He Never Loved Me Until the Day I Finally Left Him novel Chapter 839

The address twisted her stomach into knots.

The cellular reception in the slums was virtually nonexistent, rendering her GPS useless.

She had to navigate blindly, searching for landmarks.

The streets were crawling with shady figures, their eyes tracing her every movement with predatory interest.

Helena ignored them.

Her nerves were pulled taut, adrenaline keeping her hyper-focused.

After a few wrong turns, she began to mentally map the erratic layout of the alleys.

Her pace quickened dramatically.

Following her instincts, she finally located the decrepit building.

It was tucked into the deepest, southeast pocket of the slums—a highly strategic location that offered the kidnappers an easy escape route into the wilderness.

But for Helena, it was a dead end; once inside, she would be completely trapped.

Steeling herself, she approached the heavy iron door.

It was shut tight, the area seemingly abandoned.

Helena took a breath and pushed hard against the rusted metal.

Just as she stepped into the threshold, her eyes widened in shock, but she masked it instantly.

In the periphery of the shadows, she saw Sebastian.

His dark gaze met hers, calculating and dangerously calm.

He gave her a subtle gesture, signaling her to keep moving forward.

Helena had no choice; this wasn't the time to let grudges ruin a rescue.

She walked steadily into the dimly lit corridor.

Without making it obvious, she angled her body to shield Sebastian's approach from the security cameras.

The ground floor was a cavernous, empty shell.

She stared directly into the lens of the mounted camera. "Let the girl go. I'm the one you want. She is the heiress of the Campbell family. If she dies on your watch, I swear to God you will never leave Coralia alive."

She spoke with a terrifying calm.

"I'm here. Bring her to me," she demanded smoothly.

The distorted voice crackled from a hidden speaker, ordering her to head up the stairs.

The holding rooms were on the second floor.

The ground floor offered zero cover.

Sebastian was concealed in a blind spot, but he couldn't follow her up the stairs without being seen.

If she went up alone, she would be walking straight into a slaughterhouse.

"Send someone down, or the deal is off," she shot back, holding her ground.

It was a high-stakes standoff.

A severe asthma attack had been triggered.

The little girl's small hand clutched her chest, agonizing pain etched across her pale face.

"Skye!" Helena cried out.

Skye didn't respond.

She was slipping away, drowning in agony.

One of the kidnappers stood over her, his gun leveled directly at the child.

"Back off!" the man screamed at Helena, his eyes wild.

"Take one more step and I blow her head off!" he roared.

Helena froze, terrified to trigger him.

These men were cornered animals; they were capable of anything.

But looking at Skye's violently heaving chest, Helena knew she only had seconds left.

Helena's eyes darted frantically, desperately searching for an opening.

Skye forced her heavy eyelids open.

Even in her delirium, she instantly sensed Helena's presence.

Looking weakly in Helena's direction, the little girl formed the words with trembling lips. 'Run, Helena. Run.'