CHAPTER 153: CHAPTER 153: THE FINAL BATTLE, LIFE AND DEATH FAREWELL

"What’s wrong?" Stella turned to look at him, sensing something was amiss as his eyes appeared empty, a familiar sight.

"I..." Aiden’s heart was shocked, the word ’blindness’ was on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t want to say it.

The dark world from the year of the car accident was his personal hell, and unexpectedly...

In panic, Stella held his arm, "Aiden, don’t be afraid, I’m here, I’m here."

"Aiden, from now on, I’ll be your eyes." Her voice tightened, and her eyes reddened as she spoke.

If they had any future left!

Aiden suppressed the momentary panic and gently patted her hand, "I’m not afraid. When my eyes couldn’t see before, you were with me. With you here, everything will be okay."

He turned and comforted her.

She supported him as they slowly walked towards the main house, occasionally reminding him where there were steps, while the winter wind whipped against them, causing a faint pain.

Each step was difficult, feeling hard yet fragile, like time had crafted glass.

Back at the main house, she assisted him in slowly climbing the stairs.

Keegan came over and was startled, taking a deep breath when he noticed the situation.

President Fordham was blind again!

Stella helped him onto the bed, ensuring he was lying down.

A knock sounded at the door.

The doctor came in, performed a thorough examination, then gave Stella a meaningful look, prompting both of them to step outside.

The doctor’s face was grave: "President Fordham’s optic nerve has been eroded, it’s very serious."

He paused, then continued, "It’s temporary, there might still be a chance to recover eyesight, but..."

"At most in two days, he will be completely blind."

"He must take the antidote quickly, it can’t be delayed any longer, the longer it’s postponed, the greater the damage to his body’s foundation."

Stella nodded, feeling as though an invisible hand was fiercely gripping her heart.

She needed to speed up the progress; today, she had to produce the first version of the antidote.

She returned to the laboratory once again.

Rushing to her own secluded space, she had to find the factor in her own blood that could overcome the toxicity of the Seven-color brocade and incorporate it into the medicine.

Only 7 days remained, her time was truly limited.

After a focused afternoon in the lab, Stella finally brought back the first version of the reagent.

In the vial, the Seven-color brocade mixed with her blood, resulting in a vivid and eerie hue.

Due to the absence of other key ingredients, this reagent couldn’t completely clear the virus from his body, but it could test how these substances reacted with him.

As soon as she sat down beside the bed, Aiden woke up instantly.

"Stella..." He reached out, searching by touch.

Stella quickly held his hand, warmth spreading through her palm, calming his heart somewhat.

She said, "I brought the first version of the reagent. Let’s give it a try. But... there might be counter effects."

Her tone was filled with unease, her voice slightly trembling.

Yet he smiled, even if he couldn’t see with his eyes, his smile still had a reassuring power: "Don’t be afraid, let me try."

Aiden gave her tremendous encouragement.

Stella cautiously fed the reagent to his lips.

Aiden tilted his head back and drank it down.

The bright red liquid, which he couldn’t see; the metallic scent of blood, which he couldn’t taste.

Stella softly said, "Get some rest."

Aiden didn’t let go of her hand; instead, he pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

"Stella, let me hold you for a while."

This was his only reliance at the moment.

At this moment, he truly realized, no matter how glorious the past accomplishments were, regardless of how much enviable wealth he possessed, or what esteemed position he held.

In the face of life and death, it all amounts to nothing.

After a while, Stella’s phone suddenly rang.

"I’ll take a call." Then, gently releasing herself, she walked out.

Upon answering, Andy’s voice came through the receiver with a tone of determination.

"Stella, still want Nine Days Warmth? Marry me, announce the engagement, and you can have Nine Days Warmth."

Stella clutched the phone tightly, her fingertips turning pale, and asked, "Where are you?"

Andy chuckled lightly, "I’m very close to you. As long as you want to see me, you can at any time."

He added with a somewhat persuasive tone, "Aiden doesn’t have much time left. You once married him without regard for anything, now, you can do it for him again, marry me without regard for anything."

Stella was silent for a few seconds.

Then, using an unusually calm tone, she calmly said, "Okay!"

She agreed.

On the other end, Andy’s breath noticeably quickened, with undisguised joy.

"Where are you? I want to see you!" she coldly demanded.

Andy quickly provided an address.

Indeed, he was still in a small town within Mardale, the closest local to her.

After hanging up, Stella went downstairs to get food.

She wanted to feed Aiden something; none of them had eaten lunch, and she was feeling a bit hungry.

As soon as she opened the door, Aiden had already made his way over.

He... he regained his sight!

Stella was overwhelmed with joy: "Your eyes... can see!"

Did the Seven-color brocade and her blood take effect?

He nodded, those deep eyes clearly reflecting her figure.

