The sound of gunfire echoed across the sky. The surrounding residents were unfazed, assuming it was just another film crew shooting scenes in the unfinished building nearby. They had no idea that the scene inside the building was more thrilling than any movie. Adrian Jennings arrived at the base of the building right on time. He went up to the twenty-sixth floor, and upon seeing the scene in front of him, Adrian Jennings was furious. Talia Rhodes was covered in blood, her face bruised and battered. She was being strangled by Vincent Fletcher, her feet off the ground, suspended in mid-air, her face flushed red from the struggle to breathe. And beneath her, there was the crumbling edge of the unfinished building without any railing. If Vincent Fletcher let go, Talia Rhodes would plummet from the twenty-sixth floor. No matter how calm Adrian could normally be, witnessing such a scene made it impossible to remain composed, his heart instantly clenched, and he found it hard to breathe. Vincent Fletcher tightened his grip, maintaining his hold on Talia Rhodes’ neck. He turned his head to look at Adrian Jennings, raising an eyebrow, "You’re here?" Adrian Jennings’ throat tightened, a metallic taste filling his mouth. He forced his voice to sound less tense, "Let her go first." "You feel sorry for her?" Vincent Fletcher’s eyes held a glimmer of amusement, though his actions didn’t change. Watching the girl struggle for breath, her face worsening, looking as if she could suffocate at any moment, Adrian felt as if he were being sliced by a thousand knives, his pain indescribable. Adrian Jennings heard his own hoarse voice speak, "I’ve come as you asked, now let her go." Vincent Fletcher chuckled and casually glanced at the girl he was choking. Talia Rhodes was covered in blood, her face purple, barely holding on. He shifted his grip on Talia’s neck, dragging them both into the building, and tossed her aside like a piece of trash. "You..." Adrian’s veins bulged as he instinctively took a couple of steps toward Talia. The next second, a gunshot sounded. "Don’t rush." Vincent Fletcher toyed with a gun in his hand, a cold gleam in his eyes. The shot landed at Adrian Jennings’ feet, warning him not to come any closer. "Let’s have my people confirm you came alone," Vincent Fletcher said with a smile. "If you try anything, no one will leave here alive today." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩 Adrian stood where he was, enshrouded in an aura of cold determination. Adrian said nothing to Vincent Fletcher; he just stood there silently. After a moment, one of Vincent’s men came over to report, "He didn’t bring anyone." Vincent Fletcher replied with a mocking tone, "Such a romantic, aren’t you?" "Can you let her go now?" Adrian’s voice was icy. Vincent Fletcher raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Of course." Talia Rhodes had already fainted. Adrian Jennings moved forward, crouched down beside her to check her injuries. "Why drag her into our dispute? She’s innocent. Why hurt her?" Vincent Fletcher smirked provocatively, "Because... she is your woman." "Adrian Jennings, nothing pleases me more than seeing you in pain." Vincent Fletcher’s smile was taunting. Adrian kept his head down, fists clenched, killing intent in his eyes. He suppressed his overwhelming hatred and fury, administering some CPR measures for Talia Rhodes. After his efforts, Talia Rhodes finally regained consciousness. "Ad...Adrian..." Talia’s voice was hoarse beyond recognition. Adrian Jennings’ heart ached intensely. Talia opened her eyes to see Adrian, her gaze initially joyful, but then quickly becoming worried and tense. "Why did you come? Go, hurry, don’t worry about me!" Talia said with a raspy voice, straining to speak. "Talia..." Adrian was visibly moved. Vincent Fletcher clapped his hands, looking at Adrian Jennings and Talia Rhodes with a sardonic expression, "Such moving love." Adrian Jennings lifted his head to meet Vincent Fletcher’s eyes, "I’ll trade myself for her; you arrange for someone to take her away." Vincent Fletcher smiled enchantingly, "Isn’t a couple supposed to face difficulties together? Why fly apart when hardship comes?" Adrian ignored Vincent Fletcher. He carefully cradled Talia Rhodes in his arms, afraid of hurting her wounds. But Talia’s body was covered in cuts, not deep but still bleeding, staining Talia Rhodes’ clothes with blood. Adrian Jennings’ heart shattered into pieces. Adrian spoke with an unwavering tone, "I’ll take her downstairs, and you arrange her departure." Though he said this, his body swiftly moved to the side with Talia in his arms. At the same time, a red dot appeared on Vincent Fletcher’s forehead. Likewise, all of Vincent Fletcher’s men had a red dot on their foreheads and chests. "Did you fucking bring a sniper?" Vincent Fletcher, seeing the red dots on his men, yelled in rage. Adrian Jennings smirked disdainfully. Vincent Fletcher’s men exchanged glances, clearly not expecting Adrian Jennings to have another trick up his sleeve. "Fuck, didn’t we check that he came alone? Who checked earlier?" one of the men muttered angrily in a low voice. "He really was alone just now," someone replied. "Then how the hell do you explain these snipers?" Vincent Fletcher had experienced such situations countless times. After the initial surprise, he quickly regained his composure, shrugging indifferently, "That’s more like Adrian Jennings. If you really came here alone to die for a woman, you wouldn’t be worthy to be my adversary." But judging by Vincent Fletcher’s demeanor, he was already prepared. However, at this moment, Vincent Fletcher was out in the open, while Adrian Jennings’ men were in the shadows. Besides the snipers, Vincent had no idea what other forces Adrian had hidden, ready to strike at any moment. The situation flipped in an instant, putting Vincent Fletcher at a disadvantage. Yet Vincent Fletcher seemed completely unruffled, maintaining a calm demeanor. A helicopter approached, hovering right at the level of the twenty-sixth floor where they stood. The helicopter and the newborn sun were in the same direction. Talia turned her head to look, the morning light somewhat piercing her eyes, and she squinted instinctively. And in the next second. "Sis..." She heard a familiar yet fear-laden voice. Talia’s eyes widened instantly. Jasmine Rhodes was being held like a chick by a burly man, appearing in her line of sight. From this close, Talia could clearly see the fear and terror on Jasmine Rhodes’ face. Talia’s expression turned extremely grim, her blood freezing. After Talia went missing, Shawn Rhodes and Lillian Young were frantically searching for him, unable to care for Jasmine Rhodes at the Rhodes Family villa. Lillian Young had lulled Jasmine to sleep before leaving, not knowing that shortly after, Vincent Fletcher’s men arrived at the villa to abduct Jasmine Rhodes. Vincent Fletcher had brought several mercenaries from Aridia to Veridia this time. He sent a mercenary with several years of military training to abduct Jasmine Rhodes, making ordinary bodyguards no match for them. Vincent Fletcher looked at Talia Rhodes and Adrian Jennings with a smile, "What do you think... if I throw her down from here, what would happen to her?" "No! Don’t touch her!" Talia hoarsely shouted, her voice strained. "Ha—" Vincent Fletcher laughed aloud. "Tell your man to let us all go, or your sister will splatter into pieces before your eyes."