Love at the 2040

Chapter 2040

Ashton had no idea what was happening behind her as she ventured deeper

into the snowy forest alone. There were no lights in this part of the hunting

grounds, and the darkness swallowed everything around her. She turned on

her flashlight, gripping her gun tightly, her senses on high alert.

Any other woman, no matter how intrigued by the game, might have turned

back at this point. After all, not everyone was willing to risk their life for a

hunting game. But Ashton’s personality thrived on challenges–the more

difficult something was, the more determined she became. She had a gut

feeling that the 130–pound carnivore of the night was lurking somewhere in

this area. But what kind of creature could it be?

Bang!

19:28 Thu, 12 Dec

2040 A Kind Heart

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, hitting the ground just 30 feet from her.

Ashton’s survival instincts kicked in immediately, her entire body tensing with

the awareness of danger. In such poor visibility, if multiple players were

Bunting nearby, the risk of accidental injury–or worse, death–was high. And

with no cameras in such remote areas of the hunting grounds, who knew

what could happen? But she figured no one would risk committing murder

without provocation. After all, every player was registered, and it would be

hard to escape suspicion if someone turned up dead.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Ms. Summerton!” A voice broke through the darkness, and

a flashlight beam illuminated her face.

“What are you doing?” Ashton instinctively raised her arm to block the

blinding light and shouted.

Nathan stepped closer, laughing. “Hunting, of course, I just say a little wolf

cub dant by, but I guess my aim was off, Hang…”

Wshton shot him a cold glare, “With your terrible aim, it’s easy to imagine you

shooting someone by accident, weakling!”

Nathan wasn’t bothered by her insult. “With these guns, a single shot isn’t

enough to kill anyone unless you hit them in a vital spot. And besides,

tonight’s theme is life–and–death hunting. Everyone who enters knows the

risks! Haha…” He didn’t care about the consequences–his family was wealthy

enough to deal with any fallout, as long as it wasn’t him lying dead in the

snow.

“You spoiled Zovince scions are crazy!” Ashton muttered in disgust, preparing

to move away,

Chapter 2040 A Kind Heart

Suddenly, a low, eerie wailing sound echoed through the forest, almost like a

ghostly howl.

Wha… what is that?” Ashton’s heart raced as she sensed something big

moving ahead in the darkness.

“Haha, it must be the mystery beast!” Nathan exclaimed, his excitement

growing. The gunshots must have alerted the massive beast, making it feel

threatened and prompting it to go on the offensive.

Ás he raised his gun, ready to fire, they both noticed two glowing green orbs

in the blackness above the trees.

“Holy–what the hell is that? Ghost flames?!” Nathan recoiled in fear, his heart

racing. Despite his martial training, this sudden, eerie sight made his skin

crawl.

Chapter 2040 A Kind Heart

“No, not fire–they’re eyes!” Ashton gasped, equally terrified. What kind of

creature had eyes that big?

A deafening roar suddenly tore through the night, a powerful gust of wind

hitting them like a hurricane, leaving their souls trembling.

“It’s a bear! A fully grown polar bear!” Ashton finally realized what the

1,300–pound monster was–a giant white bear!

Oh, my God! The people running the Hunter’s Den must be insane! Killing

such an animal was strictly illegal in Chanaea!

19:28 Thu 12 Dec

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Chapter 2040 A Kind Heart

“Heh, just what I was hoping for!” Nathan grinned, completely unconcerned

with the legality of the situation. He raised his gun, ready to fire. He was

determined to be the one to win this game.

“Don’t!” Ashton suddenly threw herself in front of Nathan, spreading her arms

wide to block his aim.

“Are you out of your mind?! You want to get yourself killed?” Nathan yelled in

disbelief, lowering his gun slightly in shock.

Ashton ignored him, her voice resolute. “That’s an endangered species! It’s

only attacking because it was provoked. It’s not a vicious animal! I won’t let

you kill it!”

