Chapter 146
Chapter 146:
Down on the ground floor, Brandon’s instincts stirred with an inexplicable awareness, prompting him to lift his gaze upward. But he discovered only the vacant entrance to the rooftop and the impenetrable darkness that stretched beyond it.
The helicopter’s rotors thundered above him, their mechanical rhythm somehow amplifying the hollowness that had settled deep within his chest.
“Please forgive me for causing you such distress, Brandon,” Vivian whispered from her position beside him, her voice barely audible over the chaos. “My eagerness got the better of me, and I crammed far too many events into today’s schedule. Please forgive me. It’s simply that… my remaining time grows shorter with each passing day, but I still have so much I want to do…”
Brandon’s forehead creased into even deeper lines, while an acute pain pierced through his heart like a blade. He moved his head from side to side in a gentle negation, his silent gesture conveying that no apology was necessary.
High above them in the helicopter’s cabin, Millie fixed her gaze on the sprawling cityscape that stretched endlessly below. The aircraft rose from the hillside villa’s rooftop landing pad, soaring over the congested mountain roads toward the low-altitude corridor that the Evans family had secured through official channels.
Traffic remained locked in gridlock far beneath them, though a single lane had been carved out to allow vehicles to inch forward through the bottleneck. Powerful downdrafts from the helicopter’s spinning blades caught Millie’s long hair and sent it streaming behind her like silk ribbons in a storm.
As she gazed down at the glittering metropolis, Millie couldn’t quite grasp the thoughts swimming through her mind. She simply felt bone-deep exhaustion wash over her.
Without warning, someone settled a jacket across her shoulders. The garment still held residual warmth, carrying with it the subtle fragrance of pine needles.
She turned her head to discover Charles, his hair tousled by the relentless wind, his eyes brimming with unmistakable concern.
Mₒᵣₑ ᵤₚdₐₜₑₛ ᵢₙ
His mouth moved as he attempted to communicate, but the helicopter’s deafening roar swallowed every syllable. She couldn’t catch even a whisper of his words.
Far below in the villa’s expansive parking area, Brandon and Vivian had retreated to the sanctuary of their waiting vehicle.
After carefully settling Vivian into the front passenger seat, Brandon accepted a compact security case containing the evening’s auction acquisitions from one of the Evans Group staff members.
He triggered the lock mechanism and lifted the lid for inspection. The tanzanite gemstone and the blood-red ruby pendant nestled safely in their protective foam compartments. Brandon offered a confirming nod, signaling that he had verified the contents met his expectations.
He observed the Evans staff members as they departed, but made no immediate move to slip behind the wheel himself.
The Bugatti Centodieci waited in perfect silence, its sleek frame gleaming under the security lights. Brandon cast a glance toward the reporters being restrained by the Evans Group’s security team, and then allowed his gaze to drop downward.
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