Chapter 444 No More Room for Mercy


    Chapter 444 No More Room for Mercy


    Tempest grabbed Rianne’s hand. “Rianne.<b>” </b>


    s


    His voice trembled. He gently touched the wound on her forehead, his fingers lingering there with aching tenderness.


    The medical assistant who walked out with her removed his mask. “Ms. Rianne only sustained external injuries. But she should stay under observation for the night.”


    Only then did Tempest notice the bandage on her leg. The cut on her forehead was shallow–just broken skin.


    Ste stepped closer.


    Rianne was conscious. She didn’t acknowledge Tempest. Instead, her gaze found Ste.


    She pulled her hand from Tempest’s and reached toward Ste. “Ste.”


    That small gesture–pulling away–made something in Tempest crack open.


    His chest tightened, the air growing heavier.


    Ste stepped forward and took her hand. “I’m so sorry.”


    It had been Abraham’s idea to call Rianne to Seats Cove. And it was Seats Cove’s driver who picked her up.


    If she hadn’te here, maybe none of this would’ve happened.


    Rianne shook her head. “Don’t apologize. If it weren’t for your driver reacting so fast, the truck would’ve crushed my side of the car.”


    Would she have even survived?


    Her voice was calm–shaken, but steady in that way people speak after barely escaping death.


    But to Tempest, those words were like a boulder crashing down on his chest.


    Ste opened her mouth, only for Rianne to cut in.


    “I saw everything. The driver of the truck tried to avoid harming himself. But your driver–he saved me.”


    He had used his side of the car to shield hers. In those few critical seconds, he had thrown himself in the path of danger. Then immediately climbed up onto the truck and dragged the other driver out.


    Rianne knew exactly what had happened.


    That crash hadn’t been an ident.


    If someone else had been driving, or if she had driven herself, today might’ve been the day she died.


    Her words were directed at Ste–but Tempest understood every single one.


    Ste clutched Rianne’s hand tighter. “Rianne…”


    She got it too.


    Once upon a time, when Rianne had still been close to Tempest, some people simply disliked her.


    <i>Now</i>?


    They didn’t just dislike her anymore–they hated her. Hated her enough to quietly plot her death.


    If it hadn’t been for Tempest, the woman who had once saved the Hale family would have been treated worse than dirt.


    Back then, it was Tempest who gave her the strength to keep going. But now…


    Rianne gripped Ste’s wrist. “You’re flying back to Falvaria tonight, aren’t you?”


    s


    Chapter 444 No More Room for Mercy


    Ste hesitated.


    With the way Rianne was looking at her, she couldn’t bring herself <b>to </b>say “yes.”


    Rianne had just survived an attempt on her life. How could Ste walk away now?


    Especially knowing someone <b>was </b>trying to kill her. She couldn’t leave–not like this.


    Rianne saw the hesitation and gave a faint, bitter smile. “I’ming too.”


    “Rianne-”


    Tempest finally spoke, his voice panicked and cracking under strain.


    Ste froze. She hadn’t expected that answer either.


    Rianne ignored him.


    She clutched Ste’s hand. “You can help me, right?”


    Ste said nothing.


    Help <i>her</i><i>? </i><i>She </i><i>couldn’t </i>possibly <i>mean</i><i>… </i>


    She wants to <i>run </i><i>from </i><i>Tempest</i>.


    Ste nced at him instinctively. His face had darkened, fists clenched so tight they trembled.


    Now she understood.


    Rianne wanted to leave Tempest and go directly to Falvaria.


    He’d never agree to that.


    And when Rianne said <i>you </i><i>can </i><i>help </i><i>me</i><i>, </i>she clearly meant–use <i>Abraham’s </i>power <i>to </i><i>get </i><i>me </i><i>out</i>.


    Had things between them really fallen this far?


    Tempest stepped forward and yanked Rianne’s hand from Ste’s. “Rianne, don’t you think—”


    “Don’t you think I deserve a reasonable exnation?” she snapped, cutting him off.


    “And do I not deserve one? For why your mother’s hated me all these years? What gave her the right? What gave the entire Hale family the right?”


    Thest part she nearly shouted, voice hoarse with fury.


    Tempest was speechless.


    Ste’s heart clenched in silence.


    Rianne jerked her hand away. Her eyes, once so warm toward him, now burned with nothing but hatred.


    There was no trace of the love that used to be there.


    Tempest’s voice was tight. “You believe what Alexander said?”


    Their eyes met.


    They were standing face–to–face–yet it felt like they were worlds apart.


    Rianne didn’t answer. She turned her head away, slowly and deliberately.