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Chapter 15: Lost
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-01 02:22:22“Adrian!”.
The fury of the storm was so intense that Juniper's scream could barely make sense. Then—the gunshot. The air was split like lightning by its cracking. Adrian's body jerked. He slipped while gripping the boat's railing.__ His gaze widened as she looked inexplicably startled, and then he fell. Straight into the waves. Her fingers grazed Juniper's skeleton until the sea swallowed him whole, as he said with a loud "No!". Dark water drenched her, a hunger for food.' Her breath hitched. She felt her pulse racing in her ears. Move. Now. She threw herself off the platform. The cold slammed in her chest, sucking up air from her lungs. Salt burned her throat. She flexed her arms against the current. “Adrian!” She gasped, kicking hard. No response. Like a ball of sand, she was torn by the waves. The boat's floodlight glimmered across the surface, but she was left with nothing but darkness. Her heart raced against her ribs.'... He was down there. Sinking. Find him. She surrendered to the coldness of fear and snorted her penultimate breath. Endless waves engulfed her, as the ocean closed beneath her.' Her palms out, grabbing nothing. The current yanked at her. Her ears rang. He's here. He has to be. Deep in, she pushed herself against the waves. Then—fabric. A gentle texture was rubbing against her fingers. A shirt. She grabbed it and yanked. Adrian. The water floated beneath him with his limbs folded and motionless.' His facial features were dull, his lips parted slightly. He had blood tangled in ribbons around his shoulder, dissolving into the deep. Her throat was free of a cold, strangled sound.' “No. No, no—”. She pulled him towards her. He pushed her all the way down and let her go. Above, another gunshot cracked. She stooped to the surface. The rain soaked in salt and the tears from her eyes were visibly worn. A flashing light illuminated the water. “There! I see them!”. Adrian was gripped by Juniper's gash as she bucked for breath. "Help!". The boat rocked violently. It was obscured by a shadow.' The gunman. Despite the storm, she could only discern the glow emanating from his weapon. His voice was hushed and impatient. "I told you to stop!". Juniper's breath hitched. The gun leveled at her. An additional vessel burst out. “Drop the weapon!”. A new voice. Hard. Commanding. Police. A shining torch swept through the darkness. Sirens blared. The gunman cursed. The engine of his boat was starting to turn and he disappeared.? Vanishing into the storm. Juniper barely registered it. “Help! She pushed Adrian through the water, but his breathing was not possible. Her voice cracked. The deck was lifted by strong hands that grasped her. Until she had just enough time, she was still breathing when medics arrived to save Adrian's life. “Gunshot wound. Upper right shoulder.”. “Pulse weak.”. “Get the AED!”. A paramedic obstructed Juniper's progress as she hurried forward. "Let them concentrate.". Her chest heaved. She couldn't look away. Dark and bleak: Adrian's skin was ghostly and his shirt was soaked in blood. ". Without any warning, his arm dangled from the stretcher. He's dying. Her hands clenched into fists. No. Not after everything. Adrian was on her knees as she lowered herself to her death. "Leave me alone," she said. Stay with me.”. His lashes barely fluttered. The sound was so loud that it escaped his lips. Her fingers penetrated his wrist. "Please.". Adrian's lips parted. The tone of his voice was a biting, almost hollow. “Run…”. Then his body went still. A warning beep was heard from the heart monitor. “His pulse is crashing!”. “No,” Juniper breathed. After grabbing the defibrillator, the medic exclaimed, "We're charging you!" in agreement. Adrian's body was jolted by the shock.? Nothing. Again. Her throat was burning as Juniper held her hand against it. Why did she do it? A flicker on the monitor. A weak, fragile rhythm. Medic exhaled: ‘We have him. front right up there. Juniper's relief was palpable as she dropped her head forward. Why did it hurt? The law enforcement officer sat down with her. "What's the story?". Her thoughts were almost non-existent. "They made an attempt to kill us." She was unable to articulate the words correctly. "They were aware of our presence when she swallowed them.". How?”. The officer's radio chimed. "Suspects fleeing north.". Requesting backup.”. Adrian stirred. His fingers twitched. His head tilted slightly in front of her. He leaned towards the officer and asked, "Who is this?". Adrian exhaled, voice barely audible. “Inside… job.”. Juniper's stomach turned to ice. “What?” The officer frowned. “Who?”. Adrian's fingers curled slightly. His lips moved. “Betrayed.”. Juniper detected blood streaming from her face. Someone inside put them in place. Her breath hitched. And whoever it was—. They weren't finished yet.
