Chapter 86 I Want You Dead

Suddenly, Isabella found herself missing Hazel. People always said kids without moms had it rough, and it sure seemed true.

Joseph, fuming, yanked back the bolt of his gun, stormed over to Isabella, and unleashed all his rage meant for George on her.

Two shots rang out, hitting Isabella in the other shoulder blade.

She couldn't take the pain anymore and crumpled into a pool of blood.

Sharp headlights cut through the night, and a sleek black Maybach rolled to a stop.

Caleb, holding an umbrella, walked over to the back door, and George stepped out of the car.

Seeing George, Joseph's lips twisted into a nasty grin.

"Mr. Spencer, it's Mrs. Spencer..." Caleb said, spotting her lying in her own blood.

George's heart clenched, and he hurried forward, but Joseph's men blocked his way.

Joseph sneered, striding up to George. "Didn't think you'd show."

"Let Isabella go," George said coldly, locking eyes with Joseph.

George's stare was steady, but Joseph just laughed like a madman. "Let her go? George, you still think you can boss me around? You're my prisoner now."

Joseph paced in front of George. "You know what being a prisoner means? It means you do what I say. You got no right to make demands, got it?"

"What do you want to let her go?" George asked, keeping his cool.

"Depends on how much you want her." Joseph gave him a look, making George figure it out.

Joseph wasn't sure how much Isabella meant to George, but he was ready for anything.

'If George doesn't give me what I want, I'll rape Isabella right in front of him.

I want George to feel the burn of humiliation.

I want to degrade George's woman, just like I did with Juniper back then,' Joseph thought.

"What do you want?" George asked, still holding his head high despite the threat.

"George, you know what I want." Joseph pulled out a gun and pressed it to George's forehead. "I want you dead."

"Then shoot," George said, not even blinking, just staring at Joseph.

Joseph hated George's defiant look and ordered his men to force George to kneel. "You must die, and that's not enough. If you give me everything you have, maybe I'll let Isabella go."

George glanced at the barely breathing Isabella, then back at Joseph. "I need to make sure she's still alive."

"That's easy."

With a signal from Joseph, a few strong guys brought buckets of water and dumped them on the unconscious Isabella.

The shock made Isabella slowly open her eyes. It was freezing.

George took off his coat and tossed it to her. "Put it on."

Isabella finally realized the man kneeling in front of her was George. She looked at him in shock, like she was asking why he was here.

But George didn't answer.

"She's alive and kicking," Joseph said, aiming his gun at Isabella. "George, can you give me your answer now?"

"Let her go first, and I'll hand over the seal and shares," George said, giving Caleb a nod to bring over a bag.

"No funny business," Joseph warned, waving his hand. The men holding Isabella let her go.

Isabella, badly hurt, shivered and looked at George. "George, why are you here? I don't need you to save me. Just leave! We're divorced; we have nothing to do with each other. Go!"

"Don't talk, save your strength," George replied calmly, even in this mess.

But Isabella was anything but calm. She was terrified something would happen. If it was just her, fine, but dragging George into this wasn't worth it.

"George, even if you give him everything, he won't let us go. Don't be stupid. Leave now. As long as he doesn't get what he wants, he won't hurt me. Go!" Isabella's words ticked Joseph off, and he fired a shot at her feet. "Shut up, or I'll shoot you."

Without a second thought, George tossed the bag to Joseph.

George handed over all his wealth and assets.

Joseph, thrilled with his haul, laughed like a maniac. Maybe too pleased, he waved his hand, and the men dragged Isabella over.

"Hang her up," Joseph ordered.

They tied Isabella up and hoisted her into the air with a cable. Below her, the raging river roared like a beast ready to devour everything.

George frowned, his fists clenched tight. "Joseph, what are you doing?"

"Relax, just a little game," Joseph said, cocking his gun and aiming at the cable. "If I miss the cable with three shots, I'll let Isabella go. If I hit it, she'll be fish food."

Joseph pretended to fire a shot and missed. George immediately kicked him to the ground, grabbed Joseph by the throat, and punched him hard in the face.

But several strong men rushed at George, pulling him off Joseph and restraining him.

Joseph wiped the blood from his mouth and aimed at Isabella again, missing.

Cursing, Joseph switched to a more powerful gun and aimed at the cable above Isabella's head.

If he missed this time, he planned to shoot Isabella directly.

The gun fired.

The thick steel cable snapped, and Isabella plunged straight into the river.

"Isabella!" George shouted as he broke free from his captors and ran to the riverbank. Without hesitation, he jumped into the dark river after her.

"Mr. Spencer, Mrs. Spencer!" Caleb also jumped in, while Joseph chased after them, firing several shots into the water.

Sirens wailed.

Joseph grabbed the bag and quickly got into the car, fleeing the scene.

It was so cold that Isabella had lost consciousness. She had no strength and couldn't feel the pain from her wounds, only feeling her body sinking, like falling into an abyss.

She didn't even have the will to survive.

In the icy, bone-chilling water, a pair of hands grasped hers, and then his lips pressed against hers, transferring familiar breaths into her mouth. Isabella opened her eyes. She couldn't see him clearly, but somehow, she could.