?<strong>Chapter 335:</strong>


    The vehicle behind them waspletely in mes.


    Joelle had never engaged in such a daring act before. Adrian was sprinting ahead, gripping her hand firmly. Their escape felt more thrilling than any action film.


    Instead of watching where she was going, Joelle’s eyes were locked on the back of Adrian’s head, experiencing a rush of freedom, exhration, and happiness like never before. Adrian was reveling in the moment too. The look of vexation on Bryce’s face brought him more joy than winning the lottery.


    Bang!


    Suddenly, a gunshot rang out overhead, halting their flight. Adrian quickly ushered Joelle to safety behind him.


    Bryce, hanging out of the car window,manded his drivers to encircle them.


    Casting a nervous nce around, Joelle knew she was frightened. Yet, the more fear she felt, the more she managed to appearposed.


    “Adrian, I don’t want to die here, especially not alongside you.” Adrian tightened his grip on her hand, his fear of losing her evident. “I don’t want to meet my end here with you either.”


    “Damn it, do you think this is a movie? Give me what Jonathan handed over to you! Or you’ll regret it!”


    Since Bryce had a gun, a direct confrontation was out of the question.


    Adrian surveyed Bryce’s menacing thugs. “With a gun aimed at me, it’s difficult for me toply with your demands.”


    “Damn it.” Bryce, exasperated and skeptical of their chances to escape with such a crowd around, lowered his weapon. “Don’t be a fool! If you want to survive, hand over the ring!”


    Adrian withdrew the green ring and held it up to the sunlight.


    From afar, Bryce assumed it was the object he sought. Just as he moved to grab it, Adrian added, “I’ve heard this ring is traditionally passed only to the heir of your family.” Bryce was intensely focused on the ring, knowing it could change the power dynamics within his family; that was why he had pursued it so eagerly.


    Originally, as the firstborn son, Bryce should have naturally inherited everything.


    Yet, for some reason, his father decided to include Jonathan, his illegitimate son, in the family.


    Not only had he elevated Jonathan’s mother from her humble beginnings to his wife, but he also prepped Jonathan to be his sessor.


    At this moment, the ring represented not just authority but vast riches, yet in Adrian’s grasp, it appeared merely as a trinket.


    “Hand it over!”


    Joelle shouted, “This piece holds immense value. If we surrender it to you, we stand to lose significantly!”


    “What do you propose then? As long as I am around, you won’t be seeing my father. I’ll settle matters with Jonathan before my father learns of this. Then, I will assume my rightful ce as the heir!”


    Adrian and Joelle shared a knowing look. Just as Jonathan had foreseen, his brother was not particrly smart.


    He had unwittinglyid out his entire n without any provocation, confirming why the old man felt the need to find another sessor.


    Adrian responded calmly, “First tell us, what will we gain if we hand it over to you?”


    “You will…” Bryce pondered hard.


    Wealth? Adrian was not in need. Influence? He had plenty. He was also a family man, with a wife and children.


    What could he possibly offer that Adrian didn’t already have?


    “Boss, don’t fall for his games! That ring is ours by right!”


    “I’m aware! No need to remind me!” Bryce retorted, his pride wounded, and he raised his gun once more. “Why should I negotiate with you? The ring will still be mine after I kill you!”


    Adrian scoffed, “Then I’ll just destroy it. If I can’t have it, no one will.”


    “No!” Bryce was thrown into immediate panic.


    Joelle offered a suggestion. “Why don’t we sit down and talk this through?”


    Bryce paused, clearly uncertain. A whisper from one of his henchmen sparked an idea in his mind.


    “Alright!” He swung open the car door. “Get inside.”


    Naturally, Joelle and Adrian were not about to apany him. However, in that moment, they were so engrossed in figuring out their next move that theypletely overlooked Bryce signaling his men.


    A group of men charged at them, pulling Joelle and Adrian apart.


    In his distress, Adrian reached to pull Joelle back but received a fierce kick to the stomach.


    “Adrian!” Joelle yelled.


    He tried to shrug off the pain, but they were outnumbered, and the men blocked his path to Joelle.


    Just as Adrian moved to step forward, the group began to assault him with punches and kicks.


    “Adrian! Adrian!”


    Joelle pounded her foot in frustration, trapped by the two men restraining her. Her arms were wrenched painfully behind her, and the sight of Adrian being attacked was even more agonizing.


    Initially, Adrian managed to resist a bit, but after a few cowardly blows, he kept copsing only to struggle to his feet again. The taste of blood filled his mouth, yet his eyes stayed locked on Joelle, full of concern.


    Eventually, he couldn’t stand any longer.


    Bryce approached and ordered two men to prop him up.


    “Where’s the ring?”


    Adrian’s fist was clenched tight.


    Despite the severe beating, he still held the ring so firmly that two men couldn’t force it open.


    Losing his temper, Bryce seized Adrian by the hair and jerked his bloodied head up.


    “Think hard. If you don’t hand over the ring, I’ll have my men do as they please with your woman!”


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