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Chapter 35: Under Siege
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-13 04:46:38The Explosion
BOOM. 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 muttered a curse, then—grabbed a chair and hurled it through the window. CRASH. Shattered glass rained down. Cold air poured in. “Go!” Ethan barked. Adrian didn’t hesitate. He shoved Juniper forward. She barely had time to react before she was pushed through the jagged opening. The night air hit her skin like ice. She landed hard, rolling into the damp earth. The metallic scent of blood and smoke clung to the air. Ethan vaulted through next, landing in a crouch. Then Adrian. Footsteps thundered inside. “They’re escaping!” More gunfire. Too close. Juniper ducked instinctively. “We need a car—” Adrian’s head snapped up. He pointed. “There!” Across the clearing—an old Jeep. Rusted. Dingy. But functional. Ethan took off first. “Keys, keys—” He yanked down the sun visor. A key fell. “Yes.” Adrian grabbed Juniper, practically throwing her into the backseat. Ethan slammed into the driver’s seat, twisting the key. The engine sputtered. Then—roared to life. Juniper’s heart leapt into her throat. Then—headlights flooded the trees. Three black SUVs. Blocking the path. Juniper’s stomach dropped. “We’re trapped.” Adrian’s hand found hers. Tight. Unyielding. “Not yet.” The Escape Attempt Ethan threw the car into reverse. The Jeep’s tires spun. Dirt sprayed up in thick clouds, but they weren’t moving fast enough. Damien’s voice boomed over the chaos. “You really think you can run from me, Blackwood?” Then—a gunshot. The windshield cracked. Juniper screamed. Glass flew. Ethan growled. “Screw this.” He yanked the wheel hard. The Jeep lurched left. The tires skidded on loose gravel. Then—the ground disappeared. Juniper’s scream ripped through the air as the Jeep launched off the edge of the cliff. Weightless. Falling. The night swallowed them whole. The Fall Wind howled past. Juniper clawed at Adrian, gripping his arm so tightly her nails dug in. The Jeep plummeted. Air rushed in through the broken windshield. Then—impact. The tires slammed onto a steep dirt slope. The Jeep bounced—hard. Juniper’s head whipped forward. Her seatbelt caught, yanking her back just before she smashed into the front seat. Ethan fought the wheel, swerving wildly. “Come on, come on—” The Jeep tilted. Adrian braced against the door. “Hold on!” Then—another drop. They hit a rock. The Jeep flipped. Juniper’s world turned upside down. The sky and ground blurred. Metal screamed. Adrian’s arm locked around her, protecting her. Then—stillness. Everything stopped. For a moment, the world was silent. Then—groaning metal. The Jeep lay on its side. Juniper’s ears rang. Adrian’s voice broke through the haze. “Juniper—are you hurt?” She blinked. Tried to breathe. “I—” Pain sliced through her ribs. But nothing felt broken. “I think I’m okay.” Ethan’s groan came from the front. “That was—the worst idea I’ve ever had.” Adrian grunted. “You’re alive, aren’t you?” Ethan snorted, wincing. “Barely.” Juniper tried to sit up. The seatbelt dug into her chest. Adrian’s fingers brushed her face. “You’re bleeding.” She touched her forehead. Came away with blood. “Not bad,” she muttered. Adrian cut her seatbelt loose. They climbed out of the wreckage. Above them—Damien’s SUVs loomed on the cliff’s edge. Men peered down. Flashlights swept the trees. Damien’s voice carried down the canyon. “Find them.” Juniper’s stomach knotted. Adrian took her hand. “Run.” The Hunt They bolted into the trees. Footsteps crashed behind them. Flashlights cut through the darkness. Juniper’s heart raced. Her breath came shallow, fast. Adrian held her wrist tight, guiding her. Ethan lagged slightly behind, favoring one leg. “Damien won’t stop,” Juniper whispered. Adrian’s grip tightened. “Neither will we.” A shout. Then—gunfire. Bark exploded from a tree beside them. Juniper flinched. Adrian veered left. “This way!” Juniper’s legs burned. The forest thinned. Then—a cabin. Dark. Abandoned. Ethan gritted out, “That’s—our best shot.” Adrian didn’t hesitate. He kicked the door open. Juniper stumbled inside. Ethan slammed the door shut. Outside—the men were closing in. Juniper pressed against the wall, trying to calm her breathing. Ethan checked his gun. One bullet left. Adrian met his gaze. “Make it count.” Then—a voice. Right outside the door. Damien. “You can’t hide forever.” Juniper’s heart slammed against her ribs. Then—the doorknob turned. Someone was trying to get in.
