Chapter 1105:

“Brad,” she said, her tone calm but firm, “I didn’t crawl through war zones, evade patrols in the sky, and drag myself through ten kilometers of swamp just to see you and leave without a fight.”

Her hands worked quicker now, ripping fresh bandages and tightening the splint with stiff branches. Every movement was precise, controlled, and unshakable.

“I am the Healing Hand. I have faith in what I can do, and you should trust me too.” She lifted her gaze, eyes sharp in the dim light. “I won’t let you slip away. I’ll fight death itself if that’s what it takes.”

Brad’s throat constricted, and words caught in his mouth.

Rylie had already bent down, draping his arm across her shoulders. “Rest now,” she said quietly. “You’ll need your strength for what lies ahead.”

Her warm breath touched his ear, steady and determined. “I’ve memorized every step. Four kilometers southeast, a seasonal stream appears only in rain. We follow it, and they won’t come after us there. I’ll get us out.”

He had risked everything before, venturing into icy valleys to save her. Why wouldn’t she return the favor? Wasn’t that what love demanded? Rylie’s eyes never wavered. She believed that with her whole heart.

𝘛𝗋𝗲𝘯𝘥іn𝘨 𝗻𝘰𝘃𝖾𝗅𝗌 𝘰ո g𝗮𝘭𝗇оvе𝗅𝘀.c𝗼𝘮

Brad simply stared, struck silent by her resolve.

“I didn’t come here to die for love, Brad.” She gritted her teeth and hauled him to his feet. Her legs shook under the weight, but she held him upright. “I came to bring you home.”

Rain drenched the island, each heavy drop erasing footprints and evidence of their passage. Reaching the stream now seemed like their only chance of survival—a slim miracle waiting to happen.

As Brad forced himself to rise, stabbing pain shot through his body, clouding his sight. Still, the gentle reassurance in her voice reminded him that this resolute girl wasn’t some soldier who followed orders blindly. To endure, he had to rely on her guidance. Brad fell silent, channeling every shred of energy into matching her steps.

Rylie bore most of his weight, advancing steadily. Rainwater washed away the bloodstains trailing them, and thorns shredded her clothes and scraped her skin, yet she remained fully focused on navigation and keeping him upright.

Brad listened to her labored, controlled breaths and felt the subtle tremor in her strained muscles, but her stride never wavered.

To keep him focused and motivated, Rylie occasionally shared fragments of her history.

“When I joined the Kirk household as a child, my brothers treated me well. They gave me toys and gadgets, and I got hooked on computers early. Phillip introduced me to racing games, though Leland scolded him once he found out.”

Brad smirked. “So Phillip was behind your computer skills, too?”

Rylie nodded. “I was always drawn to reading. Once Phillip showed me the basics, I ventured on my own and eventually reached the dark web, where I encountered people I never would have otherwise—and that’s how I started dealing weapons.”

Brad stared at her in disbelief. “How old were you when you began selling arms? And that Christmas card… it was a secret signal, wasn’t it? For an important moment?”

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