The Divorced Military Queen Awakens (by Sadie Baxter) novel Chapter 355

Chapter 355 Tense Island Standoff

Quinn’s gaze moved from Joaqui

n to Julius.

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Julius‘ familiar, elegantly tilted eyes were locked on her, burning with a mixture of tension and aching uncertainty.

“If you’re worried, let me ease your mind. I have the means to get you off this island, and I can make sure my son never bothers you again,” Joaquin said.

Quinn stayed silent. Leave… of course I want to leave. I need to reach Celosia as fast as possible. Rowan is waiting.

With every extra second of her silence, the taut anxiety in Julius‘ phoenix eyes slowly curdled into something close to despair.

“So, Ms. Bridger, have you decided?” Joaquin pressed, sounding utterly certain of victory.

Quinn pursed her lips. “I don’t need your assistance, Mr. Joaquin Whitethorn. I plan to stay here.”

Shock flashed simultaneously in the eyes of father and son.

Joaquin frowned. “Stay? You mean to let him keep you caged? I never took you for someone who enjoys being a gilded canary.”

“I’m merely recuperating here. Once my wounds heal, Julius will see me off himself.”

“Ha…” Joaquin laughed, a sound dripping with mock pity. “You really think once you’re healed, he’ll let you go? You’ve already broken up, haven’t you? You have no idea how obsessive the Whitethorns can be. He’ll trap you on this island. Try to flee, and he’ll snap your legs, or threaten the people and things you hold dearest. He might even force you to bear his child–use the baby as chains so you can never leave.”

Joaquin delivered each syllable slowly, while Julius‘ face darkened shade after threatening shade.

“Enough!” Julius barked, desperate to keep Quinn from hearing another word.

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every impulse he had tried to bury.

“What, did Lsay something untrue?” Joaquin chuckled. “You’re my son, Julius. You saw how I acted. You will do the same. When you love someone, you’ll shackle them by any means, won’t you?”

“Stop talking! Not another word!” Julius‘ eyes were red, teeth grinding with fury.

“But I haven’t finished. She deserves to know exactly what you intend to do to her…”

A blunt, bone–deep thud shattered the humid stillness.

Quinn’s boot drove straight into Joaquin’s ribs, lifting him off the ground and slamming him across the deck; whatever poisonous words he’d been spewing died mid–syllable, swallowed by the ocean wind.

He sprawled there, staring back at her, disbelief widening his eyes. Beside him Julius–eyes once crimson with wrath and despair–blinked, the fury draining, replaced by raw astonishment.

Quinn leveled an icy stare at Joaquin. “If my shoulder weren’t injured, I’d skip the kick and use my fists. Believe me, Joaquin, you’d crawl away looking worse than last time.”

A muscle jumped at the corner of Joaquin’s mouth as he staggered upright.

That single kick had been brutal; even if his ribs remained intact, tomorrow a bruise the size of a dinner plate would bloom across his side.

Clutching his wounded flank, Joaquin sucked in a ragged breath, then glared at Quinn. “I’m doing you a favor, girl. The beast standing beside you is dangerous. He’ll turn every filthy trick he knows on you.”

Quinn’s lip curled with disgust. “Oh, you mean the way you treated his mother? You may be his father, but that doesn’t mean he’ll grow into your image.”

A hoarse, manic laugh tore out of Joaquin. “You really think he won’t? How precious. Julius is my son. He’ll be darker, smarter, more ruthless than I ever was.”

Quinn’s expression chilled further. “Have you finished? If you’re still here in five

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Chapter 355 Tense Island Standoff

seconds, I’ll be happy to kick you again.”

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Joaquin tipped his head, conspiratorial. “If I leave, aren’t you afraid he’ll keep you prisoner on this island? No rescue will come next time.”

Quinn cut him off with a snort. “That’s between me and him. It has nothing to do with you.”

The smile slid off Joaquin’s face, his gaze turning as dark as gathering thunder.

Few women had ever dared lay a hand on him. This one had done it twice.

And each time she moved, it was clean, decisive–a raptor stooping on its prey.

A woman like that would never be easily caged. Yet the harder she was to cage, the more maddeningly desirable she became.

He steadied his breath and fixed Quinn with a probing stare. “You really won’t leave? No regrets?”

Quinn turned her head toward Julius, who stood silent at her side.

Those crimson, phoenix–sharp eyes simply watched her, as if he were still caught halfway between nightmare and waking.

Regret?

She could not foresee whether she would rue the choice she was making. But in this moment, she wanted nothing from Joaquin, least of all his help to escape.

Chapter 356 You Are Not Like Him