Jocelyn regained her senses and realized her palm was pressed against the man's chest.
Through the thin fabric, she felt the man's scorching heat and the strong, rhythmic beating of his heart.
She nonchalantly withdrew her hand and remarked candidly, "Well-built muscles."
But before her words had even faded, a loud "bang" echoed as the car jolted violently, nearly crashing.
The assassins had caught up, furiously ramming the vehicle.
Brian winced in pain as the wound on his back was aggravated, causing him to collapse into Jocelyn's arms, pinning her against the window.
His warm breath brushed against her neck, making Jocelyn's eyelashes flutter and her breath hitch.
"Sorry," Brian muttered, struggling to sit up, but the relentless pursuit kept him pinned in his current position.
Despite the girl's slender frame, her body was soft, like a human cushion absorbing most of the car's impact.
Brian felt a pang of guilt and reached out to pull her into his arms, using his broad hand to shield her delicate back from the jarring shocks.
Jocelyn was momentarily stunned.
This man, though injured and pale from blood loss, was still trying to protect her.
"Damn! These guys are insane! Help, I don't want to die!"
The driver's panicked screams broke the tension.
Each impact caused him to lose control of the steering wheel, sending the car careening dangerously close to the guardrails and nearly off the cliff.
"Worthless!" Jocelyn sneered.
Though she had no desire to save the man beside her, the relentless pests behind them had thoroughly provoked her.
"Think you can outdrive me? Let's see who's better!"
Jocelyn shoved Brian back, deftly securing his seatbelt before swiftly taking the driver's seat.
The driver, barely having time to react, found himself unceremoniously tossed into the passenger seat.
He was in a panic, wondering if the girl even had a driver's license.
Jocelyn's lips curled into a rare smile as she warned, "Hold on tight!"
With a sharp stomp on the accelerator, the car's speed surged to 200 km/h, with no sign of slowing down.
As they approached a sharp bend, the driver trembled with fear, "My lord!! Slow down! Slow down!"
But Jocelyn ignored him, speeding straight ahead.
The driver squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the worst.
Yet, Jocelyn remained composed, her gaze firm and resolute.
With a flawless drift, she navigated the turn effortlessly.
The car behind them wasn't so lucky, smashing through the roadside barrier and plunging off the cliff.
Brian watched in awe, captivated by the girl's composure and masterful driving.
Despite being no older than eighteen or nineteen, she handled the situation with remarkable calmness and skill, effortlessly outmaneuvering the killers.
This girl had clearly faced life-and-death situations before.
Brian couldn't help but wonder what experiences this girl had gone through to become so mature and composed.
After drifting through several tight turns, Jocelyn had effortlessly shaken off the pursuers, leaving them far behind.
Nailed it!
Jocelyn parked the car on the outskirts of Los Angeles, where the driver hurried out and leaned over the railing, vomiting violently.
The man in the back seat, pale from excessive blood loss, looked all the more fragile and delicate.
Jocelyn got out and retrieved a delicate little pill box from her bag, offering a pill to Brian.
"Take this; it'll keep you going until your people find you. We part ways here."
Brian nodded, taking the pill without hesitation.
The danger had passed, and he couldn't impose on her any longer.
He had already contacted his subordinates using Jocelyn's phone, and they would arrive soon.
However, despite the life-threatening ordeal they had just shared, the girl's demeanor remained as cold as ever, treating him like a mere passerby.
This left Brian feeling somewhat dejected.
As he exited the car, he asked, "May I know your name? I'd like to repay you."
Jocelyn merely smiled faintly, her voice tinged with indifference, "Goodbye."
With that, she swiftly got back into the car and sped away, leaving the driver behind, desperately chasing after her, shouting, "Hey! Wait for me!"
But Jocelyn was long gone.
The driver's phone rang, and Jocelyn glanced at the caller ID.
It was Vanessa Hemsworth, the current matriarch of the Hemsworth family and her so-called "good stepmother."
She answered, and Vanessa's sharp, impatient voice immediately cut through, "Why did it take you so long to answer? Has that little brat been dealt with? She must not show up at the engagement party."
Jocelyn's expression darkened, "Long time no see, Ms. Murray."
Vanessa gasped in shock, "You, you’re—Jocelyn?" "Yes, it's me."
Jocelyn's voice was calm, laced with an almost imperceptible hint of mockery.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Ms. Murray. I'm on my way to the engagement party now. There's no way your daughter will take my place and marry into the Romain family."
This marriage agreement with the Romain family was arranged by her mother before she passed away. Although Jocelyn didn't understand why her mother made this arrangement, she would not go against her mother's wishes. Nor would she allow anyone to interfere.
Vanessa wanted her daughter Kelly to marry Brian Romain? Not a chance!
Hearing the truth, Vanessa dropped her pretense, her voice now tinged with a touch of triumphant arrogance, "Your foster parents are in my hands. If you don't want them to be harmed, I suggest you stay away from the engagement party."
Jocelyn's heart tightened, "You dare touch them?"
Her mother had entrusted her to a simple couple in the countryside twelve years ago, and they had raised her as their own.
Jocelyn regarded them as her real family.
Vanessa laughed lightly, and the call ended. A surveillance video was sent over, showing
Jocelyn's foster parents bound and gagged. The accompanying message read: *If you dare appear at the engagement party, your foster parents will not survive.*
Jocelyn's usually calm eyes flashed with fury.
She despised being threatened. Vanessa had crossed a line this time.
Meanwhile, the grand ballroom of the city's largest international hotel was bustling with guests, all dressed in their finest.
The Hemsworth and Romain families were almost all present, except for the two people of honor—Jocelyn Hemsworth and Brian Romain.
In a luxurious private room, a sweet, delicate voice rang out, "Mom, that little brat isn't coming, is she?"
"Of course not." Vanessa gently held her daughter Kelly's hand, her eyes filled with satisfaction.
Kelly and Jocelyn, half-sisters sharing the same father, already bore a slight resemblance. After some recent cosmetic adjustments, the similarity was now striking.
The Romain family had never met Jocelyn, only having seen a school photo of her when she turned eighteen. This level of resemblance was more than enough to deceive them.
"Don't worry, everything has been perfectly arranged. She won't show up. You'll take her place and marry the new head of the Romain family. You'll be the most esteemed lady of the Romain family."
Kelly finally felt relieved, eagerly anticipating her new life.
Just then, a commotion arose in the ballroom as someone shouted, "The head of the Romain family has arrived!"
Brian!
Kelly's eyes lit up; he was finally here.