Chapter 149 Was She In The Army Now
William cradled Renee in his arms as he slid into the car seat, urgency written across his face.
“Don’t waste time–drive faster! Head for the hospital!” he commanded, voice strained with anxiety.
“Right away, Mr. Mitchell,” the driver replied, the car’s engine revving up as they tore down the mountain road.
The location was no accident–Sylvia had chosen it for its strategic advantage, knowing the mine was under exclusive Mitchell family control. But she hadn’t counted on Renee having a hidden ace: a discreet tracking device, nor had she anticipated Renee’s formidable resilience.
Sylvia’s totally backfired. If William had been even a minute later, she might have been in a bigger mess.
A piercing screech echoed as the car slammed to a halt.
William’s arms tightened protectively around Renee.
His face tightened with irritation as he demanded, “What’s the hold–up?”
“Mr. Mitchell… there’s trouble ahead…”
“What’s happening up there?”
The driver stuttered, “There’s–someone’s blocking the road…”
Upon peering out, William’s gaze hardened as he took in the sight of soldiers dressed in full tactical gear encircling their vehicle.
It was clear they were Ryder’s men, ready and waiting.
Renee, nestled comfortably with her eyes gently closed, was jolted by a sudden, uneasy feeling. Her eyes
fluttered open, and a knowing chuckle escaped her as she observed the men outside through the car window.
William, catching the mischievous sparkle in her eye, could predict her next move. He shook his head slightly,
a mix of admonition and affection in his tone. “Nene, please…”
She turned to face him, her expression softening. “Thank you for today, Mr. Mitchell.”
“No…”
Ignoring his plea, Renee reached for the door handle, her fingers brushing against the cold metal.
He acted swiftly, his hand clasping hers, a silent plea for her to stay.
But Renee was resolute, not even glancing back as she spoke. “You saw it with your own eyes, William. I’m not the same Renee I used to be. If you hadn’t been here today, Sylvia would be dead.”
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Her words hung in the air, and she felt the tension in his grip. Seizing the moment, she wrenched her hand free, his grip loosening just enough.
As her fingers slipped through his, William felt a profound sense of loss, a hollow ache spreading through his
chest.
He realized, with a heavy heart, that letting her go now might mean losing her forever.
But it was all too late.
Renee stepped out of the car, her presence commanding immediate respect. The soldiers, adorned with medals and insignia, snapped to attention and saluted her, their gestures filled with reverence for a high–ranking officer.
Stunned, William watched her, a whirlwind of questions racing through his mind. Was Renee in the army now? What exactly had she been through during the past three years?
His thoughts were interrupted by the chime of a notification.
A subordinate sent him a video, along with a message. “Mr. Mitchell, we came across this on Miss Payne’s phone.”
The mere sight of the thumbnail was enough to constrict William’s chest, his hand shaking as he hesitated, but then finally pressed play.
As the video unfolded, displaying the brutal assault on Renee, William’s eyes flared with a potent mix of rage
and heartbreak.
“Follow them,” he barked at his driver, his voice a strained, hoarse whisper.
As the video cut to black, William was left with a haunting silence, his heart heavy.
He couldn’t bear to watch it a second time. If possible, he would have taken all of Renee’s suffering onto
himself; the agony she endured seemed unbearable. Yet, throughout the ordeal, Renee hadn’t let out a single
groan.
It was unlike her. He remembered her to be a blend of pride and vulnerability, always seeking his attention at
the slightest sign of discomfort–her way of asking for his embrace and kisses, like that one time she was having a cold
But how had he responded?
His reply came wrapped in cold, cutting dismissal. “Renee, enough with the act. I’m on an actual mission-
don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
And just like that, he was back in uniform, returning to the army.
It was only a week later, during a conversation with Denton–who mentioned seeing Renee at the hospital— that he realized she had been telling the truth all along.
Burdened with guilt, William had attempted to reach out, only to be met with the blare of loud music from her
end.
With his temper on edge, he growled, “Renee, seriously, have some self–respect. You’re out partying every
single day–don’t you feel even a little ashamed of yourself?”
