Cora smiled with satisfaction, loosening her grip slightly. At that moment, Nelson, who had been facing away, suddenly turned and sprinted towards them. He kicked out, hitting Cora squarely in a vital spot. Her face turned pale, and as she doubled over in pain, the man swiftly subdued her, pressing her to the ground.
The knife fell to the floor.
His movements were fluid and swift. Callie, now free, quickly crawled to the side, gasping for breath as she watched the scene unfold.
Nelson pinned Cora down firmly. She hadn’t expected his strength and speed. Realizing the situation, she shouted to the bodyguard, “Push her down!”
The bodyguard, following orders, moved to cut Marilyn’s rope with the knife. She screamed, “Nelson!”
Callie instinctively leaned forward to help but was too injured to move.
Fortunately, the rope was too thick to be cut quickly. Nelson’s expression changed dramatically. He immediately got up and sprinted away. Callie watched helplessly as his determined steps passed by her.
At that moment, a commotion erupted outside. Jaquan had arrived, holding a gun while seated in a wheelchair. He shot the bodyguard in the leg, preventing him from cutting Marilyn’s rope. But she was already teetering on the edge, any slight movement threatening to make her fall.
Callie stared intently in that direction. As Marilyn began to fall, Nelson lunged and grabbed her wrist. The force dragged him across the rough ground, nearly pulling him down as well.
Marilyn looked up at Nelson. “Nelson.”
“Hold on!” Nelson gritted his teeth, veins bulging in his neck. “Marilyn, you must hold on.”
Jaquan’s men were still fighting the other bodyguards. Nelson had no backup. The injured bodyguard grabbed a wooden stick and aimed a deadly blow at Nelson’s shoulder and neck.
“Dodge!” Callie screamed. Nelson heard her and immediately turned his head, avoiding the fatal strike.
But the bodyguard was relentless, fiercely hitting Nelson’s immobile leg again and again. Each blow felt like it was striking Callie’s heart.
Nelson’s forehead was drenched in sweat. The pain was relentless, and his strength was waning. Marilyn began to shake her head. “Let go, Nelson. You need to go.”
Nelson roared in defiance, not responding.
“Let me go!” Marilyn cried. “I’ve always been a burden. All these years, I’ve loved you so much, Nelson. From the beginning, I’ve only wanted you to be happy. So even if I die, don’t blame yourself. Live well.”
“Marilyn! Don’t talk like that. We’ll live together!” Nelson’s words came through gritted teeth.
“No…”
They looked like lovers facing life and death. Callie watched with bated breath, deeply moved.
“Hold on to me!” Nelson gripped the rough wall with one hand, blood already staining it.
“Hurry!” Jaquan clutched his wound, moving his wheelchair with one hand while holding the gun with the other. He aimed at the bodyguard behind Nelson and shot him in the hand holding the stick. The bodyguard dropped it and could no longer move.
With no external interference, Nelson found it slightly easier. He gritted his teeth and used all his strength to pull Marilyn up. They both collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily as everyone sighed in relief.
At that moment, Marilyn hugged Nelson tightly, crying and laughing. “Nelson, I thought I was going to die…”
The disheveled man panted, equally relieved to have survived. He patted her head. “It’s over.”
Callie’s smile slowly faded away.