?Chapter 162:


    Hailee couldn’t quite exin it, but being near Elliana gave her a sense of unwavering security. It was as though Elliana’s presence alone promised protection, anchoring her in trust and calm.


    “Elliana, I’ll do whatever you say,” Hailee responded with firm determination.


    Lowering her voice, Elliana leaned in close and whispered, “Very soon, there might be serious fighting aboard this yacht. I’m going to find a secure ce to hide you. No matter what you hear or what happens, if I don’t return, stay hidden. Don’te out, do you understand?”


    Hailee nodded instinctively, but her eyes soon widened in panic. “What about you? Where are you going? Aren’t you staying with me?”


    Without replying immediately, Elliana moved toward the shelves, carefully scanning the weapons arranged there.


    Nervously, Hailee followed a few steps behind. The faint light had kept her from noticing earlier, but now the sharp des and cold steel guns were in full view, making her flinch. Her chest tightened with unease.


    “Elliana, why are there so many deadly weapons in here? Are the people who took us actually pirates?” Hailee asked, her voice quivering.


    Elliana picked up a curved de, testing its weight in her palm. Her tone was steady as she answered, “Those men belong to an international crime syndicate. They’re involved in everything—piracy, assassination, armed robbery, abduction, and ckmail. Nothing is off-limits for them.”


    Hailee’s fear only grew stronger. “But you still haven’t said—after you hide me, what are you going to do?”


    To calm Hailee, Elliana gave a reassuring smile and softened her tone. “Don’t you remember? They captured me because they want to use me as leverage against Cole. For that, they’ll need me alive. They won’t harm me until negotiations begin.”


    In reality, Elliana had no intention of waiting around. Once Hailee was safe, she nned to tear this ce apart and bring everyst criminal down with it. She knew the battle ahead would be savage—and far too horrific for Hailee to witness.


    “Oh,” Hailee murmured, epting Elliana’s exnation without question. After a brief pause, she looked at Elliana again, hesitation flickering in her eyes. “But I want to stay with you. If something terrible happens, maybe I can protect you! I know I’m not very strong, but I’d give up everything for my friends. If anything happened to you, I couldn’t go on living like nothing happened.”


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    Elliana turned toward Hailee, smiling warmly. This was exactly why she held her friendship with Hailee so close to her heart. In all her life, she had never met anyone as sincere, gentle, and kind as Hailee. In a world filled with deceit andplexity, a friend like Hailee felt like a rare treasure.


    “You don’t need to worry about me. Cole will protect me. What I need from you is to stay hidden,” Elliana said firmly, leaving no room for argument.


    Hailee gave a small nod, though uncertainty lingered in her voice. “Elliana, do you really believe Mr. Evans wille for you?”


    Would Cole trulye for her? Elliana didn’t answer right away, her thoughts drifting. Since the day they argued and parted ways, he hadn’t shown up at the Evans family’s residence, nor had he reached out to her. She had a gnawing feeling that he had already given up on her and might have spent the past seven days in the arms of another woman.


    “He’lle,” Elliana said, her tone unwavering. Even if he no longer cared for her and didn’t feel like rescuing her, he would stille. His pride wouldn’t allow anyone to threaten him. She had heard stories about him—stories of those who crossed him and ended up ruined or begging for mercy. So yes, he woulde, if only to settle the score and reim his dominance. In that way, their objectives were aligned. They both wanted to reduce this yacht to nothing.


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