Chapter 1656

Before Maeve could react, Matteo shoved her to the ground. The chaos was overwhelming. She froze in place as bullets ripped through Matteo's body in rapid succession. "Matteo!" Maeve cried. Despite his injuries, Matteo didn't falter. He grabbed Maeve's arm and dragged her toward the dense forest, finding cover behind a massive tree trunk. The fallen logs formed a crude barricade against the onslaught. Soon, the relentless barrage tore into his leg. It all happened too quickly that Maeve's mind blanked. The world around her dissolved into a blur of blood and chaos. Matteo, riddled with wounds, was fading fast. Yet his eyes stayed sharp, locking onto hers with startling clarity. Summoning the last of his strength, he gripped her shoulders. "Don't forget... promise me..." he whispered before his hands went limp. Maeve's white blouse was soaked by his blood. A voice cut through the silence, smooth and mocking. "Maeve, hiding won't save you." That voice—it was Tessa. He