Chapter 230
No.1
Takashi reveled in the destruction. He loved shattering people’s realities.
Benjamin stumbled backward, his face pale. His world was crumbling. Had it all been a lie? Had Victoria truly manipulated him so completely? Had she really traded her body to a man like Takashi just to ruin him? Was her kindness merely a facade to steal his inheritance?
That meant Isabella had been telling the truth. She had come here to rescue him.
The sister he adored had betrayed him. The sister he despised had risked everything to save him.
Benjamin’s eyes burned. His hands clenched into white-knuckled fists.
Takashi found his anger amusing. A mocking half-smile played on his lips. “What’s this? Anger? You want to go home and seek revenge? Then convince Isabella to chop off her hands. You can even do it for her! As long as her hands remain here, I will let you both leave. Otherwise…” His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “You will both die here today.”
His gaze was utterly merciless.
Benjamin stood his ground, shielding Isabella completely. “Never! This is insane! I won’t let you lay a finger on her!”
“Hahaha! Ahahaha! You are hilarious!” Takashi erupted in derisive laughter. He looked Benjamin up and down with pure scorn. “Oh, Benjamin! What right do you have to speak? What right? With that weak, useless body? Or those clumsy fingers that can’t even win a simple game?”
No.2
The words hit their mark. Benjamin froze. What right did he have? Takashi was right.
His whole life had been about games. He rejected every business and science course his family enrolled him in. He never studied. He never learned.
Victoria had secretly funded his gaming. She encouraged his addiction. He used to think it was kindness. He believed she was the only one who understood him.
Now he saw the truth. It was all a setup for his downfall. She was engineering his ruin.
Suddenly, he remembered the words Isabella had once said to him.
Use your brain and think properly for once. Think! If Victoria was truly good to you, why did she never encourage you to study harder? Why did our parents and the entire family give up on you? Benjamin, you’re thanking the very person who betrayed you!
You’re thanking the person who sold you out!
He hadn’t believed it then. He had despised Isabella for saying those words to him. Now, he regretted every second of his stubbornness. Under Victoria’s manipulation and influence, Benjamin had become nothing. A worthless piece of trash. How could he have ever protected Isabella?
Isabella, standing protectively in front of him, could feel the storm of emotions raging within him. She hoped he would learn from this. Of course, their primary concern was escaping this basement.
No.3
Just then, the impatient Takashi Yamamoto sneered. “You’re just useless trash, Benjamin. And you, Isabella, what can you do even if you’re skilled? Do you really think you can fight me and my hundred bodyguards? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll chop off your own hands and beg for your lives. Both of you will die the moment my patience runs out!”
“Oh, really? I suppose I should consider it then,” Isabella said coolly, bending down to pick up the discarded dagger. She tested its weight and sharpness, her movements deliberate.
Benjamin’s face paled in horror. “Isabella, no! Don’t listen to him!”
“Shut up! Let your sister think! One more word and I’ll kill you first!” Takashi snapped.
Even Isabella pushed Benjamin aside dismissively. “What do you know? Let the adults handle this. Takashi is right. If we cooperate, we get to live.”
“Hah! Finally, someone with some sense—” Takashi’s boast was cut short.
Isabella moved like a shadow. In a blink, she was behind him. The cold edge of the dagger pressed against his throat.
Takashi froze, completely caught off guard. He stood rigid, fear locking his limbs. Everyone in the basement stared, stunned. How was she so fast? How did she take their leader hostage so effortlessly?
The head bodyguard reacted first, lunging for Benjamin. But Benjamin was quicker, dodging and scrambling behind Isabella’s protective stance.
No.4
Isabella pressed the blade harder. A thin red line appeared on Takashi’s neck. “Everyone, step back. Now. Or this blade goes deeper,” she commanded, her voice icy and devoid of mercy.
The guards halted, rooted in place. They could only watch their captive boss, unsure what to do.
Takashi growled, furious and scared. “You’ll pay for this, Isabella! Hurting me is a death sentence! Murder is illegal! You don’t want to—”
He yelped as the dagger bit deeper. A trickle of blood ran down his neck.
“Try me,” she threatened, her gaze terrifyingly cold.
His legs trembled. “Get back! All of you, move!” he shrieked, his bravado gone.
The bodyguards reluctantly stepped back, creating a path.
Holding Takashi tightly, Isabella began moving toward the exit. Benjamin stayed close behind her. The air was thick with tension, a dangerous standoff with every step they took.
Robert trembled as he followed Isabella closely. He had never felt such bone-chilling fear before.
No.5
They were fortunate to have Takashi Yamamoto with them. They made it out of the basement and onto the outdoor walkway. The path was dangerously narrow, and accidents could happen at any moment. Isabella knew Takashi Yamamoto wouldn't let them escape so easily. He definitely had backup plans.
Her priority was ensuring Robert's safe exit from Takashi Yamamoto's stronghold. She pressed a hidden button. It was an emergency signal for Maxwell.
Beep!
Maxwell responded immediately. With the infrared deactivated and the walkway visible, he should arrive quickly.
"Go first," Isabella commanded Robert. "Just keep moving forward. Someone will be waiting for you at the bottom."
"I can't..." Robert instinctively protested. How could he abandon Isabella in such danger?
Isabella shot him an icy glare. "What good are you staying? You'll just be a liability. Go!"
Robert froze. She was right. He was useless here. He couldn't even protect himself.
Self-loathing washed over him. He hated his own weakness. Swallowing his pride, he turned toward the passage. He had to leave without causing more trouble for Isabella.
No.6
As Robert stepped onto the walkway, a bodyguard moved to intercept him. Isabella instantly dragged Takashi Yamamoto to block the entrance. She pressed her dagger against his throat.
"If even one hair on his head is harmed," she threatened coldly, "Takashi Yamamoto dies right here."
The terrified man screamed at his guards, "Don't move! Listen to her! Back off now!"
The bodyguards reluctantly retreated. No one dared touch Robert. His footsteps grew fainter until they disappeared into the night.
Takashi Yamamoto's eyes narrowed. He hadn't seen anyone at the mountain's base earlier. His alarm system hadn't been triggered either. Yet someone was waiting for Robert down there!
How many people had Isabella brought? He didn't know she only came with two men. More would have been detected. A small team was easier to conceal.
Isabella maintained her vigilant watch. Her eyes never left the bodyguards or Takashi Yamamoto's movements. Nothing could go wrong now.
Time passed slowly. Takashi Yamamoto's back ached from the tense position. He spoke with forced condescension, "Isabella, this is all a misunderstanding. Your brother is safe now. Why not let me go? I promise you'll leave unharmed."
"Shut up," Isabella snapped coldly. She was still calculating how long Robert needed to reach safety.
No.7
Takashi Yamamoto flinched at her tone. No one had ever spoken to him like that since childhood. Yet with Isabella, he didn't dare fight back. He could only roll his eyes in frustration.
How dare she treat him this way? She would pay for this!
After twenty minutes, Isabella finally narrowed her eyes. "You're right about one thing," she told Takashi Yamamoto. "Do exactly as I say, and I might let you live. Try anything funny, and you're dead."
She released her hold on his neck and delivered a powerful kick to his backside.
Thud!
Takashi Yamamoto went flying toward his hundred bodyguards. Isabella immediately sprinted down the walkway.
“Yes, Sir!” Takashi Yamamoto’s hundred bodyguards immediately charged toward the wooden pathway.
Concealed in the darkness beyond the estate were his archers, poised to unleash a deadly volley of arrows at Isabella Montgomery as she fled through the forest.
Swish, swish, swish!