It was a premeditated act of revenge."Chief Taylor, we've got bad news!" Another policeman rushed over, covered in sweat. "The killer is at the rooftop with a hostage! He threatened to jump to his death with the hostage if we refused to release him."Then, he handed a phone to Cyrus. Cyrus took the phone and saw the scene of Denver bellowing at the policemen with a female hostage in his arms.His eyes widened in shock as he recognized a pale-looking and tear-stricken Lauren in Denver's grip. His heart sank, and panic surged through his veins.How could Lauren be the hostage?Cyrus, who had always dealt with the toughest armed criminals with calm, found himself breathing unevenly. He immediately dashed toward the rooftop.At the same time, Angelina rushed toward him with fury in her eyes, holding Lauren's teddy bear."Is the hostage… Madam Lauren? Is that true?" She sounded teary.Cyrus nodded with a serious face. She looked like she was on the brink of a breakdown. She offer
Lauren's voice squeezed Cyrus' heart."Cyrus, save me…" Lauren's face was devoid of color. Tears rolled down her cheeks, which hurt to watch. He so wanted to comfort her, but such an attempt might provoke the criminal and place her in greater danger.He cast a deep glance at Lauren before shifting his attention to Denver's crazy eyes. He said, "Denver Whitman, please calm down. That young lady is innocent. She has no idea about your backstory and doesn't even know the five students. She's just an innocent outsider."How about this? I'll take her place as the hostage. You'll set her free."Lauren watched Cyrus approach Denver through tears, crushed by feelings of guilt. She thought, "How could I have been so dumb? I should've waited for Angie in the classroom. If only I had run faster!" Alas, it was too late to regret.Denver growled when he saw Cyrus approaching, "Don't come any closer, or I'll slit her throat and jump off this rooftop. We'll meet our end together!""You think I
Such corruption would not have been allowed in the district under Cyrus' jurisdiction."Sir, I… I know your… pain…" Lauren opened her swollen eyes slowly. Her soft voice was devoid of the fear when she was first held hostage. Instead, she sounded heartbreakingly resilient. "I have… had similar experience… as your daughter…"Looking shocked, Denver gasped, "What did you say?""Please… trust that I will… stay by Joanna's side… until she puts behind her trauma. I will avenge her…" Lauren struggled to speak due to the debilitating fear that suffocated her."What can you do, you weak woman?""I'm… the daughter of Javier Beckett. You can… search me up… on your phone…" Covered in sweat, she added, "Jasper Beckett, the president of the Beckett Group… is my brother. My sister-in-law is Alyssa Taylor of the KS Group. Don't you think they are powerful enough to… avenge Joanna?"Cyrus had a newfound respect for Lauren. Anyone else would have been crippled by fear, but Lauren held onto what r
Lauren felt a chilling sensation on her back, but it was too late to dodge Denver's attack.However, Cyrus would not allow Denver a second opportunity to hurt Lauren. He instantly grabbed the gun from his waist and held Lauren by the waist, pulling her into a protective embrace. The next second, he pulled the trigger, shooting Denver in the right arm and the left leg.Cyrus moved as fast as lightning. A criminal should not have given him any chance to attack, for he could turn the tables in no time.The aggrieved Denver yelped and grimaced as he felt limply onto his knees. Upon seeing that, the police swarmed him and put handcuffs on him. They finally managed to arrest Denver Whitman, the poor father who had committed crimes to avenge his beloved daughter.After Denver collapsed, the snipers left their positions because they lost sight of their target, who was blocked by the rooftop railing. That was the reason Cyrus needed to shoot Denver in the leg.The gunshot induced fear in L
