Chapter 529: All Covered in Blood

Clutching his stomach, Charlie Rhodes leisurely watched Ivy Sherwood try to run, not a hint of worry on his face.

That was because men had appeared, directly blocking Ivy’s attempt to leave.

Charlie Rhodes waved his hand dismissively. "You dare kick me? Just wait, I’m going to teach you a lesson. Take her to the room!"

Ivy Sherwood struggled, but she was no match for these men. She didn’t know if her brother had gotten her call. He was probably trying to contact her right now. If he couldn’t get through, he would surely come looking for her at once.

Ivy knew what she had to do now: stall for time.

"Let me go! I’ll walk on my own!"

Of course, Charlie Rhodes knew Ivy Sherwood all too well. Besides, he knew he didn’t have much time. This brief moment might be all he could enjoy.

If Miles Mercer’s or Quentin Blackwood’s men figured it out, it would be all over for him.

He’d die happy if he could just have Ivy Sherwood once.

"Don’t listen to her! Use the drug on her!" Charlie Rhodes had prepared the strongest sedative. This time, he absolutely wouldn’t let things go wrong like last time.

He would only feel safe once Ivy Sherwood was unconscious.

The men pulled out a towel soaked in the drug and pressed it over Ivy’s mouth and nose. It was too late, even as she tried to hold her breath.

Her head spun, and her body felt as heavy as lead.

However, Ivy had managed to hold her breath in time and didn’t inhale much. She pretended to faint, and the men carried her upstairs.

Charlie Rhodes hurried after them. Once the men placed Ivy on the bed, Charlie shooed them out of the room.

Charlie Rhodes rushed over and stared at the figure on the bed. "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful."

His mind raced with lust, and he was practically drooling.

"How can anyone be so beautiful? Ivy Sherwood, don’t worry, I’ll be gentle." This was followed by the sound of Charlie Rhodes licking his lips and swallowing hard.

Ivy’s mind was groggy, but she was still conscious. She heard Charlie’s voice.

’I can’t believe it’s Charlie Rhodes again. He’ll never change, still obsessed with me.’

’And he even got Ruby Sterling to help him, and arranged for all these men beforehand.’

’Did he deliberately choose this time because Quentin Blackwood is on a business trip? Or was Quentin’s trip their doing all along?’

’If that’s the case, and Quentin’s phone is off and unreachable... could he be in danger?’

Even now, Ivy’s thoughts were on Quentin. But Charlie had already come over. He stood before her, leering down at her.

Then he leaned in and took a deep breath.

"So fragrant." A look of satisfaction crossed Charlie’s face.

Ivy’s scent was intoxicating, completely different from perfume. It seemed to emanate from her very skin—an indescribable fragrance with a hint of sweetness.

Charlie raised his hand, yet hesitated to touch her. For a moment, he felt as if he were desecrating a goddess.

He had fantasized about this countless times, and now, he was finally about to get what he wanted.

Charlie placed his hand on Ivy’s shoulder. He moved to pull off her clothes, lowering his head to kiss her.

But before he could touch her, something cold and metallic pressed against his neck.

"Don’t move!" It was Ivy’s voice. In her hand, she held a fruit knife.

Ivy’s voice held a slight tremor. Blood dripped from her palm, and the metallic tang of it filled her nostrils.

Ivy always carried the knife. It was for self-defense.

She had just sliced her own palm; only the sharp pain could jolt her nerves and clear her drug-addled mind.

"Let me go, or I’ll kill you!"

She couldn’t control the strength in her hand. The cold gleam of the blade had already broken the skin on Charlie’s neck.

He never thought Ivy was only pretending to be unconscious, let alone that she was armed.

"Don’t move! Calm down!" Charlie didn’t dare to move. He was terrified he’d end up dead at Ivy’s hand.

Charlie said, "Just move the knife away a little. I’ll let you go, all right? I’ll let you go."

He said the words, but he was really just trying to placate Ivy and find a chance to snatch the knife from her grasp.

Charlie made a sudden move, grabbing Ivy’s wrist and trying to wrest the knife away. Ivy’s hand was weak; she could barely hold on.

But she knew she couldn’t let him get it.

’This is self-preservation. Even if I kill him, it’s self-defense. At worst, it would be manslaughter.’

Ivy couldn’t afford to think about it. She lunged at Charlie with the knife.

Unable to dodge in time, the knife plunged directly into Charlie’s arm.

"AH!" Charlie screamed in pain, his voice laced with fury. "You dare try to kill me!"

He raised his hand and slapped Ivy hard across the face. Her cheek stung, burning with pain.

Clutching the knife, she stabbed at him again. This time, the blade found his abdomen.

Charlie was utterly enraged now. Clutching his stomach, he tried to lunge at Ivy.

Terrified, Ivy raised the knife again to stab him. Charlie froze, fear finally overriding his rage.

Using every last bit of her strength, Ivy scrambled to her feet and stumbled out the door.

She was covered in blood, some of it her own, some of it Charlie’s.

Ivy’s legs were giving out. She braced herself against the wall, desperately dragging herself out of the room.

From the room next door, a crazed Thea Sherwood emerged. When she saw Ivy holding the knife, she shrieked, "Murder! Murder!"

Hearing the commotion, Ruby Sterling rushed upstairs, only to see Ivy, knife in hand, making her way unsteadily down the stairs.

When Ruby saw the blood, she rushed to block her path. "Ivy Sherwood! You actually killed someone!"

Ruby panicked, wondering if Charlie was dead. If he was, this was all Ivy’s doing; it had nothing to do with her.

Ivy’s head was swimming, her consciousness fading. She gripped the handrail tightly, terrified she would slip and fall.

’If I fall, it would be disastrous. I might lose the baby.’

With every step she took, she left a bloody handprint on the railing, stark and crimson.

Just then, Charlie stumbled out of the room, clutching his stomach. When he saw Ruby, he bellowed, "Grab her! Don’t let Ivy get away!"

Ruby, of course, listened to Charlie. As she moved forward, Ivy brandished the knife. "Stay back, or I’ll kill you!"

The threat stopped Ruby in her tracks, too frightened to move closer.

From behind them, Charlie cursed, "She’s been drugged, what are you afraid of? Grab her! I’ll give you another five hundred million!"

In truth, Ivy had reached her limit. Standing there in the middle of the staircase, her legs finally gave out, and she pitched forward.