She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 712

"I'll kill you!"

Melanie spun around to see Sonia lifting the massive, boiling pot of soup.

"Look out!"

"Melanie!"

Dominic and Daphne screamed simultaneously. Everett bolted from his seat in the audience.

As the scalding liquid hurtled through the air, a dark figure tackled Melanie, shielding her entirely in a desperate embrace.

Hiss!

The sickening sound of boiling liquid melting into fabric echoed through the silent room.

Melanie's heart dropped into her stomach. "Preston!"

For a split second, her mind went completely blank, especially when she saw Preston's face contort in pure agony.

But survival instincts kicked in. She grabbed two pitchers of ice water from the judges' table and drenched his back. She needed to drop the temperature instantly to prevent his suit from fusing to his skin.

Under the rush of cold water, she frantically helped him peel off the ruined jacket. The burn covered a massive portion of his back, the skin already blistering fiercely. It was far worse than she had feared.

Across the stage, security had finally pinned Sonia to the floor. Despite having just assaulted someone, she seemed entirely disconnected from reality, endlessly muttering about her million dollars.

Daphne and Everett had rushed the stage, with Dominic hovering right behind them.

"Melanie, hurry! Let's get you guys to the hospital!" Daphne yelled, waving her over.

Everett finally snapped out of his shock. "Right, the hospital! I'll drive you!"

"Back off," Dominic shoved Everett aside. "My car is faster and safer. They're riding with me."

"Get out," Shawn snapped, whipping his head around to glare at her.

Linda recoiled as if she'd been burned. "I'm sorry, sir, I just..."

"I said get the hell out."

His eyes were entirely devoid of warmth, stripping away any illusion of intimacy they might have shared earlier.

Linda's eyes instantly filled with tears. Her lips trembled, but she didn't dare utter another word. She dressed with frantic speed.

Just as she reached the door, she overheard the end of his phone call.

"As expected of Talia Monroe's daughter. She really knows her stuff to catch a bio-chemical formulation that subtle."

Linda froze in her tracks.