<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Chapter 865 Scheming Jessica</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia couldn’t dodge in time, so she immediately stepped back.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yet, the pain she was waiting for never came. Instead, she found herself enveloped in the embrace of a tall figure.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Somehow, Nathaniel managed to dart toward her, throwing himself in front of Cecilia without a second thought for his own safety. Though he couldn’t see, he relied on her voice from earlier to gauge her position. Thankfully, he wasn’t, wrong. Uncertain of the snake’s exact location, he used his entire body to shield her from harm.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia, protected in his arms, was in disbelief.</font></font>Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The snake didn’t strike Cecilia, as Sven, in a swift move, kicked Jessica–who had been clinging to him- straight in the snake’s direction.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Jessica flew through the air and hit the ground hard, narrowly missing the snake.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The snake, startled, darted into the bushes.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Dirt and grass filled her mouth, her waist throbbing with pain. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried out, “How dare you kick me?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Sven’s gaze was cold as he responded indifferently, “My duty is to protect Ms. Smith, not you.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Jessica was at a loss for words. The snake would’ve bitten me just now! What is this bodyguard thinking?</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Vivian and the others finally recovered from the shock. They held no sympathy for Jessica.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“How dare you me Sven? The snake was about to leave, but you had to make noise and provoke it! Did you want the snake to bite Ceci?” Vivian was so furious that she wanted to kick Jessica.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Lucille chimed in, “You’re so evil! Nathaniel told us to be quiet, yet you deliberately screamed.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Jessica struggled to rise from the ground. “You all were deliberately targeting me. I was so close to the snake; of course I was scared. Besides, didn’t you hear me telling Cecilia to run?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Looking at how stubborn she was, Vivian stormed over to her with a huff. “Fine. If a snake appearster, I’ll put you and the snake together. Let’s see if you can outrun it.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“You’re being unreasonable,” retorted Jessica.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Vivian, enraged, was ready to roll up her sleeves and confront her.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Zachary immediately stepped forward, grabbing Vivian, “All right, calm down. Everything’s fine now.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Everything’s fine?” Vivian red at him. “Are you blind or deaf? Can’t you see through her scheming? She’s after Ceci and her babies‘ lives!”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel was still hugging Cecilia, who was still trembling uncontrobly in fear return to the Quill residence on your own, or should I escort you back?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Jessica exined, “Nathaniel, it was all a misunderstanding. I was really scared earlier. I only told Cecilia to fun because I was afraid she’d get hurt.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel wasn’t interested in her exnation.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The reason he let her stay in the first ce was because Cecilia said she could.</font></font>
“I don’t want to repeat myself. The choice is yours.” After Nathaniel finished speaking, he held Cecilia even tighter. His voice, though not gentle, was soft as he reassured, “It’s okay now.”
Cecilia leaned against him, still in a daze.
She couldn’t believe that Nathaniel would risk his life to save her.
Elliot stood a distance away, holding Nathaniel’s phone. He captured a photo of the moment when the two were wrapped in each other’s arms.
Amid the cascade of flower petals, the sight of the two embracing was breathtakingly beautiful.
“I’m setting as the background image.” Elliot spoke, operating Nathaniel’s phone.
Jonathan was puzzled. “How did you know his phone’s password?”