever had in this


    world!"


    With the pistol now pressing against Magnus'' throat, Lucius continued his tirade. "So, you brought


    backup? Perfect. Today, I''ll send you all to thend of the dead together. You can be a happy family in


    hell!"


    Then, with ascivious grin at Natalia, he added, "I didn''t expect you to still be this stunning after all


    these years. It''s a shame, really, with explosives rigged all over this ce. But if you spend the night


    with me, maybe I''ll consider sparing your lives."


    Magnus, with the gun to his head, found his vision fracturing with rage. His own life was dispensable,


    but not Natalia''s, not Jonas''. Should Lucius be provoked to detonate the bombs, it would be


    catastrophic!


    "You''ve lost your humanity, Lucius!" Magnus roared with fury.


    "Humanity?" Lucius sneered. "You''ve been stepping on me for years, Magnus. And now, I''m going to


    enjoy watching your beloved wife and child die right before your eyes."


    In a swift, brutal motion, Lucius shoved Magnus aside and yanked Natalia to him. His head descended


    toward her neck. "No wonder she’s got you all twisted up. She smells divine."


    Caught off guard, Natalia found herself in Lucius'' arms.


    "Stop it!" shouted Magnus. His fists were clenched, and his body was coiled with tension, but he was


    wary of making a move that could lead to Natalia getting hurt—or worse, setting off the explosives.


    Reacting on instinct, Nataliashed out with a p thatnded squarely across Lucius'' face, leaving


    behind a bright red imprint. The stinging pain enraged Lucius, who swung back and pped Natalia to


    the ground. "Bitch! That''ll cost you!"


    As he aimed his pistol at Natalia, intending to end her life with a single shot, Magnus leaped to


    intervene, wrestling for control of the weapon. Their struggle shook the decrepit ship, and with the


    safety already off, a misfire seemed all too possible.


    Hector rushed over, helping Natalia to her feet, his concern evident. "Are you alright, Natalia?"


    Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her cheek swelled into a bruise. She shook her head


    weakly. "I''ll be okay. Hector, please—save Jonas."


    "Got it." Hector turned, entrusting Natalia to James with strict instructions to keep her safe, then


    headed back toward the ship.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Natalia caught the hem of Hector''s shirt. "Be careful. There are bombs."


    Hector paused, turned back, and kissed her forehead. "Don''t worry. I''ll bring Jonas back safe and


    sound."


    Meanwhile, Magnus and Lucius were locked in a fierce tussle on the deck. They were evenly matched,


    and the situation was critical.


    "Magnus, I never nned on leaving here alive!" Lucius'' face twisted with malice. "This ship is rigged


    with explosives. Even if I die today, I’ll drag you and your family to hell with me!"


    Magnus and Lucius grappled for the gun. Fully aware of Lucius'' ruthlessness, Magnus spat back with


    contempt, "We''ll see if you''ve got what it takes. You could''ve lived out your days in prison, but now,


    you''ve lost even that chance."


    Magnus didn''t flinch and gritted his teeth as he took the brutal blow. His sole focus was on wrenching


    the pistol from Lucius'' grip. His body swayed, enduring the piercing pain, and he sessfully reimed


    the firearm from Lucius'' hand.