Chapter 1156:
Lochlan’s voice broke in through the earpiece. “Our men are already positioned below the cliff. Rylie’s with them.”
Rylie followed immediately, urgency sharpening her tone. “Deandre, there’s a platform underneath. The air cushion is ready — whoever goes down will survive.”
This was the final test placed before Deandre: to see whether he would protect the woman he loved, or choose to face the future alongside Melany.
“Four… three… two…”
“Karina.” Deandre’s voice broke through the count — steady, and unmistakably decisive.
𝘞𝖾𝗲𝘬𝘭𝘆 𝗿е𝗅e𝗮𝘴e𝘴 𝘰𝗇 g𝖺l𝘯𝗈𝘷e𝗅ѕ.𝘤о𝗺
Henson’s grin stiffened briefly, as though caught off guard, before slowly reshaping itself into a teasing, almost entertained smile.
Karina stared at Deandre in stunned disbelief, her eyes flaring wide — then, in the blink of an eye, shock gave way to uncontrollable joy.
The moment she heard that name, Melany went still. Her eyes locked on Deandre, but he never looked back at her, and the dull, spreading ache in her chest was impossible to ignore. No matter how firm her resolve had been, watching the man she loved choose another woman so effortlessly made every breath feel like a wound.
“Are you absolutely certain?” Henson asked slowly, drawing it out. “No second thoughts? This lovely Eshea girl looks downright miserable.”
“I’ve already made my decision — Karina,” Deandre said firmly, stepping forward. The gunmen reacted at once, weapons snapping upward. “Let her go. The Costa Syndicate will hand over three northern districts. That should prove our sincerity.”
Henson let out a low laugh. “There’s no need to hurry.”
He suddenly shoved Melany toward the edge of the cliff. “Did you catch that?” he mocked. “Your beloved picked our little star. Want to jump on your own, or do you need a push?”
The fierce mountain wind tore across her face. After calmly studying the endless drop below, Melany turned to Deandre and spoke in a flat, composed voice. “This is where it ends. You release me, and I release you. We owe each other nothing.”
Without hesitation, she shifted her weight backward, letting one foot lose its footing as her body tipped into the emptiness — falling in a single, decisive motion.
Even knowing that help waited below, the sight of her face — calm and resolved as she fell — made Deandre’s heart stutter violently. A sharp, unexpected panic crashed through him, and for one terrifying instant, it felt as though she were slipping out of his life forever.
Deandre moved on instinct, taking a step forward — only to freeze when a voice barked from behind, “The other one’s already gone! Release Karina now!”
Dragging himself back to his senses, Deandre forced his emotions down. The plan he had carefully built over so long was at its most critical point, and he couldn’t afford a single misstep now.
Henson waved casually, signaling his men to push Karina forward. “We’ve just witnessed such touching devotion between you two,” he said with mock warmth. “Our sincerest congratulations.”
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