Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 429

Time flew by, and it was already the day before Stella was set to leave for Port City.

The grand gambling tournament on the high seas was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and she needed to arrive in Port City a day early to meet up with Nina.

On the night before her departure, Julius refused to let her out of his grip, pulling her into his arms for round after round of intimacy.

Exhausted, Stella collapsed against his chest, begging for mercy. "I can't... please give me a break. I literally have no energy left."

Julius held her tightly against him, his voice thick with reluctance. "Stella, I can't go with you this time. You have to be incredibly careful. Take a bodyguard with you. I know you're highly capable, but an extra set of hands never hurts."

He had fully intended to accompany her to Port City, but a massive crisis had erupted at the mining operations in South Africa, requiring his immediate, in-person intervention.

If he hadn't selfishly delayed his flight just to spend one last night holding her, he would have already been en route to South Africa.

He didn't know how long her tournament would take, and his own return date was entirely up in the air. The thought of them being apart for an indeterminate amount of time was driving him crazy.

Stella shook her head. "I can't. If I take a bodyguard, I won't be able to bring Drake. He helped me out last time I was in Port City, and I owe him. I have to repay that favor. I hate owing people."

Normally, people owed her favors. She rarely owed anyone else.

For this exclusive cruise, each competitor was only allowed to bring one plus-one.

The moment she found out Julius couldn't make it, she had immediately reached out to Drake and offered him the spot.

She wasn't going to go back on her word.

"Alright, fine. But if you run into someone stronger than you, do not engage in a head-on fight. Your safety is the absolute top priority. Understood?"

She was an exceptional fighter, but there was always someone bigger and stronger out there. No one was invincible.

"Good to see you too, Drake. And coming all the way to the airport to get me? I'm flattered."

"Of course! You bringing me onto that ship means you consider me a friend. I still don't know how to repay you for this."

He knew 'Star' had a wealthy husband who adored her. The fact that she was leaving her husband behind just to bring him along so he could hunt down clues about his father's killer... he was overwhelmingly grateful.

"Don't mention it. Like you said, we're friends. No need to be so polite. Drop me off at the hotel first. I'm meeting Nina for dinner at seven, and it's only four right now. We've got plenty of time."

If Stella had known what Drake was thinking, she would have laughed out loud.

She deliberately hadn't mentioned that Julius had been forced to go on a business trip. That was the only reason Drake even got the spot.

If Julius hadn't been sent to South Africa, Drake wouldn't have stood a chance.