The Billionaire Regretted Losing His Invisible Wife novel Chapter 181

Chapter 203 You’ll have your freedom

Kyle’s POV

Mia.

She was alive.

The maintenance door opened into a utility closet adjacent to the main room. Through a narrow ventilation grille, I could see part of the penthouse interior-plush furnishings, expensive artwork. A man’s voice continued speaking, the tone cultured and cold.

“…the Branson bloodline ends today.”

I’d heard enough.

The door burst open under my shoulder, splinters flying as the reinforced wood gave way. The scene unfolded before me with crystal clarity-Mia, bound and terrified. Charles Porter, gun raised. Nate Pierce, lunging forward too late.

My first shot took Porter in the shoulder, spinning him away from Mia. The second caught him in the upper chest, not immediately fatal but debilitating.

Our eyes locked across the room-his filled with shock and hatred, mine with the cold certainty of a man protecting what was his.

“Kyle,” Mia gasped, her voice breaking through the ringing in my ears.

Porter recovered with surprising speed, raising his weapon toward me despite his injuries. We now stood in perfect deadlock, guns aimed at each other’s hearts.

“Branson,” he snarled, blood staining his immaculate shirt. “How fitting that you should be here to witness this.”

“Drop the gun, Porter,” I commanded, my voice impossibly calm despite the rage coursing through me. “It’s over.”

His laugh was wet with blood. “Over? This has barely begun. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment? To see you experience the same loss I did?”

“I know exactly who you are,” I replied. “I know about Diana. About Carol. About everything.”

Porter’s eyes widened fractionally. “Then you understand why this must happen. An eye for an eye.”

“Your quarrel was with my father,” I said, not lowering my weapon. “He’s already paid his price.”

“Not enough,” Porter spat. “Your family destroyed everything I loved. Now you’ll watch as I do the same to you.”

He shifted his aim toward Mia, and something in me snapped.

“Don’t,” I warned, taking a step forward.

“Stop right there,” Porter commanded. “Or she dies now.”

I froze, calculating distances, angles, probabilities. He was wounded but still dangerous. The distance between us was too great for me to reach him before he could pull the trigger.

“Nate,” Porter called, not taking his eyes off me. “Secure Branson.”

Pierce hesitated, his expression conflicted.

“Now, Nate!” Porter demanded. “Remember why we’re here. Remember Carol.”

“Carol wouldn’t want this,” Pierce responded quietly. “She wouldn’t want more innocent deaths.”

Porter’s face contorted with rage. “Then you’re as weak as she was. Guards!”

+20 Bonus

The door behind me burst open as Porter’s security detail flooded in, weapons raised. I was forced to divide my attention, my

hances of saving Mia diminishing with each passing second

‘Drop your weapon, Branson,” Porter ordered, victory lacing his words. “Or my men will cut you down where you stand.”

looked at Mia, our eyes meeting across the chaos. In that moment, a wordless understanding passed between us. I saw fear in her eyes, yes–but also determination. Trust.

My decision was made.

‘You want me, Porter,” I said evenly. “Not her. Let her go, and I’m yours.”

‘Kyle, no!” Mia cried out.

‘orter studied me, calculation replacing rage. “A noble gesture. But ultimately fieaningless.” He gestured to his men. “Kill him.

Everything happened in an instant.

fired twice as I dove for cover, both shots finding their mark in Porter’s forehead. His expression froze in permanent surprise is he crumpled to the ground.

Sunfire erupted around us. I rolled, coming up in front of Mia, using my body as a shield as I returned fire. My security team ngaged from the hallway, creating a deadly crossfire.

Something hot and wet splashed against my face-blood from one of Porter’s men. I continued firing methodically, each shot inding its target with mechanical precision.

Then came the impact-like being hit by a sledgehammer. The force knocked me backward into Mia. I felt warm wetness preading across my chest but felt oddly detached from the sensation.

‘Kyle!” Mia’s scream seemed to come from very far away.

More gunfire. The remaining guards fell. Matthew’s voice calling for a medic.

looked down at my chest, seeing the crimson stain spreading across my shirt with a strange academic interest. Bullet had ntered just below my collarbone.

Mia,” I managed, turning to face her. Her hands were still bound, her face pale with terror. “Are you hurt? The babies?”

‘I’m fine,” she sobbed, struggling against her restraints. “But you’re bleeding. Oh God, Kyle, there’s so much blood.”

Matthew appeared at my side, cutting Mia’s bonds with a tactical knife while applying pressure to my wound with his free hand.

‘Medic’s two minutes out,” he reported tersely. “Hold on, sir.”

nodded, suddenly finding it difficult to remain standing. I sank to my knees, Mia immediately beside me, her newly freed lands pressing against my wound.

‘Stay with me,” she commanded, her voice surprisingly steady despite the tears streaming down her face. “Don’t you dare die ›n me, Kyle Branson.”

I found myself smiling despite the pain now radiating through my chest. “I wouldn’t.” I replied weakly.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify