The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 257

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Chapter 257: Attacked.

The next morning, Vivian rose before dawn feeling surprisingly refreshed and energized. She dressed quickly in

casual leggings and an oversized knit sweater, eager to get to the hospital. Maya's life-changing surgery was

finally happening today thanks to Mathew's generous

intervention.

As she descended the curved staircase into the foyer, Vivian could see Joe and two other burly bodyguards

awaiting her in the shadowed vestibule, already outfitted in crisp black suits despite the early hour. "Everything

all set to head out, ma'am?" Joe asked once she neared. There were dark circles under his eyes - he must have

already been up half the night overseeing security arrangements.

"More than ready," Vivian replied with a firm nod, subconsciously squaring her shoulders." Let's go see my

niece."

The predawn streets were blessedly clear of traffic as their sleek armored sedan cut across town toward the

hospital district. Despite her frayed nerves from the previous evening's public circus, Vivian felt an

uncharacteristic sense of peace wash over her the closer they drew

to their destination.

She was so preoccupied envisioning her reunion with Maya that she barely registered the warning signs. The way

Joe suddenly straightened up in the front passenger seat, eyes narrowing at something in the side mirror's

reflection. His jaw tightened as he issued a low- voiced command to the driver to remain on course but proceed

with caution.

Vivian's brow furrowed, snapping back to full alertness as her gaze tracked the two black SUVS that were now

pacing them a discreet distance back, bracketing their sedan in a clearly strategic formation. Ice water trickled

down her spine as her breath hitched in her throat. "Everything okay-"

The rest of her question dissolved into a shrill scream as their sedan's rear windshield exploded inward in a hail

of shattering glass and gunfire. The driver wrenched the steering wheel in wild evasive maneuvers as Vivian

threw herself to the floor, hands clutched over her head to protect her face as hot brass casings pinged all

around.

Through the ringing in her ears, she heard Joe bellowing furious orders into his headset as they traded deafening

volleys of automatic gunfire with their mysterious armed assailants. One of the bodyguards lurched back with a

grunt his shoulder blossoming red, cursing viciously through gritted teeth.

"Stay down, Mrs. Shaw!" He roared over the cacophony, whipping his sidearm out and returning fire with cold

precision. Chapter 257: Attacked.

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Vivian could only nod numbly, trembling violently as she clung to the floorboards, tears of sheer terror leaking

down her cheeks. This was it, she was going to die in a vicious gangland shooting like something out of the

movies. All for playing this foolish gof Mathew's, getting in over her head as his make-believe wife.

A bone-jarring impact rocked the entire car as their SUV pursuers slammed into the rear bumper at full ramming

speed. The vehicle fish-tailed wildly, Joe barking frantic evasive maneuvers to the driver as they fish-tailed

through an intersection and careened down a side street.

The squeal of other vehicles’ brakes and blaring horns filled the air around them as the chaotic running shootout

spilled into busier city streets. Vivian squeezed her eyes shut, every jarring impact and burst of gunfire feeling

like it might be her last.

Suddenly, Joe seized her upper arm with an iron grip, his face set in a mask of grim determination. "We're getting

you out of here, ma'am. Stay low and move fast!"

With that, he wrenched open the sedan's door and physically hauled her out onto the cracked pavement, putting

his own body between her and the line of hostile fire. His returning shots were viciously precise, bowling over

shooters from the pursuing SUV as they sprinted for the mouth of a nearby alley.

Bullets whined and sparked off the brick walls around them as they hurtled deeper into the dank, shadowed

enclosure, Vivian clutching at Joe's lapels simply to keep her legs underneath her. Her heart felt ready to pound

straight through her ribcage any second now, utter terror coursing through her veins.

Just when she began to fear they had blundered into a dead-end trap, a pale blue panel van cscreeching

around the far corner of the alley, tires smoking from the extrbrake force. The side door slid open to reveal

two more of Mathew's hulking security personnel crouched inside, sweeping the path ahead of them with

automatic rifles.

"Get in, get in!" One of them roared, laying down scathing cover fire as Joe half-shoved, half- carried Vivian

bodily through the opening. The armored van laid fresh rubber as soon as they were inside, Joe slamming the

side door and wedging himself in front of Vivian. Not a moment too soon as a fresh staccato burst of bullets

ripped into the vehicle from behind, ricocheting all around them with an unholy screeching.

"Hold tight Mrs. Shaw, we've got to put sdistance between us and these wolves," Joe growled, his voice

strained as he fumbled for a fresh magazine. Vivian could only huddle against him, gulping frantic breaths as her

body shook like a leaf in a gale.

For the next several miles, the van rocketed and weaved through the urban gridwork, taking hairpin corners and

jumping curbs with utter disregard for anything but pure evasion. Their pursuers stubbornly gave chase,

recklessly exchanging fire with Mathew's forces at every turn.

At last, after what seemed an eternity of white-knuckle defensive driving, the captain barked

Chapter 257. Attacked

that they'd lost the wolves, for now. Joe visibly relaxed a fraction, his grip loosening on Vivian's arm.

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"Going to take a roundabout route and shake any more tails before we get you to the hospital, ma'am. You're still

my top priority this morning."

Vivian could only mutely nod, fighting against a creeping sense of lightheadedness as the sheer traumatic

events began to seep in. She couldn't even begin to process who or what had sent those heavily armed

mercenaries after her all she could focus on was the crushing relief of having survived the attack.

Her hands were shaking violently as she pulled her phone from her pocket, checking for any missed calls about

Maya's check-in time. They had to get her to that hospital, no matte

hat.

After several more dizzying twists and turns through backstreets and alleys, the driver at last began slowing thair

pace. They rolled up to a discreet side entrance of the hospital's towering complex, the rear security entrance

clearly.

"Alright Mrs. Shaw, let's get you inside to your niece," Joe murmured, offering her a steadying hand to descend

from the blood-streaked van. "Got a whole squad securing the lobby and corridors for your arrival."

Her legs still wobbly, Vivian could only nod gratefully as she was ushered rapidly down the dim concrete

hallways toward a secured elevator bank. At last, they emerged onto the pristine pediatric wing, where a

solemn-faced team of security personnel awaited them. She paid them no mind, her focus zeroing in solely on

the nurse standing behind the reception desk, her face falling in relief as she took in Vivian's frazzled, blood-

streaked appearance.

"Ms. Greyson! Oh we were so worried you wouldn't make it after we got word..." The woman quickly rounded the

counter, gathering Vivian into a comforting embrace.

"Maya...?" Vivian choked out, the quaver in her voice betraying the depth of her distress.

The nurses face softened into a warm smile, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze.

"Right this way dear. Your niece has been prepped and is just waiting for you. They won't start a minute until

you're by her side."

Vivian sagged with a lot of relief, allowing herself to be led down the sterile hallway and through a set of

swinging double doors.

There, nestled in the midst the array of monitoring equipment and IV stands, was Maya's bed. The little girl

looked completely dwarfed by the vast sea of white linens, her skin sallow but her bright eyes roving about

curiously until they landed on her aunt. "Auntie Viv! You made it!" Maya cried out, waving her free arm

vigorously.

And just like that, the fear and trauma of the morning's events washed away under the waves of affection and

fiercely protective love.

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Chapter 258: Money