Chapter 222

Victoria's eyes widened, her pupils contracting sharply!

The wind roared in her ears as she plunged into the icy, bone-chilling water, the murky liquid burning her lungs.

A few minutes later.

When William dragged her onto the shore, they looked like two ghosts crawling out from the depths of the River Styx, utterly disheveled and far from presentable.

They lay exhausted on the riverbank, their faces pale as paper, devoid of any color.

The moment the car plunged into the water, the windshield shattered instantly from the massive impact.

Fortunately, they had been prepared. The car doors weren't locked, and Victoria and William used all their strength to escape before it was completely submerged and dragged down by the rushing river.

The river surged violently, and by the time Victoria finally made it to the shore, she realized they had been carried hundreds of feet downstream from where they had fallen in. The cliff and the road were long out of sight.

She coughed out the water she had swallowed, her face expressionless, not knowing how much she had gulped down in the chaos.

The rocks beneath her were uncomfortable, but compared to the bone-chilling cold that had seeped into her body, this discomfort was nothing.

Her clothes were soaked through, clinging tightly to her body. Victoria's teeth chattered uncontrollably as she shivered from the cold.

The harrowing struggle for survival had made her acutely aware that they had just danced on the edge of death. A slight misstep, and they would have been gone.

William, catching his breath, coughed violently but then burst into laughter, as if their brush with death was just an exhilarating adventure, thrilling and fun.

He turned to look at Victoria, who was staring back at him.

Victoria gazed at his face, lost in thought.

She couldn't help but wonder what William would look like if he ever showed fear. If she hadn't known some of his childhood stories from Harry, she might have suspected that something had happened to him as a child, making him so crazy.

Victoria was numb from the cold, her teeth chattering uncontrollably. The biting wind by the river made her shiver even more.

William looked at her, frowning slightly, his eyes full of confusion. "Are you cold?" he asked.

Victoria felt a wave of helplessness. She wanted to roll her eyes at him but was too cold and exhausted to even make that small gesture. She weakly retorted, "Aren't you?"

William stared at her, his tone calm. "I'm okay."

He really was okay. After the initial cold, warmth began to seep back into his body, though it wasn't exactly comfortable. It was still early spring, and the weather was cold, especially after being in the water.

William, however, found the current atmosphere oddly pleasant.

He rolled over and moved closer, water droplets falling from his face onto Victoria's, a playful smile on his lips. "Surviving a disaster, shouldn't we celebrate?"

Under Victoria's gaze, William slowly leaned down, his cold lips gently pressing against hers, carrying the chill and taste of the river, as if trying to infuse the thrill of their near-death experience into the kiss.

At first, it was just a light touch. He closed his eyes slightly, gently brushing her lips, as if confirming something, or maybe comforting her.

Then, William applied a bit more pressure, prying open her cold-closed lips, his tongue exploring and claiming.

Victoria was completely stunned by his kiss. She lay there, dazed, as William's arm wrapped around her slender waist, holding her tightly.

After a while, she finally regained her senses and kicked his foot, angrily shouting, "William, what the hell are you doing!"

William gazed at her flushed face, his eyes growing more intense. His hand slid to her chest, caressing through the thin fabric of her dress, his deep, magnetic voice carrying a hint of seduction. "Aren't you cold? Let me warm you up."

"I..."

Victoria barely got the word out before William's lips covered hers again. His lips were cold, but his tongue was hot, sending electric shivers through her body, making her go weak.

His grip on her tightened, and Victoria could clearly feel their body heat rising rapidly.

William's eyes shone brightly, like stars in the night sky, radiating a dazzling brilliance.

Victoria's heart raced, her mind going blank. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart.

Fortunately, William hadn't completely lost his senses. Though he enjoyed the intimacy, he knew not to go too far. Finally, he released her, panting slightly. "We should get going."

They weren't familiar with the area, but they couldn't stay put. To avoid being found by those chasing them, they had to head into the woods by the river.

Hopefully, Harry would see the message and come find them soon.

The bare trees stood desolate, the ground covered in weeds, making it barely passable. Victoria followed William, struggling with each step.

The leaden clouds hung low, almost within reach. Victoria fervently hoped it wouldn't rain. In this desolate place, if it rained, they wouldn't find any shelter.

Her soaked clothes clung to her, each step feeling like it added pounds of weight, making it increasingly difficult to move.

Victoria was so uncomfortable that she considered taking off her wet jacket, but after a moment's thought, she dismissed the idea. Taking it off might make her even colder.

She then noticed that William was only wearing a shirt and pants. He had taken off his jacket and thrown it in the back seat before they started driving.

Victoria's teeth chattered, her body shivering uncontrollably. In contrast, William walked leisurely, hands in his pockets, his collar open, looking completely unbothered. The difference between them was stark.

Sensing her gaze, William turned his head, his expression relaxed and casual. "When do you think Harry will find us?"

"I don't know." Victoria shook her head slightly, then asked, "Who are these enemies of yours this time?"

William paused, then walked back to her side, looking unperturbed. "I have an idea."

A mocking smile played on his lips. "Maybe they're desperate."

His tone was nonchalant, but Victoria detected a hint of sarcasm. She frowned slightly. "Why?"

William glanced at her, his deep eyes locking onto hers. "Once I deal with them, I'll tell you."

Then, he could be with her without any worries.