Angelina cracked her knuckles in anger. She snapped, "Mr. Landon is Mr. Beckett's best friend, and Mr. Beckett is Ms. Alyssa's… Anyway, do you think it's right to steal Mr. Landon's girlfriend? Aren't you scared of putting Mr. Beckett in a tough spot and upsetting Ms. Alyssa?""When did I say that I would steal his girlfriend? You and Mr. Landon have been paranoid all along." Cyrus lowered his eyes, casting a gentle glance at Lauren's lovely face. "If you keep thinking that way, you might actually make me consider giving it a shot to make up for your paranoia."I remember something Winston once said—does one not shoot one's shot just because there's a goalkeeper?""Mr. Cyrus, please remember that you're a police chief!" Angelina shot up furiously, momentarily forgetting that she was in the car. Her head promptly hit the ceiling, causing her to frown in pain. She pressed against her head and returned to her seat."Ms. Brands, you shouldn't guilt-trip me with my profession." He flash
On the way to the hospital, Landon watched a livestream showing Cyrus emerging from the academic building carrying a female in his arms. Although the woman was well covered, Landon could recognize Lauren in Cyrus' arms just by her form.Landon had always suspected Cyrus of having feelings for Lauren. He perceived it as a blatant act of stealing the love of his life, Lauren. She was his everything. Any man who so much as laid a finger on her would be crossing a line."I am in the police force too. What's the difference?" Hearing Landon's accusations, Cyrus calmly smirked at him.Surprisingly, Cyrus did not fluster in the face of Landon and Harper Group's men.Landon clenched his jaw as he approached Cyrus. "Lauren is my lover. How dare you stop me, her partner, from coming to her rescue in that dangerous and urgent situation? Do you really think I don't know what you're plotting? Want me to lay it out for you and embarrass you?""Landon Harper, are you dumb or naїve? You might not
"Lauren!" Landon's eyes lit up in excitement. He eagerly rushed toward Lauren and gave her a tight hug. His voice trembled fearfully. "I'm sorry for showing up late. It was my fault that you suffered injuries. I am fucking useless! Hit me if you like. Hit me as hard as possible!"Landon's men were taken aback by his behavior. No longer behaving like a devil, Landon was just a hopeless man in love. They marveled at Lauren, who had charmed Landon into his subservient ways."Landon, why would you speak to Cyrus in that way? Why?" Lauren, being autistic, had a tendency to fixate on things. Her stubbornness might be distressing for some. She insisted, "Why would you say that about Cyrus? I would've died if not for him! He saved me. So, how could you be so mean to him?"Her endless whys and hows would have triggered anyone. However, Landon only hugged her tight and whispered tearfully into her ear, "Lauren, you must have been so scared and shocked. I was a loser for not protecting you…"
Alyssa and Jasper grew solemn in front of the serious-looking Cyrus. "Cyrus, go ahead.""You're well known as a couple who seek justice and fight for what's right." Cyrus sounded sarcastic.His remark prompted Jasper to glance at Alyssa. Jasper caressed her nape while replying, "Well, I'm not that great. I'm only assisting Lyse. She's the one who's outstanding, smart, and kind.""Cyrus was just teasing us! How could you make me shoulder his taunts while you act like the humble one?" Squinting, she playfully elbowed Jasper."I didn't tease you. I meant it." Growing serious, Cyrus explained, "The two victims killed today by the man who held Lauren hostage were members of a school bullying group."Jasper's eyes darkened, and his face paled. Similarly, despair flashed across Alyssa's eyes. The fated couple had both experienced bullying before. Therefore, they hated bullying behavior more than anyone else."The murderer had a daughter who had been severely bullied by the five students
"Remy beat Sheryl up?" Jasper repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. Having wiped away his tears, Axel leaned in to listen to the phone call."Yeah! I saw it with my own eyes in the surveillance footage. He punched her—brutally!" Xavier's voice was filled with astonishment. He exhaled sharply before continuing, "I thought they were a close-knit group. Looks like even they have internal conflicts!"After a brief pause, he ventured, "Mr. Beckett, do you think we could use this as a breakthrough? Maybe Remy has been at odds with Sheryl for a while, and he's tired of working under Justin. Perhaps all he needs is a little push to turn against them. After all, didn't Ms. Altman join us because she hated everything Jameson did?"Jasper didn't give a direct answer. Instead, he spoke quietly, "It's a clever thought, but it's still uncertain. We don't really know Remy's intentions. Our interactions with him have been few, and they've always been risky confrontations. I don't know what he
