CHAPTER 134: CHAPTER 134: THE REAL MR. WEST ARRIVES

The helicopter roared as it landed on Skylake Peak.

Stella Grant was the first to jump off, her gaze lingering on the helipad. There was no sign of Aiden Fordham, nor any other unfamiliar helicopters.

He indeed followed the other team members.

She sighed softly in her heart; it was for the best. He got shot and was better off recuperating at the castle.

Charles Sterling followed behind Zane Zimmerman, emerging with the exhaustion of someone who had narrowly escaped life and death, yet there was an undeniable excitement in his brow.

His son was still alive, more important than anything.

This heart that had been hanging for most of his life could finally be eased somewhat.

A delicate silhouette like a young deer in the woods joyfully burst out from the villa.

Vivi Sterling opened her arms and ran towards Zane Zimmerman with clear intention.

Just as she was about to leap into that familiar embrace, from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a dust-covered and weary old face.

"Old man?" Vivi Sterling paused, her eyes widening in surprise, "What are you doing in Mardale?"

Charles Sterling kept his face stern and glanced at his daughter.

"Hmph, you can come, but I can’t?"

Vivi Sterling immediately changed direction, affectionately linking arms with Charles Sterling, her little head rubbing against his shoulder.

"Of course you can, Dad, I’m happiest when you’re here!"

She looked Charles Sterling up and down, her face scrunched up.

"But your look... isn’t it too flashy? Dusty and dirty, you weren’t robbed, were you?"

She lowered her voice, adding mysteriously, "Let me tell you, I got robbed on my first day in Mardale too. This place is practically lawless, too chaotic!"

Charles Sterling’s eyelid twitched at her words, his sharp gaze sweeping towards Zane Zimmerman.

He had heard, this masked man controlled half of Mardale’s city!

Zane Zimmerman felt the death glare from his future father-in-law, coughed lightly, and said gravely, "I will make that gang of blind thieves pay the necessary price."

His tone was calm yet carried undeniable authority.

At that moment, inside the castle bedroom.

Aiden Fordham lay on the bed, his left shoulder, the one hit by the bullet, had clothes cut open revealing a grisly wound.

The doctor, wearing sterile gloves, was holding tweezers, ready to extract the deeply embedded bullet fragments.

"Young master, I’ll inject you with anesthetics." The doctor opened carefully.

Aiden Fordham didn’t even lift his eyelids, his voice cold like ice.

"No need."

As soon as the words fell, his body stiffened slightly.

A strange sensation spread throughout his limbs; he felt no stimulus from the wound site.

Could it be... what Andy Lockwood said, that the five senses would gradually disappear, was true?

His sense of pain had already begun to vanish?

The doctor paused his actions, sweat beading on his forehead, "Young master, this... could be very painful."

Aiden Fordham’s thin lips pressed into a line as he repeated, "Just do it."

The cold instrument probed into the flesh, stirring, followed by the subtle sound of metal scraping against bone.

Finally, with a "ding," a blood-stained bullet fragment was tossed into the tray.

Throughout the entire process, Aiden Fordham never furrowed his brow.

He clearly sensed the movements of the instrument inside his body but felt no pain at all.

Pain sensation truly was gone!

The doctor quickly cleaned the wound, applied medicine, and bandaged it.

Aiden Fordham changed into a clean silk robe, walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, and lit a cigarette.

The scarlet flame flickered in the dim light.

He took a deep drag, and even the taste of nicotine became somewhat bland.

In his mind, the number "23 days" hovered like a curse, along with the image of Stella Grant’s sometimes cold, sometimes slightly smiling face.

She was everywhere, occupying all his thoughts.

The next day, Stella Grant made a special trip to the castle, but the servant told her that Mr. West ordered not to see any guests.

She lingered at the door for a few minutes, handed a white porcelain bottle to the servant, and left. Inside was a special healing medicine.

She was worried about him!

Aiden Fordham lightly pinched the small porcelain bottle, his fingertips cold.

After a while, Keegan Lindsey brought Lawyer Scott, the chief legal officer, into the room.

Aiden Fordham dictated his will word by word, clearly dealing with the global assets of The Fordham Group, spending a full three hours on it.

After the will was completed, Lawyer Scott was sent back to the hotel, while Keegan Lindsey held the hefty document.

He hid alone in the corner outside the door, crying more heart-wrenchingly than anyone.

Aiden Fordham soon called him in, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Keegan, if you only had just over twenty days left, how would you live them?"

Keegan Lindsey wiped his tears and without thinking, shouted,

"Isn’t it obvious! Of course, live life without regrets! Love who you want to love, eat what you want to eat, do what you want to do! To hell with future floods!"

Aiden Fordham’s body trembled violently.

No regrets... those four words weighed a thousand pounds.

He had already decided to retreat, not wanting to burden her, not wanting her to see his final wretched state.

But God knows, he longed more than anyone for her forgiveness and her love.

