Chapter 209
Sharon’s eyes were like ice, her whole body radiating a quiet, murderous intent.
No one had expected to be ambushed by that many Velvyn. She and her brothers had rushed straight into the danger with hardly any preparation. Anne from Joan and three bodyguards, they had gone in almost blind.
If they’d been ready, they wouldn’t have been in such a mess.
Joan spoke cautiously, “Ms. Vance, maybe freshen up first. You must be so uncomfortable.”
“Yeah.”
Sharon turned her head and glanced at her. “Actually, why don’t we go together?”
That could save them some time.
Joan stiffened. “N–No, I’ll wait for you to finish-
“We’re both women. Don’t be so shy. Let’s go,” Sharon said, already walking toward the bathroom.
The moment she saw herself in the mirror, she froze.
Her pink dress was completely ruined, covered in grime and streaks of that green–black Velvyn blood. Her hands and legs were caked in it too—and the
smell was horrific.
She turned and called back, “Get in here. Another second and I’m going to lose my mind.”
“O–Okay!”
Joan stepped in, cheeks burning. She was flustered but a little excited too.
‘Oh my god. I’m showering with Ms. Vance. Pull it together–I like men, I like men, I definitely like men…‘
Under the warm water, Sharon closed her eyes. All she could see behind her lids were flashes of the swamp.
Ripping Velvyn apart with her bare hands. That thrill, that deep shudder of satisfaction–it hadn’t disgusted her. It had excited her.
Most people would be terrified. But not her.
She’d always preferred using her hands over weapons. But fighting barehanded–especially like that–made people look at her differently. Like she was
some kind of monster.
That was why she’d picked up Merrick’s blade in the first place. To keep up appearances.
Didn’t matter. By the end, the truth had shown anyway.
And now… she was afraid to even ask what they thought of her.
Thirty minutes later, Sharon emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel and feeling human again.
“Ms. Vance, you’ve got some wounds on your hands and feet,” Joan said softly.
While most of the others were injured from Velyyn attacks, Sharon’s were different–blisters torn open from overexertion.
“It’s nothing,” Sharon muttered.
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Chapter 209
She hadn’t even noticed until now. The blisters stung when she walked, but it was manageable,
“Let me dry your hair,” Joan offered, already reaching for the towel.
Sharon looked so small now, almost delicate. It made people want to protect her, though that was just an illusion.
Sharon had saved them all. If it hadn’t been for her, none of them would’ve made it out alive.
Downstairs, the mood was tense.
The brothers had cleaned up and changed, but their faces were grim.
Merrick had already been taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Richard’s shoulder was bandaged, but he hadn’t gone with him. He stood facing Nicholas. “What the hell was that swamp?” he asked.
Why were there so many of those things?
What if God forbid–they all woke up one day? The Vance family’s extended branch would be the first wiped out.
Nicholas stood in the center of the room, reviewing the latest intel. “We still don’t have concrete answers. The Academy’s research team is en route. Until then, they’ll assign guards to the swamp to make sure nothing gets out.”
Truthfully, he had his own questions.
By all logic, that region should’ve been safe. It was part of the reserve–beautiful, regulated, secure.
So how the hell had it turned into a pit full of monsters?
Velvyn usually acted alone. They were territorial and killed each other off. But this…
This was already classified as an S–level incident.
Not long after, Sharon came downstairs. She was dressed in a simple white cotton dress, her long hair hanging quietly over her shoulders.
From a distance, she looked like the perfect, well–mannered young lady.
Nobody would ever connect her to the girl who’d torn through a swamp of Velvyn like a demon.
But facts were facts.
She was the Vance family’s new head. Soft–spoken on the surface, but in reality? A powerhouse.
She had held off a Velvyn siege alone. Most men couldn’t have managed that.
Nicholas felt a weight lift off his chest the moment he saw her back to normal.
That was when Walter came in.
His face was tight with emotion as he walked up to Sharon and took her hand. “You saved Jude. We owe you a debt we can never repay.”
Merrick had already been taken to the hospital, but Elise had stayed behind and filled Walter in on everything.
If not for Sharon, none of them would have made it back alive.
“It was my responsibility,” Sharon said simply. She helped Walter sit down, brows furrowed in thought.
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Chapter 209
“This area might not be safe anymore.”
“I know. But we’re not leaving. This is our home. We’ll hold it,” Walter said with conviction.
Sharon paused. “I’ll arrange protection.”
High–ranking martial artists would do. She could just post a bounty on the Hunter Forum.
Walter visibly relaxed. Having someone strong around made all the difference. At this point, refusing Sharon’s help would be stupid.
From today forward, the Vance family’s extended branch would fully back Sharon.
Walter looked up at Nicholas. “Actually… there were signs. A few years ago, even.”
His explanation matched what Elise had said earlier.
Over the past few years, wildlife near Silver Hollow Reserve had dropped off dramatically. But no one had figured out why.
80%
They assumed the animals had migrated. Turned out, they were just being eaten. And once the prey ran out, the predators finally revealed themselves.
“Earlier this year, some folks said they heard strange noises. We banned the kids from going into the reserve alone and installed security around the villa grounds.
But no one expected this. Puffy–Jude’s dog–went missing in the woods. The boys went after him, and… well, you know the rest.”
Walter’s voice cracked.
The extended family had two truly talented children. Now one of them was maimed.
He was doing everything he could just to stay standing.
Nicholas nodded. “Understood. I’ll have a sweep run through the entire area. We won’t miss a single one of those things.”
He glanced at Sharon. “The Academy team just arrived. I need to coordinate with them. You should rest. I’ve got this from here.”
“Wait. I need to talk to you,” Sharon said, rising to follow him.
The tone in her voice made it clear–it wasn’t for public ears.
No one interrupted.
They stepped outside together. The Academy’s vehicles were parked out front, and dozens of researchers were climbing out.
The sun had come back out. But it didn’t feel warm.
“Your foot’s injured,” Nicholas said.
He’d noticed the wounds on her hands earlier. He hadn’t realized her feet were hurt too.
“It’s nothing. Doesn’t count as an injury.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
He pulled her toward the car. “First aid kit.”
Sharon hadn’t really been paying attention to it, but Nicholas didn’t give her the option. He sat her down on the bench, pulled off her shoe, and placed her foot gently in his lap. Then, without a word, he started cleaning the wound with iodine.
Sharon lowered her gaze.
Chapter 209
His profile was sharp, his lashes thick. In the sunlight, the lines of his face were glowing–high nose bridge, perfect lips, not a single flaw.
‘God… he really is good–looking.’
