While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Chapter 136 A Lifeline in the Mud

The water was impossibly cold.

That was the very first thing Dorian registered as his body slammed through the surface, a violent, ice-cold shock that instantly tore every bit of oxygen straight from his lungs. The heavy river current seized him without mercy, dragging him under and slamming his battered frame against the sharp rocks lining the riverbed. Hard edges scraped across his back, his legs, and his bleeding arms, tearing through what was left of his clothing.

He fought to breathe, but only sucked in freezing water. He tried to open his eyes, but saw nothing. He tried to listen for the sound of the rushing rapids, but his ears only rang with a deafening, hollow pressure.

Eventually, the wild roar in his head faded out entirely, replaced by absolute, heavy silence.

He was just drifting, completely at the mercy of the water. The winding current dragged his limp body down the canyon before finally tossing him toward a shallow bank.

His face scraped against coarse mud, wet grass, and frozen earth. Solid ground.

He was out of the river.

He lay there on his stomach, coughing weakly as frigid water spilled from his mouth and nose. His chest burned like it was filled with hot coals, and every breath felt like inhaling glass.

He tried to push himself up on his elbows.

Nothing happened. His arms refused to respond.

He tried to open his eyes to scan his surroundings.

Complete darkness. His vision was entirely gone.

He tried to listen for the sounds of the mountain or the mercenaries chasing him down.

Total silence.

He tried to part his lips and yell for help.

Not a single sound came out of his throat.

Blind. Deaf. Paralyzed.

The M-209 nerve agent had done its job, locking him inside a completely useless body.

Despite his physical state, his mind remained sharp and clear.

He knew exactly where the current had dumped him. This had to be the edge of the Giia Forest, the dense valley stretching out beneath the high cliffs. He had carefully studied the maps of this entire region before flying out, memorizing every trail and landmark. He knew the terrain by heart.

Unfortunately, knowing where he was didn’t mean anything if he couldn’t move a single muscle. He couldn’t crawl to safety, he couldn’t call out, and he certainly couldn’t defend himself if someone found him.

It was only a matter of time before the mercenaries made their way down the mountain trail to check the base of the cliff. They were professionals. They would check the riverbank, inspect his body, and put a bullet through his head to confirm the kill.

He had to get out of the open. He needed to find cover, find help, and survive this night.

Yet he was entirely helpless.

He tried to feel around his pockets for his phone, but he quickly realized it was gone, likely torn from his jacket when he hit the water at terminal velocity. He had zero ways to signal his location to his remaining men in the city.

A sudden wave of panic rose up in his chest, threatening to drown him from the inside out. He forced it down with raw discipline.

Think, he commanded himself, focusing every ounce of his willpower on his right hand. Move.

Nothing happened.

Then, after several seconds of intense effort, his index finger gave a tiny, barely noticeable twitch against the wet mud. That was all he could manage.

Footsteps were approaching.

Because his hearing was completely dead, he didn’t hear them coming. But lying flat against the ground, he felt the faint, rhythmic vibrations traveling through the dirt and wet grass.

Someone was walking straight toward him.

Dorian’s heart began to hammer violently against his ribs, his shallow breathing turning ragged.

The vibrations suddenly stopped.

Whoever it was, they were now standing directly beside his face.

He couldn’t see if it was one of the masked mercenaries coming to finish the job. He couldn’t hear the sound of a gun cocking. He couldn’t even brace himself to fight back.

All he could perceive was a sudden shift in the air, a subtle shadow blocking the cold wind, the slight warmth of a human body, and the subtle, clean scent of crushed wild flowers drifted past his nose.

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