Bab terkait
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 16: No Escape
The word lingered in Juniper's thoughts. Run. But she couldn't move. His face looked gray, and Adrian's lips parted slightly as if his desire to talk was more profound. He flopped against the stretcher, his body in an unrecognizable state with only a faint chest rising and falling. As the paramedics pumped through Juniper's pulse, they applied gauze to his gunshot wound, fastened him in, and monitored his vitals. The neck of Adrian was touched by a paramedic. “Although Pulse is weak, he’s still alive.”. Still with us. Juniper exhaled shakily. She had to accompany him. She turned and followed, but an arm suddenly appeared. Her actions were swift to stop.... A uniformed officer. We need your input, Mama. His tone was serene, like the most relaxed voice in the world. What could he say?' With a stoic demeanor, Juniper attempted to push him aside. "No, not at all!". He just told me—”. BOOM! The blast shattered the atmosphere.' The boat slid violently beneath Juniper's feet,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 17: Nowhere is Safe
Juniper's blood ran cold. She felt a sharp, shivering sensation in her spine as the words were heard over the police radio. Secure the girl. Everything is lost if Blackwood wakes up. She wasn't deceived by the officer in front of her, as he kept his face blank for the most part. He knew. She was a loose end. Her heart raced against her ribs, each time she beat out a warning drum. Think, Juniper. Think. She directed attention to the helicopter, where Adrian lay strapped to a stretcher, unconscious and helplessly vulnerable. The paramedics were arranging the medical supplies, getting ready to depart. She was not going to be left alone if they did. She had seconds to act. The officer's stance shifted. His hands came dangerously close to the sight of his gun. Miss Hale was a smooth voice. Too smooth. “Come with us.”. No. Every nerve screamed run. They might shoot her before she could take two steps if she fled at this time. She wore a wobbly smile, masking the shaking in her
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 18: Blackwood's Secrets.
While Juniper was listening to the helicopter blades whirring in her ears, she could only detect Adrian's breathing. Too late. His words were tinged into her chest as though they had been lifted off her. She whispered, "No, not yet. It's not too late.". Stay with me.”. She grasped his hand, her fingers wrapped around his scaly skin, as if her touch could provide him with stability. Adrian's eyelids flickered. There was a slight growling sound emanating from his lips. "They... can't find it.". Juniper's heart pounded. Find what? With her tongue pressed against the dryness of her throat, she crouched down. "What's up there?". Adrian exhaled shakily. “The files. The proof.”. Her fingers tightened around his. Files? Proof? Her mind was consumed by a warning. This was no longer solely a matter of survival. This was bigger. Dangerous. Deadly. Maintaining her voice required constant effort. "Where is Adrian located?". His hold grew increasingly firm, almost as if he was gathering
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 19 : Crash Landing.
A Sky Full of Fire. “Brace!”. Juniper barely had time to react before the world turned into chaos. The first spray of bullets tore through the helicopter's cabin, slicing through seats, ricocheting off metal, and punching holes into the walls. The medic let out a bloodcurdling scream, ducking just in time as a bullet whizzed past his ear. The pilot yelled frantically into his headset. “Mayday! Mayday! Flight 417 under attack! We need immediate—”. The radio cut off in static. Juniper clung to Adrian's stretcher, her nails digging into the fabric as the helicopter veered sideways. Her stomach lurched with the movement. The tail caught fire, flames licking hungrily across the metal. A missile streaked through the air, missing them by inches. The force of the blast sent the helicopter spinning violently. Juniper screamed, her body slamming against the wall. The medic was flung backward, crashing hard against the opposite side. “We're going down!” the pilot shouted. The airc
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 20: Taken.
A Standoff in the Wreckage. Juniper's lungs released in brief, sharp bursts. Smoke suffused her, and the scent of burning fuel was strong enough to bite her. Flames licked the fuselage of the crashed helicopter, crushing its crumbling structure and leaving it gasping for air. And then—that voice. Deep. Cold. Familiar. “Stay where you are.”. Her body moved in a limp state, her hands clasping the sharp metal fragments she had taken from debris. The presence of blood in it was unclear to her, whether it be her or not. He walked forward with an even cuttler, moving through the smoke. Shadows were cast across his face by the fire, which was behind him. Broad shoulders. Sharp jaw. Eyes like ice. Two men, armed with rifles that were raised and steady but dressed in tactical black, flanked him. Juniper's mind raced. Adrian was unconscious. She was outnumbered. But she wasn't helpless. She grasped the metal. Her plan was to hit one of them before the others could react if she lunge
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 21 : No Way Out.
The Chase. Juniper's heart pounding against her ribs caused her to experience painful shock waves in her legs. Thick, bare branches gnawing at her skin, roots crawling in the air. Adrian had a firm grip on her hand, but his steps were unstable and unsteady. He was slowing down. Behind them—gunfire. Voices barking orders. Boots gnawing at the roots of trees.' Too close. She whispered, her breath ruffled, that they are getting better. A thick tree trunk was pulled to the right by Adrian, who dragged them along. As she put her hand over the bark, Juniper tried to calm her down. Keeping his balance, Adrian had his hand by his side and blood-saturated fingers........................................ He appeared pale with sweat pouring from his temples. They didn't have much time. Adrian screamed, "We must break up.". Juniper's chest clenched. “No.”. Adrian bowed his head in frustration and had a hard time breathing. With a low voice, he stated that they were after him. He al
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 22: Trapped
Nowhere to Run. Her pulse raced through her earways as Juniper turned and breathed. Three men. Black tactical gear. Armed. Adrian's lanky frame caught her attention, leaving her muscles in agony. Her voice remained sharp as she advised her to hold back, even though the panic was spreading rapidly. One of the men reached forward, a slow smile spread across his face. ". “Or what?”. Juniper didn't answer. With every bit of force she had left, lunging forward and twisting her. at the very least.". But she wasn't fast enough. Her stomach was filled with air as she hit her fist. Pain exploded through her ribs. Her vision blurred. Her knees slipped, leaving the wet earth dampened. A boot stuck in her back and she was pushed down. “Stupid move,” the man sneered. Adrian groaned weakly beside her. Then Juniper gnawed at the dirt, her nails digging in to the mud. It was so bad. Despite twisting and kicks, she was too heavy to be pulled down. What happened? She gasped and screame
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 23: The Offer
“I’ll make this simple.”Damien tapped the tablet screen, his voice smooth, unbothered.“Give me the location of the files,” he said. “Or watch him die.”Juniper’s jaw clenched. Her heart hammered, but her face? Blank. No reaction. No weakness.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said. Steady. Flat. Unshaken.Damien sighed. Bored.“Wrong answer.”He lifted a finger.On the tablet’s screen, the man in black moved.A fist drove into Adrian’s ribs.The sound was sickening.Adrian’s body jerked.A choked cough tore from his throat.Blood splattered his shirt.Juniper’s stomach twisted.“Stop it!” she snapped.Damien tilted his head. “Then talk.”Juniper’s mind raced. Think, Juniper. Stall.She took a shaky breath. “I want proof.”Damien arched a brow. “You have proof.”“Not good enough.” Her voice hardened. “Bring him here. Let me see he’s alive.”A beat of silence.Then—Damien laughed.“You’re in no position to negotiate,” he said.Juniper lifted her chin.“Then kill me.”A fli
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07
Bab terbaru
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 39: No Way Out
