Chapter 1019: Chapter 1018
True to form, Rosemary’s words sent Yolanda over the edge. With a vicious swipe, Yolanda brought the knife down, but in a flash, Rosemary spun and bent over, the blade slicing through the rope binding her instead of her flesh.
Once freed, Rosemary quickly stepped forward, dodging the knife’s remaining momentum that threatened to catch her back.
Yolanda hadn’t expected Rosemary’s earlier display of weakness to be a feint. She came at Rosemary with another slash.
Rosemary shifted again, and Yolanda’s knife cut through another rope.
Just as the onlookers were ready to pull their triggers, Rosemary had already snatched the knife from Yolanda’s grip and now held it to her throat, using her as a human shield.
Everyone froze, not daring to make a move.
Yolanda’s eyes bulged in disbelief. "You were poisoned."
Why was she still so fast?
"Release Edith," Rosemary commanded, her tone as cool and commanding as ever despite the pallor of her face.
"Don’t listen to her," Yolanda shouted. "She’s a law-abiding citizen, she won’t actually kill anyone."
Rosemary pressed the knife slightly, drawing a bead of blood from Yolanda’s neck.
"I’m running out of patience," Rosemary’s voice was as chilling as a winter breeze. "I’ll count to ten. One."
People were already scurrying towards the third floor.
"Two." Rosemary’s face was a mask of cold determination. "Three."
"Rosemary!" Yolanda tried to bluster, "Murder is a hanging offense. You’ve just got back to the Collins family, become Miss Collins, are you really willing to throw it all away for me?"
"An unimportant person’s death won’t affect my life," Rosemary’s voice carried the cold of winter. "If anything, it’s one less threat, one step closer to happiness."
By the time Rosemary had counted to ten, the person had just reached the third floor, panting and out of breath. They hadn’t managed to hit the switch when Rosemary’s dagger swiftly crossed Yolanda’s arm.
"Ahh." Yolanda screamed in agony, shaking with pain. She couldn’t believe Rosemary would actually do it.
Madwoman!
The knife returned to Yolanda’s throat, Rosemary’s tone still icy, "I’m counting to ten again. If they’re not released, it’ll be more than just an arm next time."
Yolanda was visibly frightened; she knew Rosemary meant every word. "Hurry up, let Edith go," she pleaded with her cronies.
"One." Rosemary began counting again.
"Why are you counting so fast." Yolanda was scared now.
The main switch was flipped, and ropes gently lowered Edith to the ground.
"Because I feel like it."
Yolanda was speechless.
A thug tossed Rosemary’s phone to her, and although Yolanda thought to escape while Rosemary was distracted, Rosemary was too quick. In less than two seconds, the phone was pocketed.
"Get Edith to the car."
Yolanda realized Rosemary planned to drive Edith away.
Meanwhile, the poison in her system forced another mouthful of blood up her throat.
"Rosemary, you can’t escape, look at yourself."
Rosemary had Yolanda in a chokehold, the blade of her switchblade glinting ominously close to her heart. "Did I ask for your opinion?"
Yolanda’s airway constricted under Rosemary’s grip, leaving her voiceless and gasping for air.
With Yolanda as her shield, Rosemary started to back away slowly. One of the goons, sharp as a tack, saw his chance. Rosemary’s hands were both in front of Yolanda—just one good shot to her hands, and Yolanda would be free!
With this in mind, he squeezed the trigger, but Rosemary was quick. She dodged, and in a vicious move, slashed Yolanda’s arm with the knife.
"Don’t test my patience," Rosemary warned, her tone icy.
Enraged and in pain, Yolanda lashed out at the gunman. "Can’t you shoot straight? You trying to get me killed?"
The gunman hung his head in shame. He hadn’t expected Rosemary to react so quickly.
"The woman’s in the car," another minion reported.
"The keys," Rosemary demanded.
The goon threw the keys to Rosemary, who caught them effortlessly. She slammed Yolanda against the car’s hood, the knife sinking into her left thigh—a revenge for Mya.
Yolanda screamed, her body arching in agony.
Rosemary hopped into the car. She put it in reverse, peeling back with such force that her henchmen couldn’t get a clear shot at her without risking hitting Yolanda.