“Huh?” Nathan stared at her, completely dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe

Chapter 2040 A Kind Heart

she would be lecturing her at a time like this.

“We need to move slowly, and it won’t attack us!” Ashton insisted, standing

m in her decision to protect the bear.

Ashton was indeed as simple–hearted as Maxwell had described. Nathan

found her idealism and naivety somewhat amusing, but he couldn’t help but

feel moved by her kindness and sense of justice. In the end, he decided not

to pull the trigger. However, their decision not to attack didn’t stop the polar

bear, which, still in a crazed state, suddenly lunged at them.

“Watch out!” Nathan shouted, seeing the danger before Ashton did. Without

thinking, he tackled her to the ground, narrowly avoiding the bear’s massive

claws.

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Chapter2040 A Kind Heart

Ashton, startled by the sudden attack, gasped as she realized just how close

they had come to being mauled.

s they tumbled together in the snow, it became clear to both of them that

something was very wrong with the bear. It wasn’t acting naturally–it

seemed agitated and unnaturally aggressive, as if it had been tampered

with.

Fortunately, both Ashton and Nathan were trained martial artists, even if only

at an entry level. Their reflexes were sharper than the average person’s, and

they managed to roll away from the bear’s frenzied attacks, their bodies

entwined as they dodged its strikes.

“How long do you plan on holding onto me?” Ashton snapped.

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Chapter 2040 A kind Heart

“Huh, do you think I enjoy holding a tomboy like you? I’m saving your life here!

If you get mauled after I’ve already saved you, that would make all my effort

pointless!” Nathan retorted, even finding the energy to joke in the heat of the

moment.

“Get off me!” Ashton shoved him away, but in doing so, she inadvertently

shoved Nathan closer to danger.

Bang!

A gunshot echoed through the night once more.

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Chapter 2040 A Kind Heart

“Ahh!” Nathan screamed in pain as the bullet struck him.

“Nathan!” Ashton’s heart raced as she turned toward the source of the

unfire. “Who’s there? Who’s shooting in the dark?”

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Her worst fears had come true. Nathan’s family connections, not to mention

his history of stealing women from other wealthy heirs, had earned him

many enemies. It wasn’t surprising that someone might want him dead, but

it was terrifying to think that it could happen right in front of her.

There was no response from the darkness. The only sound was the heavy

breathing of the polar bear, which had been startled by the gunfire. Sensing

danger, the bear bolted away into the night.

“Nathan! Hey, are you okay?” Ashton scrambled over to Nathan, who was now

19:29 Thu, 12 Dec

lying in the snow, wounded

Not far away, Chiara, hidden in the shadóms, had her que de

Nowever, Ashton’s sudden movement to his side candled herkedte

preventing her from taking a clean shot.

Click.

Maxwell gently pressed down on Chiara’s hand, leaning in to whiscer, Ashton

is still useful. Killing her by mistake would cause more problems for us

Chiara cursed under her breath, clearly frustrated.

As Ashton continued shouting for help, the sound drew the attention of the

hunting grounds staff and nearby players, all rushing toward the scene.

Chapter 2040 A Kind Heart

倉

Sensing the danger of being caught, Chiara and Maxwell had no choice but

to retreat. If they were discovered, it could easily spark a deadly conflict

between the Zelinsky and Chapman families–something neither of them

could afford.

“What happened? What’s going on here?” Several hunting ground

administrators arrived at the scene, their flashlights cutting through the

darkness.

12

“Someone shot Nathan! You need to help him–now!” Ashton screamed, her

voice filled with desperation.

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Chapter 040 k Kinditeart

The moment the staff realized it was Nathan who had been shot, cold sweat

ran down their backs. If the young heir of the Chapman family died on their

hunting grounds, the consequences would be catastrophic.

“Quick! Stop the bleeding! Call for an ambulance right now!” one of the

managers shouted, his voice trembling.

Other players gathered around, their faces pale with fear and unease as they

watched the unfolding chaos.