Austin's POV:
Seeing Caroline at the mercy of that bitch, Jennifer, made my heart clench.With Jennifer's claw
wrapped firmly around Caroline's neck, I was at a loss what to do.
"Austin, help me, please! I don't want to die!"
Caroline screamed, tears streaming down her face.
She struggled to free herself from Jennifer's grip, but to no avail.
"Caroline!" I shouted anxiously.
In the beginning, it was true that I held no feelings for Caroline.
I only used her for her body and beautiful face.
After tasting her once, I found myself coming back for more and more.
But after getting along with her for a period of time, I started to see her differently.
She was a delicate and sexy woman, and I had to admit that her dependence on me made me very
happy.
Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with her.
I would never had made her my queen otherwise.
Our relationship had started with me just using her, but now, I liked her deeply.
"I'll give you three minutes, Austin," Jennifer said firmly.
"If you don't surrender, I'll kill her."
"Anthony, Caroline is your sister.How could you have the heart to let Jennifer kill her?"
I turned to Anthony stubbornly.
"She deserves it,"
Anthony replied expressionlessly.
Damn it! If I didn't surrender, Caroline would die, and so would my child in her belly.
But if I surrendered, I would lose everything.
Anthony would take the throne and I would no longer be king.
I had done everything to get the throne, so naturally, I couldn't just give it up.
As the seconds ticked on, I felt my forehead break into a cold sweat.
My eyes darted from Jennifer to Caroline as hesitation paralyzed me.
"Austin, don't surrender!" Caroline shouted all of a sudden.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes, but she looked brave, as though she was staring death in the
face unflinchingly.
"You can't surrender.If you do, none of us will survive.Let me die, and then kill them to avenge me!"
I stared at Caroline with astonishment.I couldn't believe my ears.
She was about to die, yet she was still thinking about me.
"Austin, as long as you are willing to surrender, I promise that Caroline and her baby will live," Jennifer
said in a loud voice.
"And I can talk to Anthony on your behalf.Maybe he will spare your life."
As Jennifer spoke, I stared sadly at Caroline's pale face.
Maybe there was no turning back.
If we continued to fight, I knew I was still in trouble.
Anthony's strength exceeded far beyond my imagination.
Plus, many elders had changed their minds about me after seeing the photos Anthony showed them.
Now, few elders were on my side.
But on the other hand, if I surrendered and even if Anthony spared my life, I doubted things would turn
out well forme.
"Three minutes is almost up.Austin, have you made up your mind yet?"
Jennifer's cold voice pulled me back to reality.
She stretched out one claw and scratched at Caroline's neck.
Caroline shrieked in pain as blood trickled out from the wound.
"No, no, don't kill her.Calm down, Jennifer!"
I was so scared that I shouted.
"Then order your men to stop fighting.I don't want to see any more soldiers sacrifice their lives
meaninglessly," Jennifer said sternly.
"Stop!"
Gritting my teeth, I obeyed her.
However, Larry ignored my command and continued attacking other wizards.
"I said, stop!" I shouted at Larry.
He shot me a sullen glance and snorted coldly before finally putting away his wand.
Caroline's POV:
I was shocked.I didn't think that Austin would worry about me at such a critical moment.
Was my life as important as power? Truth be told, I was ready to die at Jennifer's hand.
I just hoped Austin could avenge me.I always thought that Austin didn't love me.
He and Anthony were completely different.
Anthony was kind and upright.
Once he fell in love with someone, he would never change which was why I always wanted to be the
one he fell for.
On the other hand, Austin was a tyrant.To him, love was far less exciting than sex.
He only ever wanted to use me and my body.
I was keenly aware of this, but in order to protect myself, I had no choice but to rely on him.
But just now, he gave in to Jennifer for me.
It looked like he was actually in love with me.
I stared at him with an aching heart.
Despite the wound on my neck, I wasn't scared.
I felt nothing but longing for him.
"Austin, the truth is, I stopped loving Anthony a long time ago.If we survive this, I will love you and you
alone."
I cried, speaking from the heart.
"Don't be afraid, babe! I'll save you.I'm the king, and you are my queen.No one is going to change that."
Austin and I looked at each other.
Although he spoke confidently, his body was covered with wounds.He didn't stand a chance against
Anthony.
"Quit it, Austin," Jennifer sneered, her claw inching closer to the veins on my neck.
I was so scared that I trembled all over.Enduring the pain, I looked back at Austin pleadingly.
"Please, don't! Anthony, we can talk!" Austin pleaded through gritted teeth.
Anthony looked calm and composed, as though he was sure he was going to win.
"My request is very simple, Austin.You surrender, abdicate, admit your crimes to the whole country, and
confess and apologize in front of our father's tombstone."
"Never!"
Austin grew agitated all of a sudden.Seeing him like this made me anxious.If things escalated, Jennifer
just might kill me in a fit of rage.
"Austin, you should show some sincerity.Or "
Jennifer began, but I took her attention on Austin as an opportunity to escape.I bit down on her hand
hard.
As expected, she was caught off guard and subconsciously withdrew her hand.
"Austin!"
I broke free from Jennifer's grip and rushed towards Austin, and he too rushed towards me.
In that moment, I felt a surge of hope.
I could see myself living with Austin happily, and our child would grow up to be the next king.
Like a flash of lightning, Anthony dashed all my hope.
Before I could even touch Austin, Anthony caught him and pinned him on the floor.
"No!"
I screamed and rushed over, grabbing Austin's hand.
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