Chapter 450: Chapter 461: Endure to the End

Everyone present heard the crisp sound of his knees hitting the ground.

The people from Sanctyr Base all fell silent.

Those present were all somewhat familiar with River Larkin and knew how arrogant he was.

Especially since he was Selene Larkin’s boyfriend, he held a special status at the base. None of the regular members dared to provoke him.

On the surface, he seemed gentle and easygoing, but those who truly knew him were aware that he was actually extremely petty and vindictive.

They never expected he would actually kneel to that mysterious masked woman.

Beyond their surprise, they also felt a sense of satisfaction.

’So all that daily arrogance was just for show. In the face of true life and death, it’s utterly worthless.’

Just a moment ago, he’d looked so defiant, even daring to disobey the Boss’s command.

And now, wasn’t he kneeling obediently?

Aidan Larkin watched River Larkin kneeling beside her, his head lowered, and her heart ached for him.

But she also breathed a sigh of relief. ’Thank goodness he didn’t stay so stubborn. No matter what, as long as you’re alive, there’s hope. There’s a future.’

She had been genuinely afraid he wouldn’t know when to bend.

If he had truly angered the Boss, not even she could have saved him.

At this thought, she stood silently to the side, saying nothing.

’The humiliation Stella Sterling inflicted on her and on River Larkin today... If there’s a chance in the future, I will definitely pay it back.’

"It would’ve been better if you’d just been this obedient from the start. Don’t forget, if it weren’t for my sister, you wouldn’t have any standing with me at all."

"So when I deign to give you some face, you’d best be smart about it!"

Miles Sanctus sneered, then glanced at Selene Larkin. "You need to teach your boyfriend some manners. If it weren’t for you, and he dared to act like that, my bullet would have already gone through his head."

"Thank you, Brother. I’ll be sure to have a good talk with him later."

Selene Larkin nodded hastily.

Miles Sanctus said no more, turning to River Larkin. "This is your last chance. Seeing as you finally knelt, I won’t pursue what you did earlier. However, since you’re apologizing to Miss Sterling, this apology is only complete when Miss Sterling herself forgives you. You know what to do next, don’t you?"

After saying this, Miles Sanctus paused for a moment before continuing, "Remember, Miss Sterling is my distinguished guest, and a distinguished guest of Sanctyr Base. Don’t do anything to displease her."

Not far away, Stella Sterling heard all of this. She lowered her head slightly, her thoughts unreadable.

’Setting other things aside, this Miles Sanctus really has a way with words. If I weren’t so uninterested in all this romantic nonsense, and if I didn’t know perfectly well that he’s approaching me with an ulterior motive...’

’...with the words he’s said and the things he’s done today, I might have actually been swayed.’

As Miles Sanctus spoke, he watched Stella Sterling’s expression out of the corner of his eye.

He saw her lower her head slightly after he finished speaking, a faint smile seemingly playing on her lips.

He, too, smiled in satisfaction.

’It seems my methods are quite effective on her.’

’Then again, what woman doesn’t like being put on a pedestal and cherished by a man of status and power?’

Thinking this, he glanced down at the kneeling River Larkin, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

’If nothing else, at least this River Larkin is useful for something—as a tool to please Stella Sterling.’

Although River Larkin was kneeling, his heart was anything but submissive. He hadn’t knelt to Stella Sterling willingly; he had been forced.

Just now, Miles Sanctus had threatened his life, and in the heat of the moment, he had made his decision.

Now that he had escaped that danger, the unwillingness surged back into his heart.

He had thought that by kneeling and apologizing to Stella Sterling, the matter would be over.

But he never expected Miles Sanctus to be so unreasonable.

To think he would make him continue kneeling until Stella Sterling forgave him.

This was tantamount to offering his face for Stella Sterling to slap, and after being slapped, he’d have to smile and ask if she was happy, if she was satisfied.

Beneath his clothes, his hands clenched into tight fists.

After a long moment, he lifted his head, the unwillingness in his eyes replaced by calm.

He shuffled forward a few steps on his knees, stopping before Stella Sterling.

He forced a smile. "Miss Sterling, I apologize for my previous actions. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Please, be the bigger person and don’t hold this against me!"

Stella Sterling stood, idly playing with her fingers, as she watched him—unwilling, yet forced to submit, kneeling and apologizing to her.

Then she glanced at Selene Larkin in the distance, who was glaring at her with a face full of hatred.

She stroked her chin and smiled. ’In a scene like this, I’m just like the main villain from a movie or TV show.’

’And this pair before me, they’re just like the male and female leads, suffering under the oppression of the great villain, their hearts filled with unwillingness, humiliation, and rage. They have no choice but to swallow their pride and submit, only to find an opportunity for revenge later on.’

’Now that I think about it, the resemblance is uncanny.’

Thinking this, she looked down at River Larkin and lowered her voice. "Are you feeling resentful? Thinking about getting revenge on me?"

Her voice was very low, so low that only she and River Larkin could hear.

That was indeed what River Larkin was thinking, but at this moment, he didn’t answer that way.

The veins on his hands were bulging, but the expression on his face remained relatively calm. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Miss Sterling. I am sincerely apologizing to you. I hope Miss Sterling can forgive me."

He was filled with hatred, but he had to endure it. He had come to terms with it now. He had already knelt; his dignity was already lost. Since it had come to this, he would see it through to the end.

He had to get through this ordeal first.

He couldn’t let his kneeling go to waste.

River Larkin believed he was hiding his feelings well.

Little did he know that in Stella Sterling’s eyes, his expression was filled with repressed defiance and fury.

Even though his mouth spoke words of apology.

The aura he gave off was that of someone who could lunge forward and tear her to shreds at any moment.

Stella Sterling laughed, took a small step back, and looked down at the man kneeling on the ground.

She remembered her past life, after they had seized her home, beaten her, and thrown her out. She remembered them standing before her, looking down on her with that same arrogant superiority.

And River Larkin had been one of them.

She smiled, then suddenly kicked him over onto the ground. She planted her foot on his head, applied just a little bit of force, and ground it against his face!

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