Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 222: The Grim Reaper Arrives

Chapter 222: The Grim Reaper Arrives

Eric’s hair caught a small flame, and with a swift slap, he extinguished it. However, after falling from the treehouse, he realized that his leg felt numb, and he couldn’t get up. The raging fire quickly engulfed the entire structure.

Ella gasped for breath, cold sweat beading on her forehead as her hands and feet trembled. She hurried to help Eric move away from the collapsing treehouse, but just a few steps later, Eric shouted and threw himself over her, shielding her from the heat as another wave of fire surged forward, igniting his pajamas.

In that moment, someone rushed over, using a shovel to pry away the burning wood. With a firm stomp, the stranger managed to put out the flames on Eric’s clothes.

Eric, however, was in agony. The fire had burned his skin, and though the burns were on his back and not his face, the pain was unbearable. Cold sweat streamed down his face as he gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain.

Ella had fallen hard to the ground, her entire body aching from the impact. Eric had been above her when they landed, and the shock had left her limbs numb and temporarily useless.

"Quick... take my wife out of here!" Eric shouted, his voice commanding despite the pain. The slender man who had helped them hesitated briefly, then rushed to assist Ella, pulling her out of the danger zone.

Ella screamed through her tears, "Eric... you go first... I can still walk!"

But the man wouldn’t listen, lifting her and running away from the collapsing treehouse.

Eric heard Ella’s heart-wrenching cries, and though his arms were badly burned from carrying her through the flames, each movement was excruciating. Still, for Ella, he pushed through the pain.

Summoning all his strength, Eric propped himself up, enduring the unbearable agony in his arms as he crawled away from the dangerous area.

The man carried Ella to safety and was about to go back for Eric when the treehouse suddenly collapsed with a deafening crash.

Ella, her face streaked with tears, screamed at the top of her lungs, "Eric!"

Her heart felt as if it was being torn apart, consumed by a pain so intense it made her whole body tremble. If only she had been strong enough to get up earlier, Eric wouldn’t still be in danger!

"He’s fine, he’s crawling out!" the man shouted, running forward again.

Several others rushed to help. Eric’s face was pale with pain, his arms slick with blood, the skin burned and peeling from the intense heat. Two men arrived just in time, grabbing Eric and pulling him away from the fiery wreckage.

"Mr. Nelson... are you alright? We were so scared... your arms, your back..." The person in charge had been woken by the commotion and rushed over, witnessing Eric’s desperate escape from the flames.

"Get him to the hospital!" someone yelled.

Just then, a tall figure approached. Ella froze, her senses on high alert, and in that instant, she screamed, "Eric, watch out!"

Bang!

The gunshot echoed through the night.

People scattered in fear. Ella stood frozen, watching in horror as Eric slowly crumpled to the ground.

"No!" Ella screamed in anguish, grabbing a large stone from the ground and hurling it at the man in black who had fired the shot.

The gunman had been preparing for a second shot, but the stone hit him squarely in the head, causing him to turn and glare at Ella with fury.

Ella, her heart pounding, realized the gun was now aimed at her.

Before anything could happen, the slender man who had helped earlier screamed, "The police are here!"

The gunman flinched in shock, and at that moment, the man wielding the shovel struck him hard in the back. The assailant screamed in pain, stumbling forward as the man hit him several more times, knocking him to the ground.

Ella rushed to Eric’s side, trembling as she lifted him from the ground. The thin man had the black-clad assailant pinned beneath his foot, and a convoy of vehicles could be seen approaching fast.

Mark and Eric’s team arrived in a hurry, their faces full of dread. Ella, her hands shaking, pressed down on Eric’s wound, trying to stop the bleeding that poured from his chest—right near his heart.

Her face was smeared with dirt and tears, which flowed uncontrollably. She cried out desperately, "Someone help! Mr. Nelson is here—he’s hurt! Get him to the hospital!"

Eric’s condition was devastating. His arms were a mess of burned and shredded skin, and part of his scalp had been singed, revealing charred flesh beneath.

With great difficulty, Eric looked up at Ella. He reached out, his fingers brushing her tear-streaked face.

"I told you... even if I die... my heart won’t change... I’m dying, Ella... I... love you... Thank you... for the happiness you’ve given me. Happy birthday..."

"Eric! Don’t speak... save your strength, please... It’s my fault... If you dare leave me, I’ll follow you to the grave!" Ella’s voice was filled with fury and sorrow, her heart breaking as she spoke. She had finally found a man who truly loved her, and now fate was cruelly taking him away.

"No... you must live... for me... promise me... live on... and take care of Nelson Group..." Eric’s voice was barely a whisper now, each breath more labored than the last. He stared at Ella, unable to speak further, his gaze filled with a desperate intensity.

Ella held him tight, unable to find words, her throat choked with emotion. When Mark and the others finally reached them, they hurriedly lifted Eric onto a stretcher and rushed him into the car.

Ella climbed into the vehicle beside him.

"Mr. Nelson!" Mark, seeing the extent of Eric’s injuries, was overcome with grief. He grabbed the emergency kit from the car and began trying to stop the bleeding. His hands trembled as he worked to save his boss.

Ella sat beside them, clutching Eric’s hand, unwilling to let go. Eric, his eyes clouding, continued to gaze at her, as if trying to burn her image into his memory forever.

"Why... why is the wound here...?" Mark muttered, his voice shaking as he pressed down on Eric’s chest wound to stem the blood loss. His tears flowed freely, unable to hold back the anguish he felt.

Mark knew all too well that a wound in the heart meant very little hope for survival.

The two assistants remained silent, their jaws clenched tightly. Stone, one of the men, received a call and barked into the phone, "Where’s the shooter? Good. Keep an eye on that bastard. When the boss wakes up, he’ll deal with him personally!"

"Yes, we’ll make him pay!"

"If he survives this, we’ll make sure he doesn’t have another chance... don’t let his men get near him."

Eric’s awareness began to fade. His entire body was wracked with unbearable pain, each movement feeling like his insides were being torn apart. He could feel life slipping away from him, slowly but surely.

Ella’s tears fell onto his hand, warm droplets against his cold skin.

"My Queen... don’t cry. You’ll always be my queen... and my woman... Remember, you must... avenge me..."