Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Connor had seen it all coming. As darkness settled in, the bodyguards started feeling uneasy, each rushing off into the woods with a sudden urge to... well, let's just say nature was calling in the worst way. Earlier, while Connor was out picking berries in the forest, he stumbled upon some herbs known to cause a bit of gastric mischief. He wasn't exactly an expert in the field, but Chloe had once pointed them out to him during a reality show they did together.

Originally, Connor was hoping to find some poisonous mushrooms to deal with the guards more directly. No luck there, though. Instead, he gathered some senna and castor beans, chopped them up, and mixed them into the food. Now, they were working like a charm.

As everyone else disappeared into the forest, Connor slipped out of his room. With a swift kick, he busted open Chloe's door. She was sitting on the floor near a tiny hole they'd managed to chisel in the wall. Hearing the commotion, Chloe looked up to find Connor standing there, a sight she was more than ready to see. She jumped to her feet and dashed toward him, and they hugged like they were never letting go.

Connor had already clued Chloe in on his plan with a secret signal, so she didn't touch a bite of the food. She was waiting, and now, the time had come.noveldrama

Holding Chloe close, Connor whispered, "We gotta get out of here, fast."

"I'm with you," she replied without hesitation.

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Hand in hand, they dashed for the exit, but they hadn't gotten far when a mercenary showed up. He spotted them trying to make a break for it and immediately aimed his gun, mumbling something they couldn't understand. Chloe and Connor exchanged a quick glance. They played it cool, raising their hands. and acting like they were turning back.

But as the mercenary got closer, moving right between them, they sprang into action. Connor kicked the guy's ankle while Chloe swung an elbow into his jaw. Down he went. As he groaned, Chloe grabbed a brick from nearby and brought it down on his head, knocking him out cold.

Connor hadn't expected Chloe to be so bold, and he couldn't help but smirk in the darkness. Grabbing the mercenary's AK-47, he turned to Chloe, "Let's roll."

Connor had scoped out the path earlier. The two of them sprinted toward the grove of cypress trees. If they reached it, they'd be free of Claire's grip. Connor was certain the Shaw and Sartori families would be there to rescue them soon. needed to do was stay hidden until help arrived.

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Once they plunged into the forest, they tore through the thickets, only stopping when they reached the dense heart of the woods. Breathless, they held each other tight. Chloe was over the moon, "We did it, we got out."

Connor kissed her with everything he had. The rush of surviving made their hearts race, and a flicker of hope sparked inside them. After a moment, they pressed on. They had to put more distance between themselves and danger. But the towering trees blocked out the sky, leaving just tiny specks of light, making it tough to figure out which way was which.