Devilish secretary - Chapter 255

Chapter 255: Chapter 255 I’ll protect you
Gray quietly started the car again, his hands steady on the wheel. The headlights cut through the thick darkness, and the car slowly rolled forward along the empty countryside road.

Without needing to discuss it, he chose the direction back toward the mansion.

Lilith sat beside him, arms folded tightly, her face serious and focused.

Nova leaned forward from the backseat, his eyes scanning both sides of the road.

“If Ethan walked away from the picnic spot,” Lilith said calmly, breaking the silence, “he would have gone the same direction we took while driving back. He’s not a fool… he wouldn’t lose the way so easily.”

Gray gave a short nod, agreeing silently.

Ethan wasn’t stupid. Even if he had been left behind, he would have followed the road leading back to the mansion. It was the only path that made sense, surrounded by dense forest on either side, the road was clear and straight.

The car moved slowly, the tires crunching over the small stones.

Every few meters, Gray lowered the headlights just a little, letting Lilith and Nova check the roadside carefully.

They passed old trees, broken fences, empty patches of dry grass…

But no sign of Ethan yet.

Lilith leaned closer to the window, her sharp eyes not missing a single detail. Her mind raced through possibilities—if he had gotten tired, where would he sit? If he was hurt, where would he hide?

The night outside felt heavier the further they drove.

Meanwhile, deep inside the forest, far from the quiet road and glowing car lights, Ethan and Tara were walking slowly between the tall trees.

The night had fallen completely now.

The forest looked nothing like it did during the day. it had become dark, cold, and full of strange noises.

Every now and then, the dry leaves rustled without warning. The soft hooting of an owl echoed from somewhere above, and distant cracks from twigs breaking sounded like footsteps behind them.

Tara clutched Ethan’s jacket tighter around her, shivering slightly. Her soaked wedding dress was dragging at her ankles, heavy and cold, but she didn’t complain.

Ethan walked a few steps ahead, trying to stay calm, even though his heart was racing inside his chest like a drum.

He glanced left and right suspiciously, his muscles tense.

“Man, this place looks straight out of a horror movie,” Ethan muttered under his breath, squinting into the shadows.

Tara heard him and gave a weak laugh. “Feels like we’re the stupid characters who get lost and never make it out.”

Ethan looked back at her with a crooked smile. “Don’t say that! You’re supposed to say positive things, like ‘We’re the heroes who survive and get free pizza after!'”

Tara giggled softly despite the fear tightening her stomach.

The trees stood tall and still around them, the moonlight barely slipping through the thick branches. Their path was uneven, full of stones and old roots.

As they kept moving carefully through the forest, the only sounds were the soft crunch of their footsteps on dry leaves and the faint whistling of the cold wind between the trees.

Suddenly—

A loud rustling came from a nearby bush.

Both of them froze on the spot.

Ethan’s heart jumped straight into his throat. His whole body tensed.

Without thinking—

“AHHH—!” Ethan let out a loud shout, stumbling a step back like a cartoon character.

Tara, quick as lightning, reached up and slapped her hand over his mouth, her eyes wide.

“Shh!! Are you crazy?! You’re alerting bigger animals!” she hissed in panic.

Ethan’s muffled voice came out under her hand, “Mmmmph—big animals?!”

After a few seconds, they both peeked cautiously at the bush.

Out hopped a small rabbit, its fluffy white body bouncing harmlessly away into the woods.

Ethan stared after it, wide-eyed.

Tara finally removed her hand from his mouth, looking both relieved and annoyed.

Ethan, still whispering, leaned closer. “Wait… wait… what do you mean bigger animals? There are bigger animals here?!”

Tara gave him a serious nod. “Yes. Wild boars, wolves… sometimes even mountain lions around this area.”

Ethan felt all the blood drain from his face.

“You’re joking.”

Tara tilted her head innocently. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Ethan almost whimpered. “Is there any place we can stay safe for the night? Some hunter’s hut? A shed? An abandoned mansion with a butler?”

Tara shook her head slowly, her expression helpless.

“I have no idea… I never came this deep into the forest before.”

Ethan groaned quietly, dragging his hand down his face. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Lost in horror movie forest with no map, no phone, and now a possible lion stalking us. Great vacation plan, Carter. 10/10.”

Tara tried to hide her smile behind her hair.

He looked so frustrated yet somehow adorable — soaked, muddy, muttering to himself about pizza and safe houses.

Even though the forest was scary, even though she was scared too —

Having him beside her made it a little less terrifying.

Ethan looked around nervously, every shadow now seeming bigger and darker after hearing about wild animals lurking nearby.

Without even thinking, he reached out and grabbed Tara’s wrist tightly, pulling her a little closer.

His voice was low, a bit shaky.

“Don’t worry,” he said, trying his best to sound brave. “You must be scared… It’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

Tara blinked, staring at him quietly.

She didn’t say anything.

She just let him hold her wrist, feeling how his hand trembled slightly.

Truth was she wasn’t scared at all.

She had grown up around forests like this, running through trees, climbing rocks, hearing wolves howl at night from a distance.

But looking at Ethan, who clearly looked ready to fight a bear with his bare hands if needed (even though he had no idea how), Tara simply shook her head softly.

They kept walking through the dark forest, Ethan still holding Tara’s wrist tightly, looking left and right with every sound like a soldier ready for war.

The trees finally thinned a little, and through the gaps, Tara spotted something ahead, a crooked roof, an old wall half-covered with vines.