Chapter 1135



The massive stone pillar there stretched from the ground floor to the second level.

Lucas’ people had used it as a makeshift ladder, climbing up with precision. Just as Rhys dodged the knife Darwin had thrown at him, they seized the opportunity—charging at Rhys and pinning him down before he could react.

Realization dawned on Belinda. “I get it now…” she murmured.

Lucas wasted no time. His voice carried urgency as he said, “Tell me everything. Aside from cutting your arm, did Rhys do anything else to you?” His tone was tinged with concern.

“No. He didn’t do anything else to me. Just the cut on my arm,” Belinda replied. She then recounted the entire ordeal in detail.

When Lucas heard that Darwin had gone as far as kneeling before Rhys and stabbing himself to save Belinda, his expression shifted dramatically.

At that moment, he struggled to put his emotions into words.

Simply put, his emotions were complicated.

Belinda turned toward Lucas, her eyes locked onto his. She hesitated for a brief moment, then bit her lip before speaking. “Lucas, I only escaped with just a minor injury because of Darwin. If he hadn’t stepped in to save me, his life wouldn’t be in danger right now… So, given the circumstances, I can’t just ignore him. I need to be here for him.”

Her voice wavered as she paused, the weight of her words pressing down on her. “You understand, don’t you, Lucas?”

A tight knot formed in Lucas’ throat, making it impossible for him to respond right away. For a long while, he was unable to say anything.

After some time, Lucas was finally about to speak when…

“Belinda!” The worried voice of a woman suddenly cut through the silence.

Bethany and the others arrived.

“Belinda, are you alright?” Bethany rushed over, gripping Belinda’s shoulders as she anxiously looked her over from head to toe.

“I’m fine… Ouch!” Belinda started to reassure her, but a sharp jolt of pain interrupted her words.

Bethany had unknowingly pressed against her injured arm.

Lucas’ expression darkened instantly. “Be careful. Her arm’s hurt.”

Since Belinda’s wound had already been cleaned, bandaged, and hidden beneath a jacket, Bethany hadn’t noticed it.

Bethany’s face fell with guilt. “I’m so sorry, Belinda. I didn’t know… Is it bad? Let me see.”

Belinda shook her head gently and offered a small smile. “It’s nothing serious, really. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Who kidnapped Belinda?” Johnson turned to Lucas, his tone grim.

Hearing this, Ryan immediately perked up his ears.

He was afraid of hearing that name.

Lucas’ jaw tightened as he spoke. “Rhys.”

The atmosphere shifted instantly. “It was him?” The group exchanged shocked glances.

None of them had expected that answer.

Ryan let out a quiet breath of relief.

As long as it wasn’t Verena…

Bethany clenched her fists, her anger boiling over. “Damn it! That family is nothing but trouble! First, Minna caused trouble for Belinda, and now, Rhys? We can’t let them off the hook this time!”

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