Chapter 1634

Taylor adjusted his grip on Gideon and quickly fell into step behind Abigail. As they tried to escape the alley, the gang leader grabbed a heavy machete from one of his men and hurled it with all his strength. The blade swept through the air in a deadly arc, slashing into Taylor's calf as it descended. The tip bit deep, leaving a jagged gash several inches long before clattering to the ground. "Ugh—" Taylor collapsed to one knee, sweat beading on his forehead. "What's wrong?" Abigail turned back, her heart racing at the sight of his pained expression. "I'm fine!" Taylor replied, forcing himself to stand despite the pain. "I just underestimated this guy's weight!" He quickly moved in front of Abigail, urgency lacing his voice. "We can't waste any more time. They're after your lives; it's do or die. We need to reach a more populated area, fast!" "Okay!" Abigail replied with a solemn nod. After surveying her surroundings for direction, she led Taylor onto the street. Taking charge, she navigated through the chaos, while Taylor pushed himself to keep pace. Before long, they had put a significant distance between themselves and their pursuers. A few minutes later, they finally emerged onto the main road. Just then, they heard Jenson's voice calling from across the street. "Abigail?" He stood by the car with Germaine, watching them from a distance. "What are you guys doing out here at this hour?" Without hesitation, Abigail and Taylor sprinted toward them. "Someone's chasing us!" Abigail shouted as she flung open the car door, making room for Taylor and Gideon to get in. Jenson glanced back toward the alley and spotted several figures emerging from the shadows. "Hop in!" Without a moment's delay, he slid into the driver's seat and slammed down the accelerator. As they sped away, the last thing their pursuers saw was the back of the car disappearing at the intersection. After driving for a short distance, Taylor made a call to arrange for an emergency appointment. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the private hospital, where a team of doctors and nurses was already waiting with a stretcher. Abigail jumped out and quickly moved to the other side of the car, working alongside the nurses to lift Gideon from the vehicle. They rushed into the emergency room, the others close on their heels. As the surgical lights flickered on, Taylor leaned against the wall, exhaling in relief. The pain in his leg started to throb, but the loose fabric of his pants concealed the blood that had soaked through. Straightening up, he tried to project an air of indifference. "It's just a couple of cuts. No need for everyone to stick around. I'm tired; I think I'll get some rest." With that, he turned and walked away. Abigail shot Taylor a complicated look, disappointment flickering in her eyes. She wanted to express her gratitude—not just for tonight, but for everything he had done for her. Yet it felt as if he was deliberately pushing her away. Perhaps it didn't matter; after all, she was Gideon's fiancée now. With that thought weighing on her, Abigail forced herself to look away, pretending it didn't bother her. Jenson, however, noticed the subtle signs of Taylor's discomfort. Despite his attempts to hide it, Jenson quickly picked up on his uneven walk. "I just remembered I need to talk to Taylor about something," Jenson said. "Germaine, could you stay here and keep Abigail company for a bit?"