Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42: No, Never

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The helicopters descended like shadows that cut through the morning fog. Their blatant approach caused chaos the moment they crossed into enemy airspace. The island’s estate below them quickly erupted into motion.

Guards sprinted across the open grounds while their voices rung out in frantic shouts. Orders were barked into radios, the sharp clack of weapons being loaded filled the air as men took their positions along the perimeter. Some scrambled to secure the heavy artillery mounted near the gates, while others rushed toward the estate’s main entrance, forming a defensive line to prepare for the uninvited guest that seemed hostile.

But Valerian was already far ahead before the first rounds were fired.

A single, sharp tilt of his head toward Ivan was all it took. No words were needed but Ivan understood immediately. His response was smooth as he followed in perfect sync.

The moment the copters reached optimal drop height, the side doors were immediately yanked open, exposing the battlefield below. Wind howled through the cabin, carrying the distant shouts of scrambling guards, but the men aboard remained focused with their hands keeping steady as they gripped their gear.

‘Ropes down. Move.‘ Ivan commanded.

Thick, reinforced cables unraveled from the aircrafts, whipping through the air before securing against the metal hooks inside. Without hesitation, Valerian’s men grabbed hold and launched themselves over the edge, descending in a swift and controlled motion.

Ivan was among the first to go, leading a team of personally trained sharpshooters. Their feet barely hit the ground before they were already moving, sweeping their weapons across the terrain, eliminating threats with precision.

Above them, the gunners stationed in the helicopters opened fire.

The sudden burst of machine gunfire ripped through air, sending plumes of dust and debris into the sky. Bullets tore into the stone towers where enemy snipers had taken position, cutting them down before they could get a clear shot. The guards attempting to climb higher were met with a merciless hail of lead and their bodies instantly crumped mid–ascent before tumbling down the stone structures like lifeless puppets.

Meanwhile, Adrian was already on the move. He made his way through the long, polished corridors of the estate as his footsteps echoed sharply against the marble floors. The distant sound of gunfire reverberated through the walls and he knew that the situation outside was rapidly escalating. The security team had already mobilized, and his men were scrambling to contain the sudden invasion. Yet despite the chaos unfolding beyond these walls, his focus remained particular.

He had to reach Noelle.

And so the moment he arrived at the designated room, Adrian did not hesitate. With one swift motion, he pushed the door open and walked inside without warning.

The abrupt intrusion startled Noelle, who stood in the center of the room, already prepared for the ceremony that was to take place against her will.

Adrian halted at the sight of her.

For a fleeting moment, everything else ceased to exist.

Chapter 42: No, Never

+25 BONUS

She stood before him, draped in an exquisite white gown. The delicate fabric hugged her form in a way that accentuated every graceful detail. A sheer veil cascaded down her dark hair, partially obscuring her features, but she looked no less than beautiful. She held a bouquet of pristine flowers in her hands, although her fingers curled around the stems so tightly that her knuckles had turned pale.

She was the perfect image of a bride.

His bride.

And yet, the sound of warfare raging outside brought him back to the issue at hand.

The gunfire had drawn closer and it was a relentless reminder to him that time was slipping through his fingers. He could hear the shouts of his men barking orders, the heavy footsteps of guards scrambling into defensive positions. The estate was under siege, and he has no idea the reason behind it.

But right now, none of that mattered.

Only she mattered.

Adrian inhaled slowly, forcing himself to soften the hard edges of his expression as he stepped forward. He approached her with the careful grace of a man handling something fragile, something precious.

“Noelle… Please come with me, my love… Please…”

His voice was low and coaxing, filled with a tenderness that did not match the violence erupting beyond the walls. He extended a hand toward her while in his other hand, hidden behind his back, his fingers remained curled around the cold grip of his gun.

He expected her usual silent treatment and even expected her to turn away, to refuse him without a word as she had so before.

But instead, she suddenly spoke.

“Why?”

The single word was barely above a whisper, yet it cut through the space between them like a blade. It held no anger, no desperation–only a cold detachment that sent a shiver down his spine. Then, for the first time since he had entered the room many times, Noelle lifted her head and met his gaze.

Even with the sheer veil between them, even with the delicate fabric softening the sharpness in her eyes, Adrian could feel the way she was looking at him. There was no fear nor hesitation. 1

“Who are you really?”

Her voice was devoid of emotion, steady in a way that unsettled him.

Adrian’s brows furrowed slightly as confusion flickered across his features. He had expected her usual silence, the kind he had grown used to since bringing her here, but this was different.

“What?” he breathed, stepping toward her, closing the distance between them with ease.

But the moment he moved, she flinched.

It was not a small movement, nor was it accidental. Adrian saw clearly the way Noelle’s grip deliberately loosened and how the bouquet slipped from her grasp in a controlled descent rather than a careless drop. The delicate. arrangement of flowers scattered across the marble floor, petals torn from their stems as they drifted in disarray. But it was not the falling bouquet that made Adrian freeze it was what had been hidden beneath it. Noelle’s fingers curled tightly around the cold metal of the Colt .45. Adrian’s muscles coiled instinctively while his

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Chapter 42: No, Never

+25 BONUS

amber eyes tracked every subtle motion as she lifted the weapon. He could see the way her hands trembled, even the slight unsteadiness in her grip that betrayed the act of confidence she tried to display. But still, she raised it. Still, she pointed the gun directly at him.

Adrian’s gaze darkened as his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Let me go, or I’ll shoot you.”

Her voice was steady, but he could hear the way her breath hitched at the end and the way her pulse fluttered beneath the surface. The weight of the gun in her small hands was heavy. This wasn’t just a threat but her final attempt at control. At freedom.

Adrian exhaled slowly as his smirk returned in a sharp and knowing manner. He took a step forward, unfazed by the barrel aimed at him.

“No. You can’t.” His voice was calm and unbothered. “You love me, don’t you? We are getting married, just like we planned.” He added and took another step forward.

Noelle’s eyes flashed at the sight of his smirk plastered on his face. In an instant, she moved as her thumb flicked the safety off with a sharp click just as Calix had taught her 1

And her action made Adrian pause.

For the first time, his smirk faltered ever so slightly.

Noelle gritted her teeth as she met his gaze, refusing to let her resolve waver. Her grip on the gun tightened as the cold weight of the metal grounded her, reminding her of everything that had led to this moment. She had once believed in him, had once thought she knew the man standing before her. But now, all she could see was a stranger. A stranger who had broken her trust, her whole world, and stripped her of the freedom she had so desperately tried to hold onto.

Memories crashed into her like an unforgiving tide. The way he had touched her forcefully against her will, the way he had whispered words of love while caging her like a possession, the way he had looked at her with obsession rather than devotion. Every lie, every broken promise, every moment he had twisted her love into something suffocating burned through her mind like a scar she could never erase.

This wasn’t love.

It had never been.

“No…” She uttered as her lip quivered.

And before he could fully process her next move, the tip of the gun was no longer pointed at him.

It was pressed against her own temple. 1

“I will never marry you…”