The Heiress Spoiled by Four Brothers and One Devilish CEO-Chapter 253 Aren’t you afraid that I will really kill you?
Charles Cooper dropped the chess piece on the board and let out a loud chuckle. "Impressive analysis—definitely the King’s move. Too bad..."
"Nothing’s too bad," Tristan Reid cut in coolly, lips curling into a faint smirk. "You can’t kill me."
Charles rubbed just under his nose, looking a little irritated. When he glanced at his fingers, there was a streak of blood. His chest tightened with anger. "What did you do?"
Tristan pulled a tiny empty vial from his coat. "Who knew a little swipe would bring my life back too? Don’t worry—this blood’s from Nathaniel Cooper."
"This is called a sorcery worm. It triggers periodic chest pain. That one inside you is the child worm—the mother worm is with me. Kill me, and the mother dies too. Then the child worm will chew through your heart and, well, boom."
He chuckled lightly, brushing off his coat as he stood. “Sorry for tracking water inside. It’s pouring out there—got your carpet and chair all wet. But I’m sure a man like you won’t sweat the small stuff.”
Charles’s usually gentle demeanor vanished. His eyes darkened ominously. "Aren’t you scared I’ll really do it? End you right now?"
"Only if you’re cool turning into a freak who needs human blood to stay alive," Tristan shot back, his gaze sharp and cold like a blade. "That biotech’s still a mess—far from polished. I’ll give you time to perfect it. Once you do, feel free to come for my head."
He turned sharply and strode toward the door.
"Tristan, we could’ve teamed up. Shared the world between us!"
Tristan glanced sideways, his profile firm and unreadable. "For now, I’ll call you ‘Sir’. But once I step out, you and I—we’re enemies. This wasn’t what I wanted, but you’ve forced every single step."
Without another look, he walked out of the villa.
With a sweep of his arm, Charles sent the chessboard crashing to the floor.
The noise drew in SWAT officers. "Sir? We heard a commotion. Chief’s asking—"
Charles slumped into his chair, gripping the armrests tight. "Take me to my private hospital. Now. Immediately!"
"Yes, right away!"
Meanwhile, Tristan was already on the road, phone pressed to his ear. "How’s it going? Did they pull back?"
"They did. What the hell did you do to keep Charles from killing you?" Karl Freeman asked.
Tristan chuckled, "My irresistible charm."
"...Tristan, I’m being serious. What exactly did you do?"
"Just laid it all out. You know—logic, feelings, the usual."
Karl didn’t buy it one bit. Charles Cooper wasn’t someone to show mercy once he made up his mind. He didn’t spare lives unless his own was hanging in the balance.
He snorted. "Man, I really underestimated you."
"And your dog eyes never see straight," Tristan said, sounding downright pleased. "Now hurry to the old house and get Megan out of the basement."
Karl wanted to say more, but Tristan had already hung up.
Grumbling, Karl kicked the back of the driver’s seat. "Head to the old house."
He fidgeted with his phone before jamming it back into his coat pocket—and then realized something. The vial with the sorcery worm? It was gone.He patted down all his pockets but came up empty. One conclusion—Tristan Reid had swiped the small vial and used the sorcery worm to keep Charles Cooper in check.
Karl Freeman let out a low chuckle. That damn warhound... had him worried sick, yet turns out Tristan had it all planned from the start.
He’d actually believed Tristan’s whole act—like he was going down swinging. Heavy-hearted and everything. Who knew the guy had already lined up his escape route?
Keith Martin asked, “So, he got out?”
Karl gave a light nod. “Not just got out—he flipped the whole game on Charles. Played him like a fiddle. He snatched my sorcery worm and fed it to the guy.”
Keith lit up. “Damn, he’s good! No wonder people call him King. That’s next-level. But boss, if Charles finds out you can break the spell, won’t he come looking for you?”
That thought stole Karl’s breath for a moment. He swore under his breath. “Tristan Reid, you son of a—! Really threw me under the bus! And here I was worried sick for you!”
Keith didn’t know why, but he couldn’t stop a grin from creeping onto his face.
He’d followed Karl for years, and never once had he seen the guy get played like this. It was like watching a rom-com, but deadly. Kind of hilarious.
The car finally pulled up to the mansion. Karl jumped out and rushed inside. Turning into the dining room, he pressed a hidden button beneath the table. The floor slid open, revealing a square entrance.
As he crouched down, a cold black gun was suddenly aimed right at his forehead.
“It’s me. Karl Freeman.”
Oliver Lewis recognized him and pulled the weapon back, climbing out from the opening. “We’re clear outside.”
Karl nodded. “Yeah, all gone. We’re good.”
Oliver leaned in and shouted down the passage, “It’s safe. You can come up now.”
One by one, members of the Lewis family emerged from the underground tunnel.
Mrs. Lewis plopped onto the floor the moment she was up, her fingers trembling as they fiddled with a string of prayer beads. “Who in the world wants us dead like this?”
Mr. Lewis turned to Karl. “So you’re the thug who kidnapped my granddaughter?”
Karl coughed lightly. “Big misunderstanding, sir. That wasn’t me. I’d never do something so heartless.”
Megan Shaw stepped forward. “Any update on Tristan?”
“Don’t worry, he’s safe. On his way back now,” Karl reassured her. “There’s a lot to explain, better to wait till Tristan walks you through it himself. I won’t hang around, but the mercenaries will be here round the clock to guard you.”
With a small nod, he left.
Samuel Lewis stared after him, then wrapped an arm around Megan’s shoulder. “Karl Freeman’s actually kinda hot.”
Suddenly, his ear got yanked hard—Stella Banks had grabbed him by it. “You’ve got time to admire men? Maybe check out some girls for once!”
Samuel covered his ear with a sheepish grin. “Got it, Mom! Don’t get mad—you’ll age faster! Take it easy.”
Megan looked around, then turned to Jason Lewis. “Hey Jason, where’s Michelle?”
“Bathroom,” he said.
Megan nodded, and Jason caught her meaning, heading off in that direction.
Megan left the dining room, grabbing a cashmere coat from the foyer and slipping it on. After changing into shoes, she walked outside.
She looked up at the pitch-black sky and extended both hands—cold rain immediately pooled in her palms.
Rain again tonight. In this season, it was icy to the touch, enough to make your heart shiver.
Back when she’d been sitting at her desk watching the security footage, she saw those military vehicles swarm into the old estate.
She knew instantly something was wrong and rushed to get everyone into the basement. Turned out, that move saved all their lives.
Now, as distant headlights lit up the road, a smile quietly tugged at her lips.
