Chapter 296
“Watch out! Falling rocks!”
The shout cut through the mountain air like a blade.
Nick turned instantly—his pupils tightening.
A massive boulder, wrapped in mud, gravel, and broken branches, was already breaking loose from the slope above, accelerating as it rolled downward.
Panic exploded across the site.
People scattered in all directions.
But near the path of destruction, a small girl—no more than seven or eight—had fallen to the ground. She was frozen in place, staring up at the collapsing rocks as if her body had forgotten how to move.
“Move!” someone screamed.
Too late.
She was right in line.
And she was close to Nick.
There was no time to calculate anything.
Nick pivoted and ran back.
“Nick!” Michelle’s voice tore through the chaos as she turned just in time to see him change direction. Her face went pale instantly.
“Sir—!” Lenny stepped forward half a pace, then stopped.
Fear locked his body in place.
So did everyone else.
They all saw the same thing.
And none of them moved.
Except Nick.
The roar of collapsing stone filled the world.
Nick reached the girl in seconds, dropped low, and pulled her into his arms.
He turned his back to the falling path.
And lunged sideways.
BOOM—
The impact hit like a hammer against the earth.
The boulder scraped past him with brutal force, smashing into the ground beside them. Shattered rock fragments exploded outward like shrapnel.
Nick’s body took the brunt of it.
He hit the ground hard, still holding the child tightly against his chest.
Pain detonated through him instantly.
Sharp.
Relentless.
His vision darkened at the edges.
Warm blood slid down from his temple, dripping past his eyelashes.
His ribs screamed with every breath he tried to take.
But his arms didn’t loosen.
The girl was still in his grasp.
“Mr. Hunt!!”
Lenny and the bodyguards snapped out of their shock and rushed forward, dragging away smaller debris, clearing space with shaking hands.
The girl had already fainted from fear, limp in Nick’s arms. Aside from scratches, she was unharmed.
They carried her away first.
“Nick!”
Michelle dropped to her knees beside him the moment she reached him.
When she saw the blood soaking his neck and collar, her composure shattered. Tears spilled down her face uncontrollably.
“Don’t move… don’t move—please—”
Nick’s lips parted slightly.
“The child…” His voice was barely audible.
“She’s safe!” Lenny shouted immediately, choking on his own fear. “She’s alive! She’s okay!”
Only then did Nick’s fingers loosen a fraction.
The tension in his body didn’t fully release—his injuries were too severe—but his eyes flickered with faint relief.
He tried to speak again.
It hurt too much.
A low groan escaped instead.
Darkness pressed in harder at the edges of his vision.
He forced himself one last time.
His lips moved.
“Don’t… let her know…”
The words were almost soundless.
But Lenny understood immediately.
Don’t let Khloe know.
“Got it,” Lenny said quickly, voice breaking. “Medical team is on the way. Just hold on.”
Michelle reached for his hand, trembling.
But Nick had already stopped looking at her.
Even now—at the edge of consciousness—his thoughts weren’t here.
They were somewhere else entirely.
Elsewhere.
Khloe had just arrived at her office building.
She paused at the entrance.
A strange, inexplicable chill ran through her chest.
She checked her phone.
Still no message.
It wasn’t even ten yet.
Nick had said he would contact her in the morning.
She had already sent a message when she woke up.
No reply.
Khloe frowned slightly.
Busy?
Something about it didn’t sit right.