The Warning. “You shouldn't have come here.”. The voice swayed like smoke across the cave. Low. Rough. Hungry. Juniper's breath hitched. She felt the weight of those words shivering against her skin, colder than the damp air inundating around them. She ran around, scouting the dark as it changed. The chamber was spacious and staring out at them, the torchlight illuminating darkened stone walls. Its. They migrated like uncannible spirits, decomposing into hollows, turning shapes into nightmares. Somewhere in the gloom, movement. Subtle. Controlled. Her pulse pounding against her ribs. Adrian's arm protruded in front of her, creating a silent and instinctive barrier. His stance—wide, steady—was pure defense. A wall of quiet fury. When it came, his voice was composed. Too calm. “Show yourself.”. Silence. Then—footsteps. Slow. Measured. They resonated throughout the cave, filling the void between pulses. A person came out of hiding.. Tall. Scarred. Armed. Juniper's muscles
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 38: Nowhere to Run
ImpactPain.Juniper’s body slammed into the water like a stone thrown from a rooftop. The impact ripped through her, knocking the air from her lungs in a violent rush. Cold, unforgiving darkness swallowed her whole.The river closed over her head, pressing in from all sides. The weight of it was suffocating, the churning currents dragging her down, down, down into the abyss.Her body twisted violently, spun like a leaf in a hurricane. Her limbs flailed, her lungs screamed.Up. Where’s up?She had no sense of direction, no light to guide her—just the numbing cold and the thunderous roar of the waterfall above.She kicked hard, fighting against the relentless pull of the river. Her muscles burned, her chest tightened. She was running out of air.Then—a burst of light.She broke the surface with a desperate gasp, sucking in air so fast it burned.The waterfall roared behind her, monstrous and deafening. The river wasn’t done with her yet—it dragged her forward, shoving her downstream li
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 37: Into the Abyss
The Fall. Cold. Violent. Endless. Juniper slammed into the water. The impact was brutal, unforgiving. Her body was in agony as it dislodged the air from her lungs. She was being pulled down by the river, which had engulfed her like no other. She was suffocated and cold, with darkness covering her like a veil. Her body was twisted by the force of the current, which caused her to spin like a ragdoll in twilight. Despite her body hurtling with pain, the river's frozen texture tugged on her like a string of iron chains. Up. I need to get up. Her chest gashes, desperately seeking oxygen, yet she couldn't determine which direction to kick. Her sense of direction was lost to the river, leaving only chaos and panic. Wildly, Juniper's arms waving their wings as he held something. Then—a hand. Strong. Unyielding. Familiar. Her wrist was gripped by it, unyielding and relentless, lifting her upwards toward redemption. Adrian. They broke the surface together. Juniper gasped, heaving f
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 36 – Freefall
The Jeep plunged. Wind blew through the windshield, biting Juniper's hair and hitting her like a thousand tiny knives. Her stomach flipped violently, causing a sharp, nauseating lurch that sent her packing. Outside, the world shifted into a chaotic blur of trees, rock, and sky. The ground rose excessively quickly.? The Jeep fell to the ground as Juniper's hands searched for something to hold onto, but it was a free-falling metal coffin. The force of her seatbelt caused her to contract an almost fatal injury by biting her ribs. Then—a hard yank. The arm of Adrian was encircling her waist, his strength commensurate with his stiffness against hers. With a hot and ragged breath, he pulled her closer with his hand to touch her cheek. “Brace yourself!”. CRASH. The impact was akin to hitting the spine. Glass exploded. A metal scream came from behind the Jeep as it ran under the canopy, snapping branches like broken bones. The globe swayed in opposite directions, then changed directi
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 35: Under Siege
The ExplosionBOOM.The door exploded inward.Splinters shredded the air, slicing through the dimly lit cabin.Juniper barely had time to duck before the blast wave ripped past her, sending a storm of wood and dust flying.Adrian grabbed her, yanking her down. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, shielding her.Gunfire erupted.The walls shook as bullets ripped through the cabin. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and the air filled with the acrid scent of gunpowder.Ethan cursed, returning fire. His gun barked in rapid bursts, each shot precise. “They brought a damn arsenal!”Adrian’s grip on Juniper tightened. “We have to move.”Juniper’s breath came short, fast. Her ears rang from the blast.“They’ll see us,” she gasped.Then—a voice.Deep. Cold. Familiar.“Give it up, Blackwood.”Juniper’s chest seized.Damien.His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. Calm. Unshaken.He was here.Adrian’s jaw clenched. A muscle ticked in his cheek. “Like hell.”Ethan’s gun clicked empty. He m