Bab terkait
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15Stranded 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15Stranded 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15Stranded 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter One : Hostile Takeover
The Waldorf Astoria’s grand ballroom glittered with wealth and excess. Crystal chandeliers bathed the crowd in golden light, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and aged whiskey. Juniper Hale didn’t belong here. Not in this world of billionaire elites who threw charity galas to ease their guilt while hoarding wealth.But tonight, she wasn’t here to blend in. She was here for a fight.Adjusting the simple navy dress she had borrowed from a friend because unlike everyone here, she didn’t have a closet full of designer gowns. She scanned the room until she found him.Adrian Blackwood.He stood near the bar, effortlessly commanding attention. Dressed in a sleek black tux, he exuded confidence, swirling a glass of bourbon as he smirked at something his business partner said. The way he carried himself, like he owned every space he stepped into, set Juniper’s nerves on edge. He was arrogant, ruthless, and exactly the type of man who had the power to save her nonprofit.If she
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Two : The devil’s bargain
Juniper sat stiffly in Adrian Blackwood’s sleek private jet, gripping the armrest harder than she cared to admit. The leather was buttery smooth under her fingertips, the scent of espresso and polished wood filling the spacious cabin.Across from her, Adrian lounged in his seat like he had not a single care in the world. His black button-down was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves casually rolled up, exposing strong forearms. He swirled a glass of bourbon as he studied her, amusement playing at the corners of his mouth.She hated that mouth.“You’ve been glaring at me for the last twenty minutes,” Adrian said, voice smooth as silk. “Should I be worried?”Juniper forced a smile. “Just wondering if your ego is large enough to require its own seat.”He chuckled, deep and rich. “Touché. Though I prefer to think of it as confidence.”She scoffed. “Of course you do.”Adrian set his drink down and leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees. “You’re here, Ms. Hale. Which means you’re
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Three : Trapped
The storm raged on, shaking the villa with every gust of wind. Rain pounded against the windows like a relentless drumbeat, and thunder cracked so loudly that Juniper swore she felt it in her bones.She stood near the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, watching palm trees bend under the force of the hurricane. The dark ocean churned violently beyond the cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks with terrifying force.Behind her, Adrian sat on the couch, his usual smug confidence replaced with something quieter, tenser. He had barely spoken since the power went out, and that alone was unsettling.Juniper turned to him, crossing her arms. “So, is this where you admit that maybe, just maybe, you should have taken this storm more seriously?”Adrian exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “If you are looking for an ‘I told you so,’ you are not getting one.”She arched a brow. “I’ll take that as a silent confession.”The candlelight flickered between them, casting long shadows across
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Four : The enemy’s secret
The moment the news segment ended, the air in the villa thickened with tension. The flickering light from the television cast uneven shadows across the walls, but Juniper was focused solely on Adrian.He stood near the couch, his jaw clenched so tightly she thought it might crack. His fists were curled at his sides, the tendons in his forearms visible beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his crisp white shirt. He hadn’t moved since the broadcast started, but his silence was louder than any outburst.Juniper crossed her arms. “That was quite the headline,” she said, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.Adrian didn’t flinch. Instead, he reached for the remote, his movements precise, and turned off the TV with a sharp click.“News exaggerates,” he said smoothly, but there was something too controlled about the way he said it, as if he were gripping the edges of his patience.Juniper narrowed her eyes. “Right. And you just happen to be the unfortunate billionaire caught in th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16
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.
