Return of the Crowned Heiress novel Chapter 542

The force of the explosion caused even the helicopter to wobble slightly.

Felicia held tightly to the rope ladder, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene below. She reached out desperately toward Stephan on the ground, shouting, "Hurry, grab my hand!"

Stephan smiled faintly, steadying his breath. Then, with a powerful leap, he reached for Felicia's outstretched hand. His strong fingers wrapped tightly around hers as he used the momentum to pull himself upward. With that, he grabbed hold of the rope ladder.

Stanley, who was crouching by the helicopter's cabin door, immediately shouted to the pilot, "Go! Take off now!"

The sun was rising, and the thick mist that had once filled the canyon had long since been swept away by the shockwaves produced by the explosions.

The helicopter ascended rapidly and headed toward a safe direction.

The rope ladder swayed in mid-air. Stephan held Felicia protectively in his arms, ensuring she wouldn't lose her grip and fall. The wind roared past them, whipping their hair and clothes as it howled into their ears.

Above them, the blazing sun illuminated the endless expanse of greenery below. Behind them, explosions erupted in succession, sending rocks and debris flying, creating a scene that was both breathtaking and terrifying at the same time.

Felicia looked up and was immediately struck by the sight of Stephan's stunning face so close to hers.

His deep, brilliant eyes gleamed with a subtle smile. Strands of disheveled black hair, tousled by the wind, fell across his lashes, but they couldn't conceal his striking elegance.

Felicia's heart skipped a beat, its rhythm thrown into disarray. Images of the perilous moment earlier flashed through her mind.

If they had been a second slower—just one second—Stephan would've been crushed beneath the massive boulders.

Felicia checked his injuries right away. He was hurt, though not as severely as she had feared. Yet true to form, he treated his injuries as though they were nothing. He barely made a sound even when she cleaned and dressed his wounds.

Felicia knew this was his way of easing her guilt and making her worry less. But the more he acted like this, the more her heart ached. She was as gentle as possible while applying the medicine.

In the corner of the cabin, Stanley and two other subordinates huddled together, watching the scene unfold with wide-eyed astonishment.

Their usually cold and distant employer was actually grinning from ear to ear. The icy sharpness in his eyes had melted, replaced by a warm, tender glow. Even his furrowed brows had smoothed out, leaving no trace of his usual harshness.

This gentleness was something they had never seen before. It was nothing short of a miracle!