Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
Their deadly tango spilled from the study’s confines into the open air. As Jared calculated the bloody toll he might have to pay to escape with his prize, destiny intervened. Like a spirit of mercy, a willowy figure emerged behind Lilian, clutching a basin of white powder with determined grace.
Time seemed to slow as Nola witnessed Lilian’s blade arc toward Jared. Without hesitation, she lunged forward, the basin’s contents arcing through the air like a wave of divine intervention.
“Careful!” Jared’s cry of warning tore from his throat, his heart seizing at the sight of delicate Nola throwing herself into danger. Yet his fears proved groundless—she moved like an autumn leaf in the wind, each step a dance that defied nature itself. The powder found its mark, showering Lilian from head to toe in a ghostly shroud.
“Ah!” Lilian’s world vanished in a cloud of white. Her eyes, stinging and useless, were forced shut against the assault. The dagger in her grip became an extension of her desperation as she slashed blindly at shadows.
In that moment of chaos, Jared struck—swift and precise as a viper.
“We can hide her for now,” Nola suggested, looking down at Lilian’s bound and gagged form sprawled across the ground.
Their eyes met in silent understanding. The basement, where fate had first entangled their paths, was the best choice.
Nola and Jared escorted Lilian to the dimly lit basement. Jared was lost in thought, pondering how to explain everything to Nola. But Nola spoke first.
“Mr. Cooper, no need for explanations. Leave now. I’ll keep an eye on Lilian and ensure she doesn’t foil your plans.”
Lilian, lying on the ground, seethed with fury. But with her mouth stuffed, she couldn’t get a single word out.
Jared, deeply grateful, murmured, “Thank you for this, Nola.”
“It’s nothing. You saved me too. I’m still waiting for you to take me out of here,” Nola said softly, shaking her head.
Jared’s gaze lingered on Nola for a moment. He nodded and replied, “Okay,” before making his exit.
As Jared’s figure disappeared into the shadows, Nola’s expression hardened. She turned to Lilian and yanked the gag from her mouth.
“You traitor, Nola! How could you side with Jared against me? Do you even know what he’s done?” Lilian spat.
“Untie me this instant! I’ll gather my people and drag him back myself!”
Even now, despite her clear difficult situation, Lilian didn’t grasp the gravity of it. She still spoke as if Nola were nothing more than a foolish girl blindly helping the wrong person.
Nola remained silent, letting Lilian’s fury wash over her.
After a while, Lilian sensed something was wrong. She tilted her head, trying to locate Nola.
“Nola?” she called out uncertainly.
“Yes, Lilian,” Nola responded coldly, arms crossed.
A chill crept up Lilian’s spine. This wasn’t the Nola she knew. The Nola in her memory would never have dared to speak to her like that. Her throat went dry as unease settled over her. Something was slipping from her grasp.
Forcing her tone into something softer, more coaxing, she tried again.
“Nola, do you know I was supposed to attend an important government meeting with Dad today? If I don’t return soon, he’ll realize something is wrong. He’ll investigate. I know you’re naive, and Jared has blinded you with his act. But if you let me go now, I won’t hold this against you. Didn’t you always want money? Just tell me how…” much.
“Or is it something else? Whatever it is, I can make it happen.” As she spoke, she discreetly worked at the knot behind her back.
Nola chuckled, cutting her off.
“Save your breath, Lilian. Do you really think I don’t know what kind of person you are?” She crouched in front of Lilian, her eyes raking over her face.
“Instead of trying to fool me, you should be worrying about what’s going to happen to your Perkins family now that Mr. Cooper has taken those things from you.”
“Our Perkins family? Nola, have you forgotten? You’re part of the Perkins family too!”
Nola’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, she picked up a wooden stick lying nearby and brought it down hard on Lilian’s struggling wrists.
A sharp cry of pain tore from Lilian’s lips as cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
“Nola! How dare you hit my hands!”
Nola remained unfazed, gripping the stick tighter.
“Why wouldn’t I dare? How many times have you used this very stick on me over the years? I’m just returning the favor, Lilian, and yet you’re so outraged. How am I supposed to make up for everything I’ve endured all these years? As for being part of the Perkins family—hah, you don’t need to remind me.”
The basement’s thick walls swallowed any sound. It was ironic—Lilian had prepared this very space to imprison Nola, yet now it worked against her, cutting her off from any help.
Her attempt at freeing herself had failed. Nola’s long-buried resentment had been simmering for years, and now, it had finally boiled over. As Lilian bore the brunt of Nola’s fury, her only hope was that her people outside would sense something was wrong and capture Jared.
Lilian had originally left with Aldwin but had come back midway to retrieve a piece of jade, as he had instructed.
This jade was a treasured Perkins family heirloom, worn only by the head of the family. Aldwin usually kept it stored safely, only bringing it out for significant occasions.
Halfway through their journey, he realized he had forgotten it and sent Lilian back to retrieve it, accompanied by bodyguards and a driver. Now, as time dragged on with no sign of Lilian returning, Aldwin’s patience was wearing thin. He continued calling, his urgency growing. Sensing that something was amiss, one of the bodyguards stepped out of the car, preparing to enter the house in search of her.
Several bodyguards made their way toward the study when they saw Jared approaching with long strides from a distance.
They all knew Jared was Lilian’s future husband. As he approached, they instinctively nodded in greeting. However, the moment they noticed a visible cut on his shoulder, their expressions shifted to alertness.
“Mr. Cooper, wait!” One of the bodyguards stepped forward, stopping Jared just as he was about to leave.
“Have you seen Miss Perkins?” the bodyguard asked in a firm but cautious tone. Jared was aware of Aldwin’s bodyguards’ formidable reputation, so he knew better than to take them lightly.
He maintained his composure and shook his head.
“No. Wasn’t she with Mr. Perkins? Why? Is something wrong?”
The bodyguards exchanged glances, their skepticism evident. Without a word, they subtly adjusted their positions, closing in until they had quietly formed a tight circle around Jared.
“Mr. Cooper, if you haven’t seen Miss Perkins, then why do you have signs of a struggle on you? It’s clear you had a fight with her,” one of the bodyguards said coldly, eyeing Jared suspiciously.
“Tell us. What did you do to Miss Perkins?”
The bodyguards moved swiftly, giving Jared no chance to defend himself.
These bodyguards had undergone rigorous training under the Perkins family, making them exceptionally skilled and disciplined. Despite knowing about Lilian’s close relationship with Jared, they remained wary of him. To them, even the slightest suspicion warranted preemptive action.
Jared had already exhausted much of his time and energy dealing with Lilian. Now, with the Perkins family’s formidable bodyguards closing in on him, he felt frustrated. He knew that if this continued, it would inevitably draw unwanted attention. All he wanted was to escape as quickly as possible.
Left with no other option, Jared swiftly engaged the bodyguards, fighting his way out of their encirclement. Then, he seized the brief opening he created and sprinted toward the wall. Spotting a nearby tree, he leaped onto its sturdy branches, using them to propel himself over the wall and jump out.
“Hurry! Go after him!”
The bodyguards immediately followed him. Some scaled the wall, while others went back to get a car.
Beyond the walls of the Perkins family’s residence, there were no other houses. Only an open, flat road stretched into the distance. With no immediate cover, Jared had no choice but to rely on his own speed and endurance. Clutching the evidence tightly, he sprinted forward, determined to escape before anyone could catch up with him.
Just as Jared heard the Perkins family’s bodyguards closing in behind him, a sharp car horn blared from up ahead.
“Mr. Cooper!” someone shouted.
Not far ahead, a minivan screeched to a stop. The back seat door slid open, revealing the familiar face of the Welch family’s butler. His expression was calm but urgent as he gestured for Jared to get in.
“Mr. Cooper, get in quickly!”
Jared immediately recognized the man waving to him as Isabella had introduced them before. A wave of relief washed over him. He sprinted toward the minivan and jumped into the back seat.
“Damn! He got away.”
Behind Jared, the bodyguards, who were about to catch up with him, could only curse angrily as they watched him get in the car.
Inside the minivan, Jared collapsed into the back seat, gasping for breath. His clothes were slightly disheveled, and he looked rather pathetic after the intense escape. He turned to the butler with gratitude in his eyes and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
The butler waved his hand dismissively, a hint of relief visible on his face.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Cooper. No need to be so polite,” he said with a reassuring nod.