Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover novel Chapter 874

She shouted Connor's name, her voice raw and desperate. Her hands were bound so tightly she couldn't break free, and her wrists were already marked with bloody welts. Even Barrett, who was no stranger to harsh scenes, couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

Chloe was drowning in despair. She screamed and shouted until her voice gave out, leaving her unable to cry anymore. Claire watched, frozen in shock. She hadn’t even made a move, yet there he was, lifeless. How could Connor be dead already?

Seeing him lying in a pool of blood, Claire felt like the dagger had plunged into her own heart. Revenge was supposed to be sweet, but all she felt was a hollow, tearing pain. Tears streamed down her face as she dropped the gun from her hands and knelt beside Connor. "Connor, Connor..." she whispered, her voice softer than it had ever been.

As she looked at Connor, all her hatred seemed to vanish. In her mind, the man on the ground became her son. Triumph and satisfaction were nowhere to be found, only boundless sorrow filled her heart. Despite her previous loathing, she felt as though she had lost the most precious thing in the world. Instinctively, she reached out to touch him, but as soon as her fingers brushed his face, Connor grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

The dagger, which had been lodged in his chest, was now held against her neck. Somehow, Connor had found the strength to take her hostage. Claire was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend how he was still alive. "Don't move, or we'll both go down!" Connor's cold voice brought her back to reality.

She let out a bitter laugh, "Playing dead now, are you?" Connor had indeed been pretending. In the heat of the moment, Claire could have easily riddled him with bullets. So he acted first, catching her off guard to pull her out of her frenzy. It was a risky move, but it worked. Even though he had stabbed himself with precision to avoid vital organs, the wound was real, and blood was flowing freely, staining even Claire's clothes.

Claire's anger flared. "Connor, you deceived me! Was everything an act?" His heartfelt cries of "mom" had seemed so genuine! Was that just part of his performance too? When she thought he was dead, she had felt a deep, motherly grief, as if a piece of her was being ripped away. Yet, his cold and detached demeanor now made him seem like a different person entirely, convincing her that he had been acting all along. His goal was to make her let her guard down and seize the moment to take her hostage.

Connor's voice was icy, like frost on a winter morning. "To handle a madwoman, you need mad tactics!" His dagger had already left a thin trail of blood on Claire's neck, but she felt no pain, only laughed, "I almost shed tears thinking you were gone." Connor shot back, "Those would be crocodile tears."

In spite of his injuries, Connor managed to stand, holding onto Claire. He turned his gaze to Barrett, his tone commanding, "Barrett! Let them go!"