?Chapter 223:


    The impact of the door against the front of the car was terrifying.


    The loud bang caught the men''s attention, who quickly freed Monica and ran away.


    The vehicle became wedged in the rubble and Caden jumped out, brandishing a cold pistol and immediately opening fire on the group.


    Taken by surprise by the sudden attack, the men scattered in panic.


    However, no one was able to escape.


    Within a few moments, everyone was on the ground.


    Joshua noticed that the men were riddled with needles and realized that they had been hit by tranquilizer darts, not bullets.


    He acted quickly, grabbing a knife and pressing it against Alicia''s neck.


    Caden pointed his gun at Joshua.


    The icy wind screamed, but Caden’s stern gaze was even more intimidating than the dark barrel of his gun.


    Alicia, now a human shield, stepped in front of Joshua.


    The sharp knife rested against his neck, where the slightest movement could prove fatal.


    But when she looked at Caden, who had appeared out of nowhere, her previously nk and unfeeling expression turned into a faint smile.


    The fear and despair disappeared instantly.


    They were reced by a deep sense of relief.


    Caden continued forward, each step deliberate, his intense eyes fixed on Joshua.


    “If this knife does any harm to her, I will finish you.


    ” Joshua was not afraid.


    Not knowing how Caden had found them, and not having time to think, he screamed, his eyes red with rage, “Caden, take one more step and I’ll slit her throat!” He tightened his grip on the knife as he spoke.


    A thin line of blood appeared on Alicia''s pale neck.


    Caden''s eyes darkened and he stopped moving.


    Alicia noticed Joshua''s hands were shaking.


    They needed to understand each other''s intentions.


    Caden flexed his thumb and pulled the trigger.


    Just before the shot rang out, Alicia threw her head back and hit Joshua hard in the skull.


    At the same time, a tranquilizer dart hit Joshua''s hand as he grabbed the knife.


    The knife fell to the ground.


    Alicia quickly pushed it away and ran to Caden.


    Caden stepped forward, opened his arms, and enveloped her in a hug.


    At that moment, his heart calmed down, cold and steady as ever.


    He fired a few more tranquilizer darts at Joshua, realizing that they were almost exhausted.


    Still, the darts had done enough to partially paralyze Joshua, leaving him unable to move.


    Alicia leaned weakly on Caden, clinging to his clothes as if she were clinging to life itself.


    “Monica…” he murmured, his voice weak and trembling with fear.


    “Save Monica.


    ”


    Caden picked her up with one arm, wrapped her in his cloak, and headed into a nearby room.


    Monica''s clothes were torn, but she was unharmed.


    He grabbed a piece of cloth to cover her and took her away.


    far.


    By then, Cliff had arrived with reinforcements and was tasked with deciding Joshua''s fate.


    Caden put Monica in the car and then turned to check on Alicia.


    Alice was still shaking.


    Completely exhausted and scared, her body was still reacting to the residual fear.


    Caden, who had never seen her so vulnerable,forted her with unusual tenderness, althoughforting others was something new for him.


    Alice leaned on his arm.


    She moaned softly, and he could make out her name.


    Though barely audible, it resonated deeply with Caden.


    She needed it desperately.


    She would only show her true longing when she waspletely out of her mind.


    Caden felt the urge to kiss her, but just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Joshua manage to get into the car Caden had crashed into the door.


    Through the car window, Caden saw Joshua''s wicked smile.


    Joshua seemed determined to take her with him.


    With Monica in the car, Caden had to distract Joshua.


    He quickly led Alice to an open space.


    A car could never be as agile as a person''s legs.


    But Joshua, driven by madness, charged straight at them.


    Caden, unfamiliar with the terrain, ran into an open area, but identally stepped into a hole hidden beneath the snow.


    His movements were immediately hampered.


    Joshua tried to charge again, but the tranquilizers had disoriented him, causing him to drive erratically and aimlessly.


    His car hit a mountain of debris, which fell, heading straight for Caden.


    Caden quickly moved away, but the snow copsed beneath him.


    Holding on tightly to Alicia, they fell down the slope together.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Joshua watched them tumble down the slope, believing that if the fall didn''t kill them, the icy snow would bury them.


    Heughed heartily, his eyes red and wild, but his joy was short-lived when Cliff arrived at the scene.


    Cliff quickly subdued Joshua and turned him over to authorities.


    Cliff then began searching for Caden.


    Despite an exhaustive search, he found no trace of them.


    He scanned the ground for signs of a struggle and reached the edge of the mountaintop.


    The height was daunting and below was nothing but darkness.


    Realizing that something serious had happened, Cliff immediately ordered a wide-ranging search and rescue operation.