Return of the Crowned Heiress novel Chapter 692

"What?"

Michael and the robed man simultaneously turned their heads toward where Pete had been lying. The spot was now empty, save for a few drops of blood left on the ground.

He ran? Pete had escaped?

The robed man stared dumbfounded at the empty spot as if someone had struck him over the head with a club.

Only now did he finally realize what had happened. The reason Pete had handed him the C4 explosives was not out of trust or sacrifice but to distract and draw all the attention and firepower toward himself. This allowed Pete to slip away unnoticed.

Now that he thought about it, Pete's injuries didn't seem all that serious. He must have faked his weakness, pretending to collapse so convincingly that he had fooled everyone!

And the robed man had fallen for it. He believed Pete's lies!

"That bastard!"

The robed man's eyes blazed with fury. He didn't know whether to blame Pete for being so cunning or himself for being so gullible.

He knew Pete wasn't trustworthy. He knew Pete was the kind who showed a gentlemanly facade but never hesitated to stab someone in the back. How many times had Pete pulled similar stunts in the past?

Michael shot a quick glance at his team, signaling them to pursue Pete. But just as they began to move, the unmistakable hum of a helicopter rose from a nearby clearing.

Everyone turned to watch as the helicopter slowly ascended into the sky and flew away, vanishing into the horizon.

The robed man couldn't hold it anymore. He let out a guttural curse, "Fuck!"

The so-called ten-minute backup was a hoax. Pete had planned this all along. He must have secretly arranged for the helicopter beforehand, ensuring a smooth escape for himself while leaving the robed man behind to fend off the Special Operations Unit on his own.

Michael frowned as he watched the helicopter disappear. Then, he turned back to the robed man with a mocking smirk. "Looks like you've been sold out. Are you sure you still want to help this guy?"

Stephan, who had been sitting just outside, immediately opened his eyes. His usual calm and steady demeanor was intact, but if one listened carefully, there was a subtle tremor in his voice when he asked the doctor who just took off his mask, "How is she?"

When Imogen was rushed to the hospital earlier, her condition was terrifying. Her face was ashen, and the knife wound she sustained was fatal. It was one that most people wouldn't have survived for more than a few minutes. Even the experienced medical team shook their heads upon seeing her injuries.

"It's not looking good," one of the doctors muttered at the time.

Now, after two grueling hours, the lead surgeon managed a smile despite his exhaustion.

"Mr. Russell, the surgery was a success. Ms. Russell is out of immediate danger. And I have to say, it's all thanks to whoever treated her wounds before she got here. The hemostatic medication used was incredibly effective and also boosted her recovery!"

The surgeon sighed, then continued, "To put it simply, without that medication, Ms. Russell wouldn't have made it to the hospital in time. Mr. Russell, if I may ask—where did you get such extraordinary medicine? Does it have a name? Do you have a source?"

To be honest, the surgeon was more interested in knowing who performed first-aid on Imogen. However, after noticing how Stephan's expression went through a whole slew of changes, the surgeon didn't dare voice his question.