Chapter 228 - 216: Little Bee, Sting Her

Early the next morning, before the sun had even risen, everyone was gathered inside Flora Bloom’s villa.

The group hadn’t paid any mind to the arrival of Tianna Bloom and her family. Instead, it was Chelsea Todd who showed up at Flora Bloom’s villa first thing in the morning, demanding they be allowed to live inside the barrier walls.

"Flora Bloom, I can overlook you seducing Lex, but on what grounds are you refusing to let Tianna and her father live here?"

Flora Bloom glanced at her. "If you feel so bad for your dear Tianna, you’re welcome to go outside and keep her company. Little Bee, show our guest out."

For some unknown reason, the flowers and plants in the villa complex had recently been growing with incredible vigor. The fragrance of the blooming wildflowers was overwhelming, not only attracting bees from the outside to build nests in the area but also drawing in countless butterflies.

At that, Little Bee, who had been enjoying some royal jelly in the hive, immediately flew to Flora Bloom’s side, leading a swarm of worker bees. BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ. They glared at Chelsea Todd, their eyes full of menace.

Seeing a large swarm of bees—each bigger than her own head—surrounding her, Chelsea Todd started to tremble with fear. She turned to Lex Cross, pleading for help.

Lex Cross glanced at her coolly, his face devoid of expression. "Or I could have someone escort you back to Argent."

Lex Cross’s words plunged Chelsea Todd into despair. "Lex, how could you say that! I came here to help you! Can’t you see how this woman is bullying Tianna?"

Lex Cross’s brow furrowed slightly. "What does Tianna Bloom have to do with me?" He looked toward Five and Nolan Jennings. "Five, Nolan Jennings, send her back to Argent."

Seeing how utterly heartless Lex Cross was being, tears welled up in Chelsea Todd’s big, watery eyes. She stared at him, hoping to find a flicker of compassion beneath his cold exterior.

But there was none. The only time his eyes held any warmth was when he looked at that woman, Flora Bloom—a gentleness Chelsea couldn’t even dream of receiving.

"I’m not going back!" she yelled, wrenching her arm from Five’s grasp and accidentally leaving a scratch in the process.

"Little Bee, get rid of her," Flora said. "From now on, if she or anyone from Tianna Bloom’s family comes near the barrier walls, sting them. Sting them hard. If they die, I’ll take full responsibility."

"You!"

Five couldn’t bear to see Chelsea’s plight. He turned to Flora Bloom. "Sister-in-law, Chelsea is just too naive. She doesn’t mean any harm. Please, can’t you let her off?"

Chelsea Todd glared at Five. "Five, can’t you see she’s bullying me?! Why are you begging her? She’s nothing but a bitch who steals other people’s fiancés!"

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ!

Little Bee and its swarm suddenly descended upon Chelsea Todd, stinging her mercilessly. As a Water Ability User, even at the Second Level, Chelsea had no offensive power. She shielded her face with her arms, but it was useless against the swarm’s onslaught of stingers.

"Aah! You bitch! You’ll die a horrible death!"

"Sister-in-law, don’t you think you’re going too far?!" Five said, looking at Flora Bloom with panicked eyes as he prepared to use his superpower to help Chelsea escape the attack.

As a Level 3 Wind Element user, Five’s destructive power was immense. But several of the bees were clinging to Chelsea Todd’s face and clothes, stinging her at point-blank range.

"Five, don’t say I didn’t warn you," Flora said calmly. "If you use your superpower, you might accidentally slash her pretty little face or her body. With skin as delicate as hers, a scar would be such a shame."

Flora’s words made Five freeze, afraid to unleash his superpower. They also struck a nerve with Chelsea, who immediately shrieked, "Five, don’t! I don’t want my face to be ruined!"

Lex Cross was the leader of thirteen special forces soldiers. The other twelve, including Five, were his subordinates. They were loyal to Lex, viewing him as their big brother. And while they addressed Flora Bloom as "Sister-in-law," they wouldn’t hesitate to defy her if they disagreed with her.

The team had arrived on Earth many years ago, and Five had known Chelsea Todd for just as long. He’d always had a soft spot for her.

Five was infuriated by Flora Bloom’s actions. He knew that even though Lex Cross was his leader, Lex wouldn’t force him to obey Flora.

Lex’s only rule was that he wouldn’t interfere, on the condition that none of them did anything to physically harm Flora Bloom.

Flora Bloom’s brow twitched when she saw Five snatch one of the bees attacking Chelsea Todd out of the air and crush it to dust with his bare hands.

"You may be our sister-in-law, but I won’t stand by while you kick Chelsea out!" Five declared. "I can’t do anything about the boss having your back, but I won’t let you bully her."

"I’m bullying her?"

Flora Bloom let out a dry laugh. Seeing Five bat the swarm away and throw himself over Chelsea Todd to shield her, she waved a hand, signaling Little Bee and the others to retreat for now.

"You say she’s naive? Fine. Ask her this: when I was lost at sea and your boss left to rescue me, a lot happened back at the base. Did she inform a single one of you?"

Five was stunned into silence, but Saul Sterling shook his head. "No," he said. "Before the boss left with us for the airport, he specifically instructed Chelsea to notify us immediately if anything happened at the base."

"But... I... I just didn’t think of it at the time! Otherwise, I would have definitely told Lex!" Chelsea Todd sobbed, clutching her welt-covered face.

Five’s heart ached for her, and he pulled her into a hug. "Chelsea is just timid! It’s understandable that she forgot for a moment!"

Flora Bloom turned her gaze on Chelsea Todd. "Something terrible happened to my brother and my parents. Lex Cross wasn’t at the base, and since you’re not my friends or family, I can understand you not wanting to get involved in that mess. But you’re going to stand there and tell me she’s innocent and naive?"

Flora Bloom’s sharp gaze landed on Lex Cross, making the hair on his neck stand up. He said, sounding wronged, "I was outside the base hunting High-level zombies. The moment I got the communication from The Crown Prince, I rushed back to the base and called Five and Saul to rescue you. I honestly didn’t know about your parents and brother."

Lex Cross looked at Flora Bloom, his tone suddenly shifting. "But even if I had known back then, I would have chosen to save you first!"

Flora Bloom sighed, but her eyes were ice-cold as she turned back to Chelsea Todd. "I’m willing to let the past be the past. But Chelsea Todd... you couldn’t remember to inform Lex and the others about the crisis at the base, yet you were in such a hurry to tell Tianna Bloom that they were gone and hadn’t returned?"

Hearing this, Chelsea Todd’s eyes darted around nervously. "I... I..."

Five finally understood the implication of Flora’s words and sighed. "Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. What Chelsea did was wrong. Please, forgive her."

Flora Bloom scoffed. "Whether I forgive her is irrelevant. What’s important is that I will not tolerate useless liabilities or backstabbing schemers by my side. Not for anyone."

From behind Lex Cross, Saul Sterling shot Five a look, warning him not to be so stubborn. At the signal, Five slowly stood up and moved to stand behind Lex.

Seeing that even Five had abandoned her, Chelsea Todd finally broke down completely and began to sob uncontrollably.

"Flora Bloom, you’re too cruel!" she wailed. "You’re just mad that I brought Lex’s fiancée to the base, so you’re taking it out on me! You bitch, I’ll get you back for this!"

With her face covered in welts, Chelsea Todd fled the villa complex inside the barrier walls. She hadn’t gotten far when she spotted Tianna Bloom laughing and chatting with several other people with superpowers from the base.

"Tianna!" Chelsea cried out, sobbing pitifully.

Tianna Bloom saw a disheveled woman with a face full of weeping sores rushing toward her and reflexively backed away in alarm.

"Who are you?!" Tianna Bloom cried out. A chill shot up from the soles of Chelsea Todd’s feet, freezing her to the spot.

"Tianna, why did you freeze me? It’s me, Chelsea!" Chelsea wailed, crying even more pitifully.

"Chelsea? What happened to you? Where’s Five? Didn’t he protect you?"