He took the plate from her hand with one hand, and with the other, he pulled her into his arms, gently kissing her hair.

Suddenly, he raised his hand, in a flash, and gently struck the nape of her neck.

Stella’s vision went black, and she fainted instantly.

He gently laid her on the bed, tucked her in, then turned and walked out.

At that moment, the gentleness on his face had long disappeared, replaced by a seething anger with a terrifying glint in his eyes.

Indeed, he intercepted her call with Andy Lockwood.

As Aiden Fordham walked out of the room, Keegan Lindsey was taken aback.

"President Fordham, your eyes are healed?" Keegan could hardly believe it, this was truly a medical miracle!

"The madam’s reagent is truly effective!"

His voice shook with excitement, it was truly a ray of hope in the darkest hour!

Aiden Fordham’s voice was cold as ice: "Watch over the madam."

After speaking, he strode out, and directly boarded the helicopter that had been prepared.

This time, he must personally finish Andy Lockwood, and before he dies, he must eliminate this scourge!

About twenty minutes later, Stella slowly awoke.

Her head was still a bit dizzy, she shook it to clear her mind.

Aiden Fordham was not in the room; why did he knock her out?

Her heart jumped, instantly guessing some possibilities, and ignoring her body’s discomfort, she quickly got up, stumbled and ran out.

...

The night in Mardale was filled with the scent of blood.

The Northern Frontier, atop the mountain peaks.

Two men, entwined, fought fiercely.

Both had injuries, breaths heavy, clearly evenly matched.

Seven or eight bodyguards lay sprawled on the ground, life or death uncertain, the air thick with the stench of blood.

Indeed, this time, it was the true life-or-death duel between Aiden Fordham and Andy Lockwood.

Aiden Fordham’s chest rose and fell violently, his voice laced with restrained fury, speaking word by word.

"Andy Lockwood! So you truly are Erwin’s accomplice, I should call you Alex instead. You’ve been lurking around her for so long just to steal the reagent, haven’t you?"

Andy Lockwood’s lips curled into a cold arc, his gaze disdainful, "So what if you know? You won’t have the chance to tell her anyway. Today, you must die."

Before he could finish, the two men clashed again like fierce beasts, fists and kicks exchanging forceful blows.

Aiden Fordham’s set of combination punches came fast like lightning, forcing Andy Lockwood to retreat step by step.

Finally, he delivered a powerful blow, pinning Andy Lockwood hard to the ground!

One knee firmly pressed against Andy Lockwood’s abdomen, rendering him immobile.

Aiden Fordham, panting heavily, reached for the bright knife from his chest, its cold gleam aimed at Andy Lockwood’s heart.

Andy Lockwood’s pupils contracted sharply, and right as the knife was about to pierce, he used all his strength to roar:

"Aiden Fordham! If I die, you die too! Then, who will protect her?"

This sentence, like a heavy hammer, fiercely struck Aiden Fordham’s heart.

His actions halted.

"She revealed six priceless cancer formulas for the Fordham Group! Do you have any idea how many enemies she has, how many eyes are watching her hungrily from the shadows?"

"The Chris Family is just one of them! And the forces from Nation A, Country S, they’ve long been restless! At that time... who will protect her?"

Andy Lockwood’s voice was hoarse from excitement, every word pierced Aiden Fordham’s ears like needles.

Aiden Fordham was silent for a few seconds.

The mountain winds howled, blowing his disheveled bangs.

Turmoil surged in his eyes, ultimately resolving into determination.

He spoke again, his voice cold and devoid of warmth, "If you don’t die today, it’s your fate. From now on, you will protect her."

After speaking, he raised the sharp knife again, without hesitation, thrusting it at Andy Lockwood!

Squelch—

Blood instantly spurted, staining Aiden Fordham’s face.

Suddenly, Aiden Fordham felt a wave of dizziness, everything before him began to blur.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself plunged into endless darkness.

Damn it!

He cursed furiously in his heart.

Just then, a ferocious force kicked his chest!

"Ugh!" Aiden Fordham groaned, his entire being flying backward like a kite with a broken string, rolling a couple of times on the ground before coming to a stop.

Following that, he felt a heavy pressure on his chest, leaving him almost breathless, unable to move at all.

A cold droplet fell on his face.

Instinctively, he reached out and touched it; it felt sticky.

It was blood.

Beside his ear, Andy Lockwood’s voice, tinged with some ferocity and triumph, rang out.

"Aiden Fordham, you hesitated. You didn’t pierce my heart." Andy Lockwood’s voice was full of taunts.

"You should know, showing mercy to an enemy is cruelty to yourself. Today, let me send you well on your way!"

After speaking, he slowly raised the blood-stained knife.

The knife, under the chilly moonlight, flickered with a daunting glow, aimed at Aiden Fordham’s vital spot...