CHAPTER 126: CHAPTER 126: "JACK YATES MIGHT NOT MAKE IT

Mention Northern Myona, mention The Gilded Delta, and the first things that come to mind are telecom fraud, drugs, and organ trafficking. In short, it’s a poor, chaotic, and extremely dangerous place.

Renee Winslow never planned to go to such a place, after all, she still wanted to live, not seek death.

But now she had no choice but to rush there; if she was a step late, she might not even get to see Jack Yates one last time.

Originally, Kyle Sheffield said over the phone that Jack Yates wasn’t seriously injured and could leave the intensive care unit tomorrow.

Butler Pierce asked her if she wanted to visit Jack Yates. Renee Winslow thought since Jack wasn’t in a life-threatening condition, she didn’t need to go.

She’s not a doctor anyway; there would be nothing she could do to help. Besides, she still had classes tomorrow and had to wait two more days for the National Day holiday.

Unexpectedly, half an hour later, Butler Pierce received another call from Kyle Sheffield, saying Jack Yates might not make it, urging Renee Winslow to quickly get to Bancourt to see him one last time.

With a clang, a translucent white porcelain bowl fell to the ground, shattering into pieces, and the grains of rice scattered everywhere.

Shay heard the noise and quickly emerged from the kitchen, grabbing Renee Winslow’s hand to check for cuts, persistently asking if she was injured.

Aunty Warren swiftly cleaned up the broken dishes from the floor and served Renee Winslow another bowl of rice.

Yet Renee Winslow had already lost her appetite.

Butler Pierce walked over to Renee Winslow, his expression serious, and said, "The news of Mr. Yates’s injury hasn’t reached Northcity yet. Assistant Sheffield suggests you head to Bancourt before word spreads."

Renee Winslow sat blankly, hearing Butler Pierce’s words but as if she hadn’t, her mind a complete blank.

Seeing her in such a state of shock, Butler Pierce felt pity but continued, "If Mr. Yates manages to pull through, having you by his side might aid his recovery. If not, consider it your last chance to see him. Assistant Sheffield will arrange for you to go abroad, to a place the Yates family can’t find you."

Hearing Butler Pierce talk about it like a farewell, Renee Winslow’s nose tingled, her eyes stung, both sour and bitter, as tears began to flow uncontrollably.

At this moment, she completely forgot the harsh words she once said.

"Jack Yates, should anything happen to you now, I won’t shed a single tear."

-

The plane pierced through the night, migrating south like a migratory bird.

Renee Winslow looked down from above, the myriad city lights transformed into twinkling stars.

As the plane climbed higher, the lights grew smaller in her eyes, eventually disappearing completely.

Renee Winslow turned her gaze back, leaned against her seat, and closed her eyes to rest.

Benjamin Lane took out a cashmere blanket and draped it over her. Renee Winslow opened her eyes and said softly, "Thank you."

"You’re welcome." Benjamin Lane smiled slightly.

At three in the morning, the plane landed in Lyncroft.

Kyle Sheffield personally came to pick her up, with Renee Winslow and Benjamin Lane in the back seat and Henry Hayes in the front passenger seat.

The black military-grade bulletproof off-road vehicle headed south from Lyncroft, towards Bancourt City, the capital of The Vah State.

The further south they drove, the more remote the road became, and the darker it got, oppressively so.

More oppressive was the silence inside the vehicle, so quiet that even breathing could be heard.

Just as the atmosphere grew heavier, Kyle Sheffield suddenly remarked, "Oh dear, Mr. Yates is in real danger this time."

It was better not having said anything; once he spoke, the car became even quieter, deathly silent as if even the sound of breathing halted.

Renee Winslow remained silent, and Benjamin and Henry, the two bodyguards, also said nothing.

Kyle Sheffield glanced at Renee Winslow through the rearview mirror, sighed, and continued, "Ah, you don’t know how brutal the situation was there! Tsk..."

He clicked his tongue several times and began describing vividly.

"We didn’t head straight to Maekong. While still in Northcity, we got word that those two students had been sent to Taqir, so we changed flights to Myitara, the capital of The State of Kryll. On our way from Myitara to Taqir, we were ambushed by multiple forces: The Gilded Delta’s drug traffickers, Northern State Region’s mafia, all with heavy weapons. It was a fight to the death."

Benjamin and Henry, the two bodyguards, said nothing, both expressionless with cold, indifferent faces looking ahead.

Renee Winslow, after hearing all this, asked, "Then how come you’re fine?"

Kyle Sheffield: "..."

Momentarily taken aback, Kyle Sheffield hurriedly replied, "I was in a different car at the time, not in the same one as Mr. Yates."

After explaining, he quickly added, "I separated from Mr. Yates with the intention of diverting fire, but it ended up being for nothing as those bastards saw through it. Eight off-road vehicles surrounded Mr. Yates’s car. The anti-explosion, bulletproof Bentley’s hood was crushed. More than a dozen Gatling guns were firing at Mr. Yates’s Bentley. No exaggeration, it was like a rain of bullets. Had the Kryll Independence Army not arrived for rescue, chances are Mr. Yates wouldn’t have even had a chance to get to the hospital for emergency treatment."

In truth, Kyle Sheffield wasn’t lying. Those two students were indeed sent to Taqir, and they were indeed ambushed on the way from Myitara to Taqir.

Only the situation was reversed; the eight off-road vehicles chasing Jack Yates were knocked to shreds by his men, and the assassins inside were either dead or wounded, with not a single one getting close to Jack Yates.

The Kryll Independence Army, all set for support, didn’t even need to step in.

Jack Yates still used the opportunity to fake being "severely injured," initially intending it just for show against his adversaries. However, later, receiving an audio clip that Caleb Yates sent to Renee Winslow, he heard her say she had fallen in love with him.

Regardless of the truth, Renee Winslow’s words stirred something in Jack Yates’s heart.

To further probe, Jack Yates had Kyle Sheffield call Butler Pierce, which resulted in this string of lies.

By the time they arrived at Bancourt Hospital, it was already daylight.

The sky was overcast, a heavy rain just on the verge of falling.

Jack Yates was in Bancourt’s largest private hospital, equipped with advanced medical equipment and a very good environment.

Getting out of the car, Renee Winslow only felt lightheaded, having not slept the entire night, spending the whole time on the road, in cars, on planes, then in cars again, her body near its limit.

Kyle Sheffield led the way in front, with Renee Winslow, Benjamin, and Henry following.

Just as the trio entered the hospital lobby, Kyle Sheffield received a call from Harvey Lancaster, putting it on speaker.

Renee Winslow could clearly hear Harvey Lancaster’s robotic voice coming from the phone: "Mr. Yates has woken up."

Kyle Sheffield exclaimed with joy, "That’s great!" Then turned to Renee Winslow, "Mr. Yates has awakened. Heaven bless, luckily Mr. Yates is okay."

Renee Winslow: "..."

How did he wake up so coincidentally?

Only to hear Harvey Lancaster continue unemotionally, "Though he’s awake, it’s uncertain if he’ll pull through; the doctor said he still needs to be observed."

Kyle Sheffield asked, "Is Mr. Yates still in intensive care, or has he been moved to a regular room?"

Harvey Lancaster: "Just moved out."

Kyle Sheffield asked again, "Did he insist on being transferred himself?"

Harvey Lancaster: "Yes. Once he woke up, he insisted on moving."

Kyle Sheffield ended the call and said to Renee Winslow, "The intensive care unit isn’t convenient for visiting. Mr. Yates hurried to move out, surely because he wants to see you."

Renee Winslow: "...Let’s head to the ward."

Sixth floor, VIP deluxe ward.

Jack Yates glanced at his heavily bandaged hand, as bulky as a sandbag, and frowned impatiently, "Does it have to be wrapped like this?"

With his hands wrapped like that, how was he supposed to hold Renee Winslow later?

Shane Grant rested his cigarette-holding hand on Jack’s shoulder, "My dear young master, you’re supposed to be pretending you’re at death’s door. But your hand doesn’t even have a single scratch; if it’s not wrapped, won’t people notice?"

Jack Yates smirked, "Isn’t that easy to fix?"

Quickly unraveling the bandages on his hand, he clenched his fist and punched the wall several times, drawing blood on the back of his hand. With a flick of his wrist, blood droplets splattered onto the bed.

Shane Grant turned to blow a puff of smoke, giving a thumbs up, "You’re impressive, you’re ruthless!"

Jack Yates: "Put out the cigarette. I’m gravely injured, can’t stand the smell."

Shane Grant crushed out the cigarette on the bedside table, chuckling coldly, "You’d better perform well, don’t let it slip."

After speaking, Shane Grant left. As soon as he was gone, Kyle Sheffield brought Renee Winslow and the others upstairs.