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 34: The Crash
A Split Second Before ImpactThe SUV hurtled through the air.Juniper’s breath locked in her throat. Weightless.The world slowed.Adrian yanked the wheel, muscles straining, but there was nothing to control.Then—impact.Metal shrieked.Glass exploded.The SUV smashed down, nose-first, onto the pavement below. The force slammed Juniper forward into her seatbelt, knocking the air from her lungs.Adrian fought the wheel, but momentum was against them. The car spun.Juniper’s vision blurred as the world tilted sideways.BANG.They hit the guardrail.The sound was deafening—steel on steel, tires screeching as the car fishtailed out of control.Ethan shouted. “Hold on!”Too late.The SUV tipped.For a terrifying heartbeat, Juniper felt herself floating.Then—a drop.Her stomach plunged.The SUV pitched forward off the road, crashing down into a steep ditch.BOOM.Metal crunched. The impact whipped Juniper sideways, her skull smashing against the window.Pain exploded.Darkness threatened
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 33: Nowhere is Safe
Juniper’s fingers curled tightly around her phone as she stared at the message on the screen.Unknown Number: You think this is over?A chill prickled down her spine. Her stomach knotted.“Adrian,” she said, her voice sharper than she intended. “We have a problem.”Adrian’s focus stayed on the road, his hands gripping the wheel like a lifeline. “What now?”She turned the screen toward him. The glow of the text cast an eerie light over his face. His expression darkened instantly, jaw locking, eyes flashing with something cold.Ethan leaned forward from the back seat. “That Damien?”Juniper’s mouth felt dry. “Who else?”Adrian’s fingers flexed on the wheel. His knuckles were bone-white. “He never gives up.”Ethan scoffed. “Yeah, no shit. What does he want now?”Before Juniper could answer, her phone vibrated again. Another message.Unknown Number: See you soon.A shiver ran through her.Ethan let out a low curse. “That’s not ominous at all.”Juniper forced a breath through her nose, ste
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 32: No Way Out
“Adrian!”Juniper’s scream barely cut through the chaos.The SUV hurtled between two massive trucks, scraping so close that she swore she heard metal screeching against metal. The blinding headlights swallowed them whole, and for a fraction of a second, time seemed to freeze—her pulse hammering in her throat, her breath caught between terror and adrenaline.Then—BAM!The SUV shot out onto the open road. Behind them, the trucks blared their horns, slamming on their brakes to avoid crashing into Damien’s pursuing vehicles.Ethan clung to the headrest, his knuckles white. “Are you trying to get us killed?”Adrian’s grip on the wheel was a death vise. “If I stop, we’re dead anyway.”Behind them, Damien’s men weren’t letting up. Another blacked-out SUV tore through the intersection, plowing over the curb and speeding toward them like a missile.Juniper turned, her stomach twisting. “They’re gaining!”Adrian didn’t hesitate. “Hold on.”He yanked the wheel right—hard.The SUV skidded, tires
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter 31: All or Nothing
“Go! Go! Go!”Adrian slammed the gas pedal to the floor. The SUV roared forward, weaving dangerously through the tight alleyway as bullets pinged off the metal frame.Juniper clutched the door handle, her knuckles white. “They’re still on us!”Ethan twisted in the back seat, his gun raised. “Yeah, no kidding! Hold this thing steady!”Adrian swerved hard left, nearly clipping a row of parked motorcycles. “Steady? Not an option right now.”Behind them, Damien’s black sedans were relentless, their headlights cutting through the darkness like hunting knives. More gunfire erupted, shattering the SUV’s back window.“Shit!” Juniper ducked. “That was way too close.”Ethan cursed, returning fire. A bullet struck the windshield of the nearest sedan, causing it to swerve. But the driver corrected fast. “They’re not backing off!”Adrian’s grip on the wheel tightened. “We need to lose them.”“You think?” Ethan snapped.Juniper’s heart pounded. The speed. The gunfire. The deafening roar of engines.
