The Billionaire's Forbidden Longing

Howard was called a lunatic, but he just laughed it off, grinning at Allison. "Gaia, I love doing crazy stuff. Stick around, and you'll get used to it!"

Felix cursed under his breath, muttering a string of expletives, but kept working, not daring to slow down.

Allison ignored everyone else, laser-focused on cracking the code. With only two minutes left on the countdown, she had only cracked ten digits. She bit her lip and sped up.

The countdown hit one minute. Allison had cracked half the code, and Felix had cracked seventeen digits. She glanced at both codes, quickly spotted a pattern, and sped up her typing. With thirty seconds left, everyone's hearts were pounding, including Mr. Eaton's.

Allison kept working, the seconds ticking by in silence.

With a final keystroke, she entered the entire code. She was so tense she almost collapsed, but she did it-the code was cracked.

Howard was stunned to see the red progress bar turn green. He couldn't believe it. He had sought out top computer geniuses worldwide, but none could crack it. Yet, Allison had done it. Incredible. "You didn't disappoint me!" Howard was almost delirious with joy, running around the deck and shouting.

Allison watched him, her eyes deep with thought.

Meanwhile, the ship finally docked.

"Mr. Eaton, Mr. Carr has been waiting for a long time. He wants to board the ship!" the butler reported.

A wealthy businessman was waiting at the port to board, but Howard refused to let him.

"Don't let them track dirt onto my wool carpet. Tell him I'll keep my promise and give him a big gift!" Howard laughed heartily and looked at Allison and the others. "Tie them all up and lock them away. No one is to untie them until I return!" Allison panicked and shouted, "Mr. Eaton, you're breaking your promise!"

Howard walked up to her and grabbed her chin. "Sweetheart, how naive you are. Do you think you can escape once you're in my hands? The safest human is a dead one!" He then laughed as he left, making Allison furious. But in the end, they were tied up and thrown into a room.

"Allison, do you think they'll find us?" Felix leaned against Allison and whispered.

"Did you send the signal?" Allison asked.

Felix nodded. "I did, but I don't know if they received it. I checked those computers, there are at least four missiles on the ship. Howard won't kill us until all the codes are cracked. We have to escape!"

Allison nodded. She had been trying to find a way to escape since boarding the ship, but being at sea, even if they escaped, they couldn't survive in the vast ocean.

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She thought they might have a chance once they docked, but Howard was too cunning and didn't give them a chance to disembark.

In a container at the port, Howard was cutting a deal with the rotund Alfonso Carr. He opened the unlocked computer for Alfonso to see, then quickly shut it. "Mr. Carr, these are five missiles I got with a lot of effort. They're all unlocked. You can use them however you want. It's a rare opportunity!"

Alfonso didn't say a word but had his tech guy check the program on the computer. It was indeed unlocked. Then Alfonso said, "I don't trust your words. So I'll give you half the money, and I want all five missiles, but you have to assemble them for me. Otherwise, you're not leaving here!"

Imperial City was his turf, and he wasn't worried about Howard running away. But missiles weren't ordinary items, so he needed Howard's people to install and debug them.

Howard smirked evilly but was seething inside. He stormed back to the ship and went to the room where Allison and the others were held. "Gaia, how about being my woman? I can give you Eaton Manor as a gift."

Just moments ago, he was ready to kill her, and now he was proposing?

Allison laughed in anger. "I refuse. You're too old. I like young men!"

Her words made Felix and the others burst into laughter.

Howard's face turned red with rage, and he grabbed Allison's neck. "Don't make trouble. There are countless women who want to be my wife. How dare you refuse me?" The frustration from Alfonso seemed to find an outlet. Allison, with her throat squeezed, showed no panic. Unable to breathe, she simply held her breath.

Howard had never seen a woman like this, facing death without flinching. "Gaia, is that really your name?"

He then threw her to the ground, glaring at her with a murderous intent he couldn't act on.

Allison finally breathed and coughed loudly. Felix was furious and wanted to kick Howard but couldn't reach him.

Allison regained her composure. "Mr. Eaton, the person buying your missiles will want you to install them. It seems we need to make a deal!"

Howard felt like he was being choked. His eyes turned fierce. "You want to negotiate with me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

"Not afraid!" Allison was very confident. "Because without us, your missiles will become scrap metal!"

Her calmness made Howard frown.

Could he have been outsmarted by Allison?

"Impossible!" Howard didn't want to believe he had been tricked by her, but he knew he might have been.

Allison retorted, "Nothing is impossible. You should know these five missiles are linked. Once one is unlocked, the remaining four will also unlock. But if I change their launch program, even if you unlock the security, they won't fly. They'll be scrap metal!"

"Gaia, I will make you my woman. One day, I will make you crawl at my feet, begging for mercy!" Howard said bitterly.