Chapter 1498 - 1488: Owing a Life

"That old woman has a ton of bodyguards around her. Even if she didn’t call the police, could I run away after meeting her? Naturally, I had to kidnap her together." Roy smiled coldly.

"The person is here," said one of the kidnappers who had drugged Chloe Winston. "Get her in the car, or she’ll be hard to control."

Roy nodded, dragged Chloe out of the box, sealed her mouth with tape, and then opened the van door, calling out to Countess Thompson, "Bring the box over here."

Roy’s angle was tricky as she pushed the bound Chloe to the edge of the car door without exposing even half of her own head.

Chloe felt her wrist burning painfully and saw Countess Thompson coming over with a box, shaking her head continuously at her.

Countess Thompson was relieved when she saw the girl was safe, albeit a bit distressed, and she started walking towards the van hidden by the greenbelt. Just before reaching the van, she suddenly threw the unlocked box onto the ground, spilling money everywhere.

"What are you doing?" Roy exclaimed in surprise.

With noble elegance, Countess Thompson coldly sneered, threw the money, and continued walking toward the van, saying with a sneer, "I’ve brought the money, pick it up yourself, I will take Chloe away."

She then walked toward the van with a commanding presence. Roy was furious, and the kidnappers in the van cursed under their breath, eyes fixed greedily on the spilled money, instructing, "Subdue that woman; I’ll go collect the money."

The kidnapper peeked out and saw no one outside. Blinded by greed for the money, he swiftly got out of the car to pick it up.

On this side, Countess Thompson paid no mind to the kidnappers picking up money. Seeing Roy hiding behind Chloe, she quickly helped Chloe out of the van.

At that moment, the kidnapper picking up the money grunted and fell to the ground. The driver and the kidnapper in the passenger seat sensed something was wrong, quickly getting out of the car, only to fall as well.

Things unfolded too fast. Roy saw the people she hired all lying on the ground groaning, a group of bodyguards and gun-wielding individuals surrounding the car. Her eyes turned red with rage as she crazily pulled out her Swiss Army Knife, going to stab Chloe, screaming, "If I’m going to die, she’ll die with me."

Chloe’s hands and feet were bound, and just as she was about to react, she saw Countess Thompson shielding her.

Bodyguards swiftly stepped forward to subdue Roy.

"The Countess has been stabbed. Quickly prepare an ambulance."

"The hostage is safe, all kidnappers have been subdued, and everyone was left alive."

"Spring the trap, apprehend the pilot who contacted Roy, detain the plane, capture Five Brother."

Chloe’s ropes were untied, and Constantine Stewart arrived, his face pale as he hugged her, his tall frame trembling uncontrollably.

Chloe smelled his familiar scent, her heart racing as she trembled lightly, looking toward Countess Thompson.

Roy was still cursing and laughing hysterically. The Countess had been stabbed once in the back, avoiding vital areas. Despite her pale complexion and some blood loss, she was clear-headed, smiling slightly at Chloe, before her gaze dimmed as she looked at her son.

The ambulance arrived quickly, and the Countess was taken away. Roy and others were escorted off.

Constantine was silent, hugging Chloe as they got in the car, starting to check the wounds on her hands, feet, and face, his face looking extremely grim.

Chloe drank some water, breaking out in a cold sweat. She hadn’t felt scared during the kidnapping, but when she saw the Countess’s blood, she felt vaguely terrified—the knife was originally aimed at her heart.

Constantine remained silent but held Chloe tightly, his face openly brooding.

"Mr. Stewart, are we going back to Fulham Road or to the hospital?" Even Zheng Guo dared not breathe heavily, knowing although Miss Winston was unharmed, Countess Thompson was injured. If not for Countess Thompson’s prior vigilance, the outcome might have been much different, and Mr. Stewart was definitely indebted for a life-saving favor.

"To the hospital," Chloe said shakily, her hands and feet cold, gripped by Constantine’s warm palms.

"Okay." The man responded faintly, then buried his head into her hair, mumbling lowly, "I’m sorry, it’s my fault; I should have protected you properly."

The incident had escalated because he underestimated the situation, not expecting Roy to be such a fool. He should have had people guarding Chloe day and night.

Chloe was still trembling, but hearing his voice full of guilt, she calmed down instead, opening her mouth to say, "I was too careless. I want to see the Countess."

Constantine did not object, saying in a deep voice, "Let’s also deal with the wounds, your face and limbs are bruised and scratched."

The car drove straight to the hospital. Luckily, the Countess’s injury wasn’t too serious; she received several stitches and was hospitalized, but such a large wound on her back would surely make recovery tough.

Chloe’s facial and limb abrasions were treated, then she went to visit the Countess.

Constantine waited outside the ward, not entering.

"Miss Winston, the Countess hasn’t awoken from anesthesia yet. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow. You’ve been through a scare yourself; you should rest early or she’ll be worried again when she wakes." The Countess’s lifestyle assistant guarded the ward, politely smiling.

Chloe indeed didn’t know how to interact with the Countess at first. She had planned to stay away from the Stewart family mother and son, but after this incident, she owed the Countess a life.

"I’ll wait until she wakes up before leaving." Chloe shook her head and sat on the ward’s sofa, handling subsequent matters.

First, she notified the crew she needed two days of leave and sent peace messages to Kyla Zamora and others.

As Chloe’s disappearance was widely known among the crew, various rumors had already surfaced online, which Constantine suppressed, but a statement would inevitably have to be made soon.

After handling these matters, the Countess woke up.

With the injury on her back, she lay face-down to sleep, and upon waking, she asked to be helped up, telling the lifestyle assistant to leave so the ward only had her and Chloe.

"I know you’re a bit at a loss." The Countess looked at the girl with a pale face who continued waiting in the ward, expression neither sad nor joyful, exuding a steadiness uncommon for her age, stretching out a hand toward her.

Chloe stood up, sat by the bedside, and said softly, "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me. Actually, I could’ve dodged that knife," the Countess spoke softly, grasping her somewhat cold hand. "As Countess, I learned basic fighting skills, and I knew my bodyguards were nearby. Do you know why I shielded you from that knife?"