How the Ice King Became my Doting Billionaire Husband novel Chapter 438

Clutching his knife tightly, Stuart was determined to fight. He employed every self-defense move and combat skill he had mastered over the years. Yet, against sheer brute force, these skills often proved futile. Stuart's body was accumulating injuries. It felt as though a black bear had snapped two of his ribs with a single swipe, making every breath a sharp stab of pain. A vicious claw had left deep lacerations on his thigh, tearing through flesh and skin alike. Despite the dire situation, Stuart’s gaze remained cold and unflinching, showing no trace of fear or retreat. He gripped his knife firmly, searching for any weak spot beneath the bear's thick hide. The bear's eyes were bloodshot, its increasing pain pushing it into a frenzy. In a quick maneuver, as the bear lunged, Stuart used his left arm to block its gaping jaws and plunged his knife into its belly with a swift motion. The bear roared in agony. Seizing the moment, Stuart withdrew his arm and fled, managing to put some distance between himself and the furious beast.

Even though the bear was injured, Stuart knew he couldn't afford a direct confrontation. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his left arm was a gruesome sight, flesh torn to the bone. In this wilderness, any predator could claim his life. Not far ahead, Stuart spotted Edmund making his way back and called out, "Didn’t I tell you to get going?" Edmund rushed to Stuart's side, helping him run. "As if I'd leave," Edmund panted, "Where would this old bag of bones go? If I went any farther, not just a bear, even a stray dog could take me down. Plus, were you so sure you'd even find me again out here?"

Stuart fell silent, unable to deny the truth in Edmund’s words. Finding Edmund in this vast wilderness had been a stroke of luck. Edmund, catching his breath, grumbled, "There’s a cave up ahead. The entrance is narrow, too small for that big brute to follow. I came back for you!" The bear hadn’t given up the chase, but its injuries – blinded and with a wounded belly – slowed it down considerably. Supporting each other, they made it to the cave.

The entrance was indeed narrow, barely wide enough for Stuart's frame, let alone a bear. Inside, the cave opened up, offering just enough space for both men to rest. "It's man-made," Edmund observed. "People don’t usually venture into these parts, but some outlaws and thrill-seekers come looking to hunt valuable game. No matter how prepared, many meet their end here." As Edmund rambled on, he turned to find Stuart unconscious. With a sigh, Edmund began to tend to Stuart’s wounds, muttering to himself about the irony of fighting for life at his age.

Then, a roar and the sound of something slamming against the cave’s entrance startled him. "That damn thing holds a grudge," Edmund mumbled, realizing the bear had stationed itself at the entrance, effectively trapping them. There they were, stuck in a cave with no way out, guarded by a vengeful black bear.