It wasn’t until Rosemary had created a safe distance and swung the car around that Yolanda was flung from the hood.
The goons rushed to help her up. After all, Yolanda hadn’t paid them their final installment yet; they didn’t want her dying on them so soon.
"What are you all waiting for? Get that bitch!" Yolanda screamed, her anger boiling over.
Several minions hopped into their cars and gave chase.
Bullets pelted Rosemary’s ride.
In the back seat, Edith, barely conscious, forced her eyes open. She saw Rosemary wipe a trickle of blood from her lips, her knuckles white and strained against the steering wheel.
Tears blurred Edith’s vision. She felt responsible for Rosemary’s plight.
Anyone else would’ve abandoned her to save themselves.
But Rosemary hadn’t forgotten her. Despite her own wounds, she was still determined to take her maid with her.
Out on the open wasteland, Rosemary’s car led the chase, with seven or eight white cars in relentless pursuit, bullets tagging the body of her car.
A violent cough shook Rosemary, and she spat out another mouthful of blood.
Pain tore through her nerves and sanity, Rosemary’s car swerved, slowing from its initial breakneck speed.
Everyone knew she was on her last legs.
They floored the gas pedal, bullets raining even more furiously onto Rosemary’s silver car.
Behind the wheel of the Bugatti sat a man of regal coldness.
Was she injured?
Behind her, a pack of white cars was giving chase.
Rosemary was ushered to safety by a convoy of protective cars.
A group of white sedans, upon witnessing the scene, sensed trouble brewing.
"If we don’t deliver her back, the boss won’t cut our final check."
"Those black cars can’t be the girl’s lackeys. Let’s step out and have a word, ask them to butt out."
"We need to snag this girl. She left the boss in a bad way, and the boss’s itching to make an example out of her."
"Have you lost your minds? Don’t you recognize the Bugatti Veyron’s plate? That’s Romeo’s car! Floor it!"
Someone’s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, and the white sedans immediately made a U-turn and sped away.
Romeo’s men, however, were quick to draw their guns, pursuing the fleeing vehicles.
One of the white sedans was riddled with bullets, its passengers sent to meet their maker.
Another white sedan found itself ensnared by three black cars and surrendered in an instant.
Yet another was sent tumbling across the vast, open desert, rolling several times.
Romeo didn’t give chase. He opened the door to the silver car and lifted the bloodied girl.
"Where are you hurt?" Romeo was both pained and furious as he cradled her into the Bugatti Veyron and gently placed her in the passenger seat, his eyes red-rimmed, "Who did this?"
"Just poisoned." Rosemary, not wanting to worry him, managed a weak smile, "Take me to Reflections Villa."
"We’re heading to the hospital first," Romeo declared, starting the car.
"No need," Rosemary insisted, her insides feeling as if they were being ruthlessly torn apart by an invisible force, clinging to Romeo’s shirt, "I have the antidote there."
Understanding her, Romeo didn’t forget to command his men to take Edith for treatment before they left.
"Hang in there."
The Bugatti Veyron roared down the road.
Rosemary managed a smile, "Relax, I won’t die."
Seeing her feigning strength, Romeo’s heart ached even more.
He gripped her hand tightly, overwhelmed with concern, "I couldn’t reach you, knew you and Jack went to the auction, feared for your safety. I called Jack, learned you were missing, then tracked the surveillance footage and found out you handed over your phone before getting in the car."
"So you came all this way for me?" Rosemary noted his speed was even faster than she had expected.
"Who’s behind it?" Romeo glanced at her, asking.
"Yolanda," Rosemary’s pale smile emerged, "With Attlee and Olga gone, she’s out for revenge."
At that moment, Romeo’s phone rang. It was his men calling.
The call automatically connected to the car system, and the voice of his subordinate filled the car.
Hearing her voice, the subordinate promptly responded with respect, "Yes, Ms. Rose."
Romeo, noticing Rosemary’s complexion growing paler, sped up to get her back to Reflections Villa.
The entire Collins household was in shock as they saw Rose’s blood-soaked clothes.
"Rose, my darling girl." Louisa was distraught with worry, "What happened?"