Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 236: Chapter 236

Alex glared at me, his eyes burning with rage as if he wanted to tear me apart.
I felt a pang of guilt but still held my ground. "What are you looking at? I... I just want to survive! What's wrong with that?"
Deep down, I had been debating whether to resist or not. Facing a group of ruthless kidnappers was terrifying, but survival instincts won over hesitation. The only way to make it out alive was to stall for time.
"You really think giving them money will let you walk away alive?" Alex's voice was cold, laced with frustration and despair.
His words sent a chill through me. Of course, I knew these people weren't here for ransom—they wanted our life.
But as long as there was even a sliver of a chance, I had to hold onto it, even if it only delayed the inevitable.
We argued fiercely in front of the kidnappers, our voices growing louder with each word. Neither of us was willing to back down.
Then, one of the kidnappers—the one wearing a fox mask—stepped forward without warning and slapped me across the face.
"Are you trying to buy time?"
The slap sent a sharp pain searing through my cheek, leaving it burning. But instead of making me back down, it stripped away the last of my hesitation and fear. In their place, a reckless determination took over.
The moment her eyes met mine, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corner of my lips.
A flicker of surprise flashed across her gaze. She tried to step back, but before she could, I pressed a shard of broken glass against her throat.
In one swift motion, I forced the others to back off and positioned myself in front of Alex. "Miss, slapping people without reason is pretty rude, don't you think?"
My voice was steady, but my heart was racing. My pulse pounded in my ears, and I could feel sweat trickling down my back.
This was a dangerous gamble. If anything went wrong, neither of us would make it out alive.
The kidnappers were stunned. It was clear they hadn't expected me to recognize that the person behind the fox mask was a woman.
The bald man suddenly chuckled, his voice thick with amusement. "You think you can threaten me with her? Do you really believe I care about her?"
My heart clenched. If she wasn't important to him, my entire plan would fall apart. My grip on the shard tightened.
The woman inhaled sharply. Her eyelashes trembled ever so slightly.
She tried to break free, but I immediately pressed the glass harder against her artery.
Leaning in close, I whispered against her ear, "Move again, and I won't be able to guarantee either of our lives."
I could hear the slight tremble in my own voice. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and my back was already drenched.
"You got the guts to kill me? If not, I swear I'll cut you into pieces and feed you to the dogs." The voice behind the fox mask was cold, completely devoid of fear, yet every word dripped with venom.
"That'll have to wait for your next life, because you're no match for me." I spoke flatly, then let out a chuckle.
Everyone looked at me like I had lost my mind. But deep down, I knew the only way to survive was to make them believe I wasn't afraid.
The bald man barked, "Who the hell tied her up? And where did she get that damn piece of glass?"
Silence fell over the room. No one dared to speak.
But I was certain now—the man with the missing finger wasn't here. None of these people had his build.
And none of them had a gun. If they did, they would've used it by now.
This was the conclusion I had reached after carefully observing them while I was held captive. It was the only thing I could rely on now. But the fear of being wrong clung to me, relentless and suffocating.
"You should leave now while you still can," I said, raising my voice. "The cops are already on their way."
The bald man smirked, his face filled with murderous intent as if he wanted to rip me apart right then and there.
However, when he heard that the police were already on their way, the bald man refused to believe it.
"You think I've been stalling for fun? You think I want to be here with you?" I sneered.
I heard the bald man grinding his teeth. I was terrified he'd see through my bluff, but all I could do was silently pray that Marvin would get here soon.
Suddenly, a gunshot shattered the silence.
The moment the man in the wolf mask pulled out a gun, I was the first to react, quickly dodging out of the way.
But he wasn't aiming at me. He shot the fox-masked woman.
"Skylar..." The man wearing the monk mask widened his eyes as he stared at the fox-masked woman lying dead in front of him.
Rage twisted his face as he roared, "Who told you to shoot?"
I stood frozen.
The thick scent of blood filled the air, clinging to my skin, my clothes, my hands.
But I couldn't die. It wasn't the time yet.
The man in the wolf mask raised his gun again. This time, he aimed at me.
In the split second before he pulled the trigger, a figure lunged toward me.
Another shot rang out. Alex took the bullet for me.
My mind went blank, and I couldn't move or think. I just stood there, staring.
A crushing wave of regret and guilt surged through me. I had been reckless when I should have been careful. If anything happened to Alex because of me, I wouldn't know how to live with it.
"There's a car outside! Someone's coming! We have to go!" The man in the wolf mask grabbed the bald man's arm and dragged him away.
I couldn't bring myself to look at Alex. I was terrified he was already gone.
This was my fault. I had been too impulsive.
"Alex, you... you can't die," My voice trembled as I spoke, tears welling in my eyes. After a brief moment of panic, I forced myself to take a deep breath and calm down.
I knelt beside him, carefully cradling his head in my lap. My fingers fumbled as I searched for his pulse. When I finally felt the faint, unsteady rhythm beneath his skin, I let out a shaky breath of relief.
But the fear didn't leave me. My mind raced as I silently begged for him to hold on.
I scanned the room, desperate to find anything that could help stop the bleeding.
In the corner, I spotted a tattered piece of cloth. Reaching out, I grabbed it and quickly pressed it against his wound, my hands shaking as I tried to stop the bleeding.
"Don't you dare die. If you do, I swear, I'll haunt you for the rest of your afterlife," I murmured, my voice cracking. My fingers trembled as I held down the makeshift bandage.
Alex's face was ghostly pale, his lips drained of color. He opened his mouth slightly, as if trying to speak, but no sound came out.
I gently stroked his face and whispered, "Hold on. The cops will be here soon."
It seemed to take everything he had, but Alex forced a weak smile. The sight made my chest tighten, as if a thousand needles were stabbing into my heart.
Terrifying thoughts flashed through my mind one after another.
And then, finally, the distant sound of sirens pierced the silence, growing louder with each passing second.
"Here! We're here!"
The moment I saw Marvin burst through the door; the crushing weight of fear lifted—just a little.