The impact of the door slamming into the front of the car was terrifying.

The loud crash drew the attention of the men, who quickly freed Monica and rushed outside.

The vehicle was wedged in the debris and Caden jumped out, brandishing a cold handgun and immediately opening fire on the group.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the men scattered in panic.

However, no one was able to escape.

Within moments, they were all on the ground.

Joshua noticed that the men were riddled with needles and realized that they had been hit with tranquilizer darts, not bullets.

He acted quickly, grabbing a knife and pressing it against Alicia’s neck.

Caden aimed his gun at Joshua.

The icy wind screamed, but Caden’s stern gaze was even more intimidating than the dark barrel of his gun. Alicia, now a human shield, stood in front of Joshua. The sharp knife rested against her neck, where the slightest movement could prove fatal.

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But when she looked at Caden, who had appeared out of nowhere, her previously empty and numb expression changed to a slight smile. Fear and despair vanished instantly.

They were replaced by a deep sense of relief.

Caden continued to advance, each step deliberate, his intense eyes fixed on Joshua. “If this knife hurts her in any way, I’ll finish you.” Joshua was not afraid.

Not knowing how Caden had found them and not having time to think, he shouted, his eyes red with rage, “Caden, take another step and I’ll slit her throat!” He pressed the knife lightly as he spoke.

A thin line of blood appeared on Alicia’s pale neck. Caden’s eyes darkened and he stopped moving. Alicia noticed that Joshua’s hands were shaking.

They needed to understand each other’s intentions. Caden flexed his thumb and pulled the trigger. Just before the shot rang out, Alicia jerked her head back and struck Joshua hard with her skull.

At the same time, a tranquilizer dart struck Joshua’s hand as it gripped the knife.

The knife clattered to the floor. Alicia quickly shoved it away and sprinted toward Caden.

Caden stepped forward, opened his arms, and wrapped her in an embrace.

At that moment, his heart settled, cold and firm as ever. He fired a few more tranquilizer darts at Joshua, realizing they were almost used up.

Still, the darts had done enough to partially paralyze Joshua, leaving him unable to move.

Alicia leaned weakly against Caden, clutching his clothes as if clinging to life itself.

“Monica…” she murmured, her voice weak and shaking with fear. “Save Monica. ”

Caden lifted her with one arm, wrapped her in his cloak, and made his way to a nearby room.

Monica’s clothes were torn, but she was unharmed.

He took a piece of cloth to cover her and carried her away.

away.

By then, Cliff had arrived with reinforcements and took charge of deciding Joshua’s fate.

Caden put Monica in the car and then turned to check on Alicia.

Alicia was still shaking.

Totally exhausted and frightened, her body continued to react to the residual fear.

Caden, who had never seen her so vulnerable, comforted her with unusual tenderness, though comforting others was new to him.

Alicia rested against his arm.

She whimpered softly, and he could just make out his name.

Though barely audible, it resonated deeply with Caden.

She desperately needed him.

She would only show her true longing when she was completely out of her mind.

Caden felt the urge to kiss her, but just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Joshua manage to get into the car that Caden had slammed into the door.

Through the car window, Caden saw Joshua’s wicked smile.

Joshua seemed determined to take her down with him.

With Monica in the car, Caden had to distract Joshua.

He promptly carried Alicia to an open space. A car could never be as nimble as a person’s legs. But Joshua, driven by madness, charged straight at them. Caden, unfamiliar with the terrain, ran towards an open area but accidentally stepped into a concealed pit beneath the snow. His movements were immediately hindered.

Joshua attempted another charge, but the tranquilizers had disoriented him, making his driving erratic and aimless. His car slammed into a mountain of debris, which fell, heading straight for Caden.

Caden quickly moved aside, but the snow beneath him collapsed. Clutching Alicia tightly, they tumbled down the hillside together.

Joshua observed them tumble down the slope, believing that if the fall didn’t kill them, the freezing snow would bury them. He laughed wildly, his eyes red and crazed, but his glee was short-lived as Cliff arrived on the scene.

Cliff quickly subdued Joshua and handed him over to the authorities. Then, Cliff began searching for Caden. Despite a thorough search, he found no trace of them.

He examined the ground for signs of a struggle and reached the edge of the mountaintop. The height was daunting, and below lay nothing but darkness. Realizing something serious had occurred, Cliff immediately ordered an extensive search and rescue operation.