Paid To Care, Destined To Conquer Novel

Chapter 483 Shot in the Heart Mark's mind went blank for a second. He said, "You-" But before he could finish, something clicked in his mind, and his eyes widened in shock. Bang! Mark slammed his fists down on the table, glaring straight ahead, his breath coming in short bursts. 'Mike still has no idea!' Mark thought. "No!" Mark raised his voice, yelling at Stella through the screen. But all he got back was a sly smile from Stella. She put a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet, then turned off the drone's audio. Now, they could hear her, but she couldn't hear them.

Everyone in the International Military Council Grand Hall could hear her loud and clear, but she was completely cut off from their side. Stella strolled into the research institute, taking her time. It didn't take her long to find the lab where all the gene research data was stored. Everyone in the International Military Council Grand Hall was on the edge of their seats, watching in disbelief as Stella just poked at the keypad a couple of times and the most advanced Monterra security lock popped open, like it was nothing.

They wondered, 'Six digits, a million possible combinations, and she cracked it with barely any effort? 'This is insane!' Stella sauntered in, flipping through the records as if she owned the place. Her calm attitude made Mark feel a chill run down his spine. He didn't even want to imagine what would happen if Mike showed up. And sure enough, speak of the devil. Mike came crashing in. "Stella, get out of here!" Mike yelled, shoving Nia in front of him like a hostage.

He was backed up by the few Monterra soldiers left, while Sebastian and his crew were right behind them, charging into the research institute. Stella lifted her lashes, her eyes glinting with mischief. A smirk played at her lips. 'Well. Mike finally decided to show up, Stella thought. "Looking for me?" Stella drawled. In the research institute's main hall, Stella walked out, completely unfazed, holding the USB drive with all the copied files. Her eyes zeroed in on Sebastian, but in the blink of an eye, her expression hardened, as if the darkness before a storm.

The air suddenly thickened with tension, making everyone's heart skip a beat. There was a dangerous edge in her eyes, a ferocity barely contained. Stella tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over Mike. Even a battle-hardened veteran like him felt a shiver he couldn't suppress run down his spine. The next second, nobody saw how Stella moved. Everyone in the research institute, as well as those watching in the International Military Council Grand Hall, was left gaping in shock. Stella moved with icy precision, slipping past the few Monterra soldiers still standing beside Mike.

All anyone caught was a flash of silver, and suddenly, the soldiers' faces were frozen in shock, their final expressions etched on their features. Stella turned her back to them, her face emotionless as she stared down Sebastian. 1/3 Chapter 483 Shot in the Heart Thud. Behind her, heads rolled to the floor, their faces still frozen in shock. Blood dripped from the silver wire between Stella's fingers, each drop hitting the floor with a soft, steady rhythm. The rest of the Clusia soldiers were all frozen, utterly speechless. It took just one second. 'Just one second?

Seriously?' everyone thought. Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound. Only now did they realize how much Stella had been going easy on them during those ten days of training. There was dead silence. Even the International Military Council Grand Hall was so quiet that anyone could hear a pin drop. Stella turned her head slowly, her face cold and unreadable. "Mike, you laid a hand on my Sebastian." Mike was stunned into silence. He gulped. His whole body was seized by terror, his hand shaking uncontrollably around the knife.

"You-" "What, you want to try me?" Stella shot back, a cold, razor-sharp smile flickering across her face. "Let her go," Stella ordered, her voice steady and unbothered. She lifted her hand and pointed lazily at poor Nia, who was shaking so hard she looked ready to faint. The smell of blood hit her full force. Nia was about to throw up, her whole body a mess of fear. "Shark..." Nia whimpered, barely able to get other words out. Mike forced himself to steady his nerves. "Hand it over!" He shot a look at the USB drive in Stella's hand.

That little thing held all the research data this secret lab's been gathering for years. With it, Monterra could unleash whatever genetic attack they wanted on any country, whenever they felt like it. "This thing?" Stella twirled the USB drive between her blood-stained fingers, sauntering toward Mike with a lazy, almost playful look. "And what if I don't?" Mike gave a nasty grin. The blade dug into Nia's thin neck, and blood welled up instantly. "Hand. It. Over!" Mike spat out each word dripping with threat.

All he had to do was snatch the data and race to the chopper ladder, dropping onto the roof. Then, he was outta here, mission complete. "We trade. Your hostage for the data," Stella said, a smirk playing on her lips. Mike said, "Alright!" Stella asked, "Should I count down?" Mike sneered, "Go ahead!" "Three," Stella said. She and Mike stared each other down, neither backing off. "Two." The USB drove between Stella's blood-stained fingers. "One." Stella and Mike moved at the exact same moment. Mike shoved Nia toward Stella.

Stella tossed the USB drive to Mike and, in the same instant, pulled Nia close with one arm, catching her protectively. "Goodbye, you worthless trash!" Mike yelled, gloating as he made his move. Clutching the USB drive, he spun around and dashed for the exit. If he could just reach the rooftop, fire the 212 Chapter 483 Shot in the Heart flare, and grab the chopper's ladder, the bombers overhead would wipe this place off the map. No signal, no cameras, no survivors. Everything would go up in smoke, and no one would ever know what happened here.

"Is that so?" Stella said, her voice cold and dripping with sarcasm. Before anyone could blink, a Lion-patterned sleeve dart whipped out from her sleeve, tearing through the air. Whoosh! The dart shot right through the back of Mike's head and blasted out his forehead. He was still running when he dropped dead, his body frozen mid-stride. Mike was stunned into silence. He stared in disbelief at the Lion-patterned dart that had gone clean through his head and was now stuck in the wall. "You..." Mike turned round. Stella stood there, one arm wrapped around Nia, a cold, mocking smile on her lips.

"I told you. Hurt Sebastian, and you'd pay for it with your life." Mike's pupils shrank in terror, his whole body seized by a final jolt of fear. Thud! He collapsed forward, stiff as a board. He was dead, but still gripping the USB drive with a death grip, refusing to let go even in his last moment. Everyone, including the people in the Grand Hall, was totally floored. 'Did all the Monterra guys just get wiped out in a split second?' everyone thought. Mark's face was ashen, all color drained away. He looked like death itself had come knocking.

He was the only one who knew Monterra still had a mole planted on the island, and now there was no way to reach out and abort the mission. If Stella really got taken out with so many witnesses watching, Monterra would be royally screwed. Cold sweat poured down his back. "My God!" Joey yelled, darting over and prying the USB drive out of Mike's death grip. He bounced around like a little kid on a sugar rush, totally hyped. Everyone else finally relaxed, dropping their guard. But just as Joey spun around to say something, he caught sight of Sebastian rushing straight at Stella, with cold eyes.

"Stella!" Sebastian called. Bang! A gunshot cut through the air like a knife. Even the Clusia reps in the International Military Council Grand Hall, who'd just started to breathe easy, felt their hearts shoot right back up into their throats. Stella slowly lowered her head. There was Nia, who just moments ago seemed so weak and helpless, now sporting a wicked grin as she pressed a tiny pistol right against the left side of Stella's chest, aimed straight at her heart. "Surprised?" Nia taunted. "My God!" Joey yelled. "Ms. Carter," someone called out, their voice tight with worry.

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