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    bChapter 228 /b

    Brian tilted his head in confusion and looked at Maxine.

    Maxine looked at him and said, “I’ll go up and check first. If it’s hard to get out from there, at least you’ll be down here to help.”

    Brian wasn’tfortable letting his mom go up alone at first. But then he thought, ‘If anything happens, at least I’ll be down here to catch her! So he agreed.

    Brian carefully helped Maxine up the steps. In the bitter winter cold, both of them were nearly numb.

    Brian rubbed his hands, numb from the biting cold. He even felt that he was actually sweating under his coat despite the freezing air.

    “Mom, watch your step,” Brian whispered, steadying Maxine by the arm.

    Maxine climbed onto the wall and looked down at the six–and–a–half–foot drop. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself.

    Gritting her teeth, Maxine thought, ‘Brian’s still inside. I can’t show any fear. There’s no time to hesitate.’ She took a deep breath and jumped from the wall, only tond awkwardly and twist her ankle.

    Forcing herself to ignore the excruciating pain in her ankle, Maxine took a few steady steps forward, looked up, and called outb, /b“Come on down, Brian! Don’t be scared, I’m right here to catch you.”

    Brian clung to the top of the wall, peering down at Maxine below. ‘Damn, that’s higher than I thought,’ he thought, his palms starting to sweat.

    Still, he said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I can get down by myself.”

    “Here goes nothing,” Brian muttered, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Seeing Maxine’s outstretched arms belowb, /bhe screwed up his courage and leaped down.

    Luckily, Maxine caught Brian as he jumped down, her outstretched arms absorbing most of the impact.

    Together, they tumbled to the ground. Fortunately, the thickyer of snow cushioned their fall, preventing any injuries.

    “Are you okay?” Maxine asked.

    Brian shook his head and reached out to check on Maxine. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, remembering how hard he’d mmed into her arm when he jumped down.

    Maxine subtly withdrew her hand and murmured, “Let’s make haste down the mountain. We’ll call the police once we get reception.”

    Even though they’d made it out, this ce still wasn’tpletely safe. Maxine didn’t feel right about them lingering here any longer.

    Brian nodded and helped Maxine to her feet. But after just a few steps, she suddenly froze, her body lurching as she nearly lost her bnce and almost fell to the ground.

    Startled, Brian cried out, “Mom! iAre /iyou all right?”

    As he bent down to check Maxine’s foot, she pulled him up sharply and said, “I’m fine. We need to move fast. Hamlin’s a crafty old fox. He’ll track us

    down in no time.”

    Maxine and Brian limped down the mountain trail, each step a struggle.

    In fact, the only reason Hamlin hadn’t sent his men after them immediately was that Sebastian’s people had intercepted and blocked his pursuit.

    As soon as Hamlin heard that Cleo had brought the police to block the vi’s entrance, his eye twitched.

    Without another thought, Hamlin grabbed his cane and hurried to the vi’s entrance.

    Cleo shed him an unapologetic smirk. “Long time no see, Mr. Jenson. Do you still remember me?”

    Hamlin red coldly at her. “How could I forget?” he sneered. Back when the vi was nearingpletion, Cleo had shown up with a group of reporters and environmental activists to make a scene.

    Back then, he’d paid them off, but his hatred for Cleo remained as strong as ever.

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