I Was Keeping Her Alive While Her Fiancé Tried to Destroy Me Chapter 06

I Was Keeping Her Alive While Her Fiancé Tried to Destroy Me Chapter 06

The helicopter hovered directly above us, blades slicing the air.
BENNETT HOLDINGS was painted across the fuselage.

Every head in the clearing snapped toward the sky.

Before the skids even hit the ground, someone shoved the cabin door open and jumped.

I knew him. Leo Bennett. Clara’s brother.

Bennett Holdings ran a network of subsidiaries from Suncrest Valley.
Leo had been running all of them for the past few years.

He usually only came home twice a year. I hadn’t expected him back so soon.

Preston’s confusion lasted half a second. Then his face split into a grin.

The deafening rotors had distorted Leo’s voice over the loudspeaker.
Preston clearly hadn’t caught a word of it.

“Wait, that’s Leo. Clara’s brother. She must’ve noticed I wasn’t at the venue and sent him to get me.”

He shot me a look full of contempt.

“See that? That’s how much I mean to her. I just got back and she’s already sending a helicopter after me.”

“You actually thought you could pull it off. Cheap tricks, mind games, all to bleed the Bennetts dry. Good thing I caught you when I did.”

“And the timing couldn’t be better. Today’s the day our families are signing the partnership deal, and the day both grandfathers announce my engagement to Clara. I’ll walk in there with proof of what you did. They’ll see exactly what kind of man she’s marrying.”

“I’m dragging you back with me so everyone can see what you really are.”

Preston’s voice reached me as if I were underwater. I didn’t have the strength to argue.

The serum had turned every injury into something unbearable. The beating itself was nothing compared to what the serum was doing to me now.

It felt like something was eating me alive from the inside out.

Through the haze, I saw Leo charging toward me.

Preston strolled over to intercept him, beaming.

“You’re Clara’s brother, right? Did she send you to pick me up? No need. I can get there myself. We’re practically family already.”

He stepped forward with one hand out, going in for a handshake.

Leo didn’t even spare him a glance. He walked straight past Preston and dropped to his knees beside me.

He propped me up, gripping my hand hard.

“Julian! Hey, stay with me!”

I forced my eyes open.

“Clara is…”

I tried to finish, but my throat seized. One of the bodyguards had hit me there earlier. The coughing tore through me. When it stopped, no words came out.

Leo, the man who ran half the Bennett empire without breaking a sweat, looked terrified.

“Don’t move. I’m getting you out of here right now.”

Leo pulled me to my feet. We’d barely taken a step before Preston blocked our path.

“Hey, Leo, right? Clara’s shown me pictures. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

“Running the whole Suncrest Valley operation at your age is impressive. I’m lucky to be joining this family.”

“But you’ve got the wrong idea about this guy. I’m Clara’s fiancé, and he’s a con artist who’s been playing her.”

Leo had been based out of state for years. He’d never met Preston.

He didn’t waste a single word on pleasantries.

“I don’t care who you are. Move. If Julian and Clara die because of you, I swear to God, I’ll end you myself.”

Preston blinked, as if he’d misheard.

He stepped in front of Leo a second time.

“Wait, Leo, it’s me, Preston. The Sterlings and Bennetts are partners, remember?”

“I’m engaged to Clara. We’re going to be family.”

“Look, I get it. He fooled you too. But don’t worry. I got him to confess. I’ve got it all on video.”

“Your sister’s been sick because of him. He was running some voodoo scam on her. I broke his little charm. When we get back, I’m showing everyone the proof.”

Leo stared at him.

Preston’s smile widened. He thought Leo was finally recognizing him.

Leo struck him across the face. An open-handed slap so hard it echoed through the pines.