Chapter 554


    "Heh, she’s better off dead. She deserved it anyway! With that heart of stone, it''s only right she met her end!" Magnus spat out


    his inner thoughts with a cold sneer.


    His words struck Henry like the final straw that broke the camel''s back, igniting a fiery rage within him. With a furious swing,


    Henry''s fist flew towards Magnus as he roared, "You bastard, give me back my sister''s life!"


    Magnus was taken aback by Henry''s sudden aggression and quickly pulled Natalia to safety before trading blows with him. As


    they fought, Magnus chastised, "Hah, that''s what you get for being too soft-hearted! | always knew you were all in the same rat''s


    nest, ready to bite the hand that feeds you at the first chance. What a bunch of garbage!" In his anger, Magnus hadpletely


    disowned Natalia from the McKinney n, dering that not a single one of them was worth a dime.


    Henry, fuming with indignation, realized he was no match for Magnus in a brawl and, without a second thought, pulled out his


    pistol and aimed it at him, bellowing, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"


    As Henry''s shouts pierced the air, he lost all reason and pulled the trigger. A bullet, sparking with intent, rocketed toward


    Magnus. Natalia, in a moment of desperate courage, leaped in front of him, screaming, "Don''t shoot!"


    But her plea came toote. The bullet had already found its mark, burying into her arm with a dull thud. "Ah!" Natalia gasped as


    pain shot through her arm like a vicious bite. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead in an instant.


    Magnus reacted only then, kicked the gun from Henry''s hand with fury, andmanded, "Seize him!"


    Magnus'' men swarmed Henry, overwhelming him with numbers.


    Without sparing another nce at Henry, Magnus cradled Natalia. Her arm was mangled and bleeding profusely from the bullet''s


    kiss. Magnus’ eyes reddened with wrath and concern, and he held her tight. "Darling, why on earth did you do that? Why shield


    me?!"


    "|... Lwas afraid... afraid you’d get hurt..." Natalia''splexion was ghastly pale, her lips quivering with pain as she struggled to


    speak.


    Magnus'' heart ached unbearably. Clutching Natalia''s hand, he reassured her, "Hang on, darling. I''ll get you to a hospital right


    away. Just hang on for me!"


    In the midst of Magnus''mands, his men had sessfully subdued Henry and were waiting for further instructions. Though


    skilled inbat, Henry was outnumbered and overwhelmed by guilt for identally shooting Natalia in a rash moment,


    rendering him unable to fight back.


    "What should we do with him, boss?" one of Magnus’ men inquired.


    Magnus'' eyes, bloodshot with rage, directed a malevolent re at Henry. "Dump him in the ocean, and let the fish have him!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    The men nodded, ready to execute the order, but Natalia''s weak voice intervened. "No... don''t."


    Magnus immediately turned to her. "Darling, you must listen to me this time! Those siblings are nothing but trouble! If you let him


    go now, he''lle back to hurt you again!"


    "No... don''t... for our... for our daughter''s sake... let him... go..." With every ounce of strength left in her, Natalia uttered those


    words before sumbing to the searing pain in her arm and slipping into unconsciousness.


    “Natalia! Natalia!" Magnus cried out her name in agony, but she did not stir.


    Having recently recovered from a serious illness, the gunshot was too much for Natalia, and she fainted from the pain.


    Magnus'' men still patiently awaited orders. "Mr. Magnus, what shall we do with him?"


    "Give me his gun!" Magnus demanded, and one of his men handed over the weapon that had been kicked away.


    Magnus gripped the pistol and, without hesitation, fired at Henry.


    "Bang!"


    "Ah!"


    The gunshot echoed as Henry grunted, a bullet piercing his arm.


    Magnus tossed Henry''s gun into the ocean with disdain and looked at him with contempt. "My wife told me to gather blessings


    for our daughter. | won''t kill you. This bullet is the debt you owe. Now get out of here!" With that, Magnus waved his men off,


    signaling them to release Henry.


    Theyplied, letting go of the wounded Henry, who clutched his bleeding arm.


    Magnus didn''t give Henry another nce. He scooped up the unconscious Natalia and headed for the speedboat.


    Nataliay limp in Magnus’ arms, blood trickling down from her dangling, injured limb, swaying with each step. The situation


    looked dire.


    “Hang on, darling. You have to hang on! I''m taking you home now; just hold on!" Magnus babbled as he carried Natalia onto the


    boat, then issued a swiftmand, "Get us out of here!"


    The speedboat churned through the waves, leaving behind the deste ind and a wounded Henry. He was overwhelmed with


    regret for his impulsive act that led to Natalia’s injury.


    After Magnus and hispany had disappeared into the distance, Henry pped himself hard, ming himself for hurting the


    kind-hearted Natalia. "What have | done?" he thought in despair.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    But the deed was done, beyond undoing. Henry cast onest look at the departing speedboat, silently praying for Natalia''s


    safety. He then nursed his wounded arm, and continued his search on the ind for Alice.


    His concern for Alice weighed heavily


    on him. As Alice’s brother, her current


    state was part bis reshOnsteilty,


    APYIHAKSH he had to find her soon.


    If she were to die in such obscurity,


    he would have failed utterly as a


    brother. Please read the original


    content at .


    The indy silent and abandoned,


    save for Henry''s lone figure,


    desperately searching. Behind him


    lay a serpentine trail of blood-A9 11


    result of bullet @oufaltRat


    three ed his life with every drop.


    But Henry hardly gave it a second


    thought. With a grunt of


    determination, he tore a strip from


    his shirt and tied it tightly around his


    wounded arm, staunching the flow.


    His mind was elsewhere, consumed


    by the need to find Alice. Please read


    the original content at


    .


    The sea breeze tousled his blond hair as he scoured the ind for any sign of her. His shadow fell in every nook and cranny as


    he searched tirelessly.


    From the darkness of night to the first light of dawn, there was no trace of Alice. Henry''s heart ached with guilt and sorrow. He


    had let his mother down; he should never have allowed Alice to wander alone.


    As the morning sun climbed higher,


    fatigue and hunger took their toll


    him. He | fintEa cbcble of


    cpporats dA bananas, which he


    devoured hungrily, and then he sat


    staring out at the endless expanse of


    the ocean. Please read the original


    content at .


    Tears fell silently as he pondered the cruel possibility that Alice might never be part of this world again.