Chapter 26
Jessie and Alisha both felt sick to their stomachs.
Brandon wheeled himself over to Jessie, his voice full of concern. “Jessie, don’t be afraid. I’d never do that to you. I love you too much.”
Jessie replied numbly, “But didn’t you once love Anna just as deeply?”
Brandon’s shoulders stiffened. He seized Jessie’s chin, forcing her to look at him. “Jessie, as long as you never betray me, I’ll never point a gun at you for the rest of my life. The helicopter will be here in ten minutes. In ten minutes, you’ll be mine completely. Just wait a little longer
Before he could finish his sentence, an explosion boomed from outside, sending clouds of dust
rolling into the room.
“What the hell is going on?”
A bodyguard rushed in. “Mr. Kerr, a group of people stormed over and blew open the gate!”
For the first time, a flicker of hope sparked in Jessie’s lifeless eyes. Only Zane would dare to
cause such a scene.
Seeing the spark in Jessie’s eyes, Brandon’s face twisted with jealousy. “Jessie, you’ve only been with him for a few months. How did you fall for him so fast? But I’ve already prepared everything today. Even he won’t be able to take you away.”
Jessie frowned, a sense of dread creeping over her. “What have you done?”
“I’ve planted explosives all around the Hickman residence. If I can’t leave with you today, then we’ll die together. Live or die, we’ll be together.”
Jessie’s eyes widened in horror, her body going rigid. “Brandon, you’re insane! Have you even thought about Mrs. Kerr?”
A faint glimmer of guilt flashed in Brandon’s cold eyes before it vanished. His voice grew steely once more. “Jessie, there’s no turning back for me now. Trying to talk me out of this won’t work. Either Zane backs off, or we’ll all die. It’s your choice now.”
Jessie pressed her lips together, unable to answer right away.
Outside, the thumping of helicopter blades grew louder while Brandon’s patience thinned by the second. “Jessie, don’t push me.”
Jessie’s nails dug into her palms. Finally, in the last moments before he snapped, she made her decision. “I’ll go with you, but you have to let everyone else go.”
A trace of genuine emotion flickered in Brandon’s eyes. He even managed a soft smile. “Of
course.‘
“Untie me,” she added.
Brandon frowned, wary. Untying her completely was too risky.
“Then at least let Alisha leave. Once she’s safe, I’ll go with you.”
Alisha had been nothing but collateral in his plans. Brandon had no real use for her. He simply gestured for his men to release her.
A few minutes later, Jessie’s hands were still bound as Brandon led her outside. A helicopter
hovered overhead.
“Jessie, don’t try anything stupid. You can’t afford the consequences,” Brandon warned one
last time.
As they stepped outside, Jessie and Zane locked eyes. They exchanged no words, but they understood each other perfectly.
“Your legs are injured. You go up first,” Jessie said without any expression.
Brandon was wary. “You go first. I’ll cover the rear.
She didn’t argue and obediently stepped onto the boarding ladder. But the instant she and Brandon were separated, Jessie and Zane exchanged a brief look.
A split second later, a sniper hidden in a tree 30 feet away took aim and shot at Brandon’s head. He never even had the time to react before a bullet tore through his skull, killing him
instantly.
Zane rushed to Jessie and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “It’s over. As long as I’m here, nothing will ever happen to you again.”
Brandon’s incident caused a massive stir. Although he was dead, Zane still ensured justice reached the Kerr family. Overnight, Kerr Group declared bankruptcy.
Because Jessie was struck in the head, she suffered a mild concussion and had to be hospitalized for observation.
Zane sat beside her bed, spoon–feeding her stew.
A moment later, his assistant entered and said, “Mr. Stafford, Mrs. Stafford, Mr. and Mrs. Hickman are outside. They’re asking to see you both.”
Zane didn’t answer for Jessie and turned to look at her instead.
Jessie glanced toward the door. After everything that had happened, they seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
“Tell them I’m not seeing them. I’ve already repaid my debt to the Hickmans for giving me life. Please ask them to stop interfering with my life from now on.”
The assistant nodded and took out a small recording device. “Mrs. Stafford, this is something Brandon left behind before he died. He said it was for you.”
Jessie glanced at it without expression and said calmly, “Throw it away. From now on, throw away everything related to Brandon.”
