Chapter 436 - 446: Of Course I Have Someone Backing Me
Chapter 436: Chapter 446: Of Course I Have Someone Backing Me
The very thought of it sent a surge of anger through her.
She hated being used, especially by someone who would prey on her emotions.
She looked at the man before her. "River Larkin, I’ll only ask you this once. Are you with me just to use me? Is it just like she said—that you’re only using me to get ahead?"
"Of course not!"
River Larkin scrambled to explain. "After all these years, you of all people should know how I feel about you, don’t you? If I were just using you, why would I have ever risked my life for you?"
"Okay. I believe you."
Hearing him say this, Selene Larkin seemed to recall something. Her expression softened, and she began to trust River Larkin again.
Not far away, Stella Sterling heard this, and a glint appeared in her eyes. ’Looks like something significant happened between those two.’
’No wonder this Selene Larkin woman is so infatuated with River Larkin.’
She couldn’t tell if this River Larkin was being sincere or just trying to achieve his own goals.
In truth, none of this had anything to do with her.
Whether they stayed together, trusted each other, or had some misunderstanding was no concern of hers. She had only said what she did to stir up conflict between them.
But now...
She let out a soft sigh. ’Looks like my plan to sow discord failed. Their bond is just too deep.’ She gave them her deepest blessing: may they be chained together forever.
Seeing that Selene Larkin temporarily believed him, River Larkin breathed a huge sigh of relief internally.
He quickly changed the subject, not wanting to let Stella Sterling continue. "Selene, what happened between her and me... I’ll explain it to you later. But no matter what, you have to believe in my sincere devotion to you."
"Besides, she’s obviously trying to drive a wedge between us. Why do you think she’s doing that?"
"First, she wants to make my life miserable, so she wants you to give up on me and hand me over to her. Second, she’s deliberately causing conflict between us so she can escape in the confusion. We can’t fall for her trick."
At this, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings chimed in from the side. "That’s right. We can deal with these things later. But this woman is incredibly cunning. She’s clearly just enjoying the show, watching us fight amongst ourselves. We can’t let her get her way. We have to stick together."
Queenie Walsh suppressed her resentment toward Selene and said in a cold voice, "This woman has no intention of submitting to us. Your plan to recruit her will never work. I say we just kill her. It’s the fastest way to solve this."
"Yes, yes! Hurry up and send someone to kill me!"
Amidst the chorus of voices, a strange and eager one suddenly cut in.
Everyone turned to look and saw Stella Sterling watching them with an expression of excited anticipation. "I’d love to see what other tricks your base has up its sleeve. Bring them on!"
"You’re right about one thing—I’m never going to join your base, so don’t even think about it. You can either let me walk out of here right now, or you can show me what you’ve really got."
Seeing her excited and expectant expression, everyone felt as if they were right back where they started.
Not only did she show no fear, but she was actively goading them into attacking her.
’What a strange person. Her train of thought isn’t on the same track as anyone else here.’
It was the first time they had ever seen someone so eager to die.
Selene Larkin said, "You really are a strange one. Are you truly not afraid of death?"
Stella Sterling crossed her arms, her voice firm. "Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be afraid of death?"
Hearing this, the expressions of those around her grew even stranger. If she was afraid of death, why was she actively courting it by constantly provoking them?
It was truly impossible to understand what this woman was thinking.
River Larkin stood to the side, watching Stella Sterling. He remembered when she had pushed him down the stairs—she had been just as wild back then, seemingly unhinged.
’Now, after several years have passed,’ he thought, ’she seems to have gotten even crazier.’
Just then, Stella Sterling’s voice continued, "Of course I’m afraid of dying. Everyone is. But the thing is, you can’t kill me. And I’m willing to bet you don’t dare to kill me."
Stella Sterling’s words were like a resounding slap across their faces.
They couldn’t kill her?
Was that why she was being so arrogant and outrageous?
But she wasn’t wrong. They had already sent so many people after her, even using firearms, and they still hadn’t been able to do a thing to her.
No wonder she was so brazen.
Still, to keep provoking them like this... she really had some nerve!
Just because they hadn’t killed her before didn’t mean they were completely out of options.
Selene Larkin’s brow furrowed slightly. She hadn’t missed the last part of Stella’s sentence. This wasn’t the first time she had said something like that.
She had said it before—that they didn’t *dare* to kill her.
Not just that they *couldn’t* kill her, but that they *dared not*. What was the meaning behind that?
She began to feel that something was off. Was her brazen attitude simply because she was powerful?
But surely she knew this was Sanctyr Base. No matter how strong she was, one person could hardly turn the world upside down on her own!
So, could the key to her arrogance be in that last statement—her belief that they wouldn’t dare to kill her?
And what was the source of such confidence?
Could it be that she had some powerful backing? Was that why she was so sure they wouldn’t dare to act against her?
Her gaze swept across the surroundings. By now, the people hidden in the shadows were ready.
Only then did a hint of a smile flash in her eyes.
’No matter how wild she is, this time she’s dead for sure.’
’I refuse to believe she can survive a direct hit from *that*!’
Selene Larkin suddenly looked much more relaxed. She looked at Stella Sterling. "You keep saying we don’t dare to kill you. Oh? And what makes you think that?"
Just as Stella Sterling was about to speak, she seemed to sense something. She glanced in several directions and spotted the people hiding in the shadows.
She smiled silently.
When Selene Larkin saw her reaction, her expression changed. ’Is it a coincidence? Or did she actually spot them?’
Stella Sterling saw Selene Larkin’s curious expression and her eyes glinted. "What makes me think that? What do *you* think? Haven’t you noticed the problem here? Why am I so certain you won’t dare to kill me, and why am I daring to be so arrogant? Haven’t you stopped to think about it?"
"It’s because I have people backing me, of course!"
’So that really is the reason,’ Selene thought.
She had already guessed as much, so Selene Larkin wasn’t surprised. She sneered, "I don’t care who’s backing you. Now that you’ve fallen into the hands of Sanctyr Base, there’s no escaping death."