He just wanted, madly wanted, to make up for the blank three years of marriage.

He had never asked her out on a proper date, never watched a movie with her, never confessed his feelings, never carefully selected a decent gift, never...

Too many "nevers".

As he thought about it, it felt like an invisible hand was gripping his heart tightly, then tearing it apart.

It hurt!

The pain was piercing and excruciating.

He suddenly realized, although most of the pain sensation in his body was gone, his heart could still feel such vivid pain!

The night grew deeper.

Stella Grant unexpectedly received a dinner invitation from Mr. West, at the upscale club where they first met.

She wore a simple white dress, with her long hair loosely tied up, a few strands falling by her cheeks, accentuating her delicate face.

Entering the club, it was unusually quiet, not a single outsider in sight.

Bodyguards led her into the dining room, where a long table was already filled with exquisite dishes, candlelight flickering, yet the atmosphere was laced with an eerie tranquility.

A strong scent of cigars wafted through the air.

Stella instinctively turned around, a man wearing a golden mask was striding steadily towards her, surrounded by a group of black-clad bodyguards with an imposing presence.

Stella’s breath caught.

The man before her was not Aiden Fordham!

Though he was similarly tall, one could sense he was older, with a more restrained and seasoned presence in his footsteps.

"Miss NOVA, please sit." The man spoke, his voice carrying a metallic texture, completely different from Aiden Fordham’s deep, magnetic voice.

The polite invitation carried an undeniable pressure.

She felt a twinge of unease as she sat down at the dining table.

Mr. West leisurely sat across from her, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.

"Thank Miss NOVA for specially delivering the medicine to me today." He paused and snapped his fingers, "I have also prepared a small token of appreciation for Miss NOVA."

A flash in his eyes showed that the woman before him was more beautiful and pure than any he had seen before.

A young man respectfully presented a velvet gift box, gently opening it.

Inside, a set of jewelry adorned with huge rubies lay silently—necklace, earrings, and ring, each gem as red as pigeon blood, perfectly cut, reflecting a dazzling and luxurious shine under the candlelight.

Those in the know would instantly see its worth in millions!

It’s believed no woman could resist such temptation.

But Stella merely curved her lips politely, "Mr. West, you’re too kind. This gift is too precious; I cannot accept it."

Hearing this, the man’s smile remained unchanged, he stood up slowly, walked over to her, and gently exhaled a cloud of thick smoke.

Stella frowned, instinctively wanting to avoid it.

"No need to be polite," he chuckled deeply, putting down the cigar and reaching for the necklace, "Let me put it on you."

The cold metal was about to touch her skin.

Stella jerked up from her chair, backing away several steps in disgust, increasing their distance.

"Miss NOVA, you are truly beautiful." Mr. West’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

"You deserve the most exquisite things in the world. If you don’t like this, I can take you to my private vault to choose something that will surely open your eyes."

Stella suppressed her discomfort, coldly pushing away his extended hand.

"No need, Mr. West. Thank you for the dinner, but I have to leave now."

She turned, intending to leave.

"Stop!"

Mr. West’s voice suddenly turned cold, his tall figure swaying as he blocked her way.

His eyes flashed with a sinister light, "I’d like to see, what kind of woman dares to come to Mardale and still say ’no’ to me!"

"Honey~"

At this moment, a young man with a coquettish tone, wearing tight, sequined clothing, swayed his hips as he walked over, his voice so sweet it gave one goosebumps.

Mr. West’s gaze shifted from Stella to the man’s perky posterior, giving it a firm grasp before pulling him into his arms, the gesture both familiar and frivolous, an eyesore to behold.

"What’s so good about this woman, all rigid." The man snuggled in Mr. West’s arms, whining coyly, "How about I keep you company tonight~"

Mr. West pinched his chin, the desire in his eyes undisguised. "Go, clean yourself up, and wait for me."

The man smiled brightly, batting his lashes, and sauntered off with sensual finesse.

Stella’s mind was racing, comprehending everything completely.

The capricious and ruthless man before her was the real Mr. West!

Then why had Aiden Fordham pretended to be him before?

Where was he now?

Why had this man suddenly arranged to meet her? Could it be... Aiden Fordham was in trouble?

Her heart tightened.

Suddenly, Mr. West’s tall figure approached menacingly again, grabbing her waist with terrifying strength.

"I’ve heard Miss NOVA is resourceful, able to save the world." His hot breath brushed her ear, "I wonder if you can save me, a man lost in direction?"

"Let me go!" Stella shouted, terrified, her body covered in goosebumps as she struggled.

Wasn’t he only interested in men?

Mr. West seemed to read her thoughts, his laughter filled with mockery and malice.

"Recently, I’ve developed an interest in women too, how about we give it a try, hmm?"

With that, the face behind the mask moved closer, aiming for her lips.

"Let me go!" Stella shouted in panic, her voice tinged with a sob.

"How dare you lay a hand on my woman!" A cold, storm-laden voice suddenly boomed.