"Didn't you say you had no idea what I was talking about? In that case, this ear is useless to you. You're already a crippled man anyway. You might as well be deaf too." Axel's hands trembled with restrained rage. The temptation to end Justin's life surged through him—he wanted to pull the trigger, to rip him apart limb by limb. But he had made a promise to Jasper—no lives would be taken. A promise was a promise."I will rescue my wife. But you'll lose more than just an ear if I fail." Axel seized Justin by the hair, his reddened eyes brimming with tears. His voice cracked with fury and anguish. "I will make you suffer a thousand times the pain Amber has endured."Without warning, he released Justin and stormed out."S-Sir! I will get someone to take you to the hospital right away!" Sheryl crawled to Justin's side, panic-stricken as her eyes fell on the pool of blood spreading across the floor. Her trembling hands fumbled with her phone, unable to keep a firm grip as she scrambl
"Sir!" Sheryl shouted. She was just about to get to Justin's side when two shots were fired near her feet. Screaming, she dropped to her knees, threw her arms over her head, and scurried under the table like a terrified animal.The air in the room grew heavy with menace.Justin, known as the devil of the night, was a man who thrived on chaos. His power and influence stretched across continents, and he'd faced countless threats without flinching.But as his visitor approached, an unfamiliar dread coiled in his chest. His hands gripped the couch's armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The terror was suffocating."Get out, all of you," the man commanded, his voice cold and sharp.The man remained fixated solely on Justin while Justin's guests fled in terror. "Help! Somebody!" Sheryl screamed, her voice muffled as she cowered under the table.No help would come. Outside, the others were either unconscious or dead.A deafening bang shattered the silence. The man fir
"I will take it if my condition flares up," Remy said, his voice devoid of emotion as he stared blankly at the bottle in his hand. With a feigned smile, Sheryl replied, "Sir instructed me to ensure you took the pill."A chill ran down Remy's spine. Knitting his brows together, he questioned, "But why?" "This is Sir's order. Why are you questioning it?" Sheryl's smirk turned cold and mocking. "What, are you afraid Sir has ill intentions toward you? Have you lost your trust in him?"Remy held his breath. "No, that's not it." "Remy, swore before Sir to serve him loyally for the rest of your life. You pledged to give him your very being. You haven't forgotten that, have you?" Tilting her chin slightly upward, Sheryl shot him a frosty sidelong glance. "Even if Sir fed you poison, shouldn't you take it without hesitation? Why are you hesitating? Don't disappoint Sir."The suffocating pressure in Remy's chest intensified. It felt as though someone had a rifle trained on him, forcin
Hell on Earth? This place resembled a decrepit hospital. But why had Sheryl described it as "hell on Earth"?Amber's body convulsed uncontrollably, her consciousness flickering between clarity and haze. Fragments of memory surfaced—a dim recollection of drinking with Carl in the cellar after The Millennium's closure. She'd despised working with Carl but had cozied up to him for the sake of extracting information.Carl had revealed that "Sir" was deeply entrenched in the pharmaceutical industry. With connections to Mosgravia's government officials and elite circles, "Sir" wielded considerable power and ran a thriving business. Since his business revolved around pharmaceuticals, clinical trials were inevitable. To facilitate this, Sir owned a private hospital in Mosgravia.That hospital, however, was merely a façade. Beneath its sterile exterior, three basement levels housed patients—unwilling subjects for experimental drugs.Amber shivered. This place bore an uncanny resemblance t
"Amber will be fine," Jasper said confidently. "Based on Justin's way of doing things, he won't harm her for now. She's still useful t o him. He'll exploit her to control you and Alyssa, and to keep me from taking him down."Gripping Jasper's arm, Axel pleaded, "Jasper, I have to save my wife… What