My Rise and My Ex's Fall (Chloe and Arthur) novel Chapter 663

If that were really the case, she'd owe her a serious treat—not just one fancy dinner, but ten. No, a hundred.

Before she could finish the thought, a cold whistle sliced past Oralia's ear, followed by a sharp, muffled thwip.

That sound... it was a gunshot. Suppressed, just like in the movies. She'd acted in scenes like that before—she knew the drill.

Oralia froze, her hand still gripping Melinda's. Melinda stumbled to a stop, tugged back by the sudden halt.

"What is it?" Melinda asked, turning toward her.

But Oralia didn't answer. She stood motionless, eyes fixed ahead, blank and unblinking.

"A gun... oh my god—"

Another round cut through the air—this time striking Eugene.

Instinct took over. Eugene shoved Robert behind him, wrapping the boy tightly against his chest just as the bullet buried itself in his back.

Right where his heart was.

"Eugene!"

Chloe's cry tore through the air. She didn't remember sprinting forward—only that one moment she was standing there, and the next she was already running, already reaching for him as he buckled.

Eugene groaned. His arms, locked around Robert, went limp. His legs gave out, and he crumpled.

Chloe caught him, nearly falling under his weight. She dropped to her knees, cradling him, shouting into his paling face, "Eugene! Look at me!"

He was fading, but at the sound of her voice, his eyelids fluttered. His gaze searched through the haze until it found hers.

"Chloe..." His voice was barely a whisper, soft and frayed.

Her hands were slick with blood. She couldn't tell how much he'd lost—only that the warmth in her arms was seeping away, slowly, steadily.

It felt like her own heart was being carved out with it.

"Eugene, don't you close your eyes. Look at me... look at me!" Her voice climbed, raw and desperate.

"You are not allowed to sleep. You like me, don't you? You wanted to marry me, right? We're not married yet. I never said yes. If you die... I swear I'll dig you right back up."

Her throat burned from screaming.

Maybe her words got through. The man whose eyes had drifted shut slowly opened them again.

Eugene winced, a faint crease forming between his brows—a quiet sign of pain.

That spot... This is bad. Really bad.

"Do you hear me? You're not dying!"

She was shouting now, louder than she'd ever shouted, scared in a way she'd never been—frantic, unanchored, lost.

"The car's here, Ms. Lewis. We need to move him—now," Bruce urged, voice tight. But Chloe didn't seem to hear. She kept holding Eugene, her grip white-knuckled, unwilling to let go.

Bruce had no choice. He signaled two of his men to gently pull her back.

The bodyguards hesitated, afraid to hurt her. They fumbled, unable to loosen her hold.

Then Robert stepped forward and wrapped his small arms around Chloe from behind.

"Mommy... let go. Daddy has to go to the hospital. Please."

Something in his voice snapped her back. Somehow—she didn't know where the strength came from—Chloe scrambled to her feet and hauled Eugene onto her back, staggering but upright.

"Ms. Lewis—" Bruce stared, taken aback.

No one dared stop her now. They moved alongside, steadying her load, and helped bundle Eugene into the back seat as quickly as they could.

"Go... just go... hurry, drive," Chloe urged, her face pale and blank, eyes fixed ahead with a fierce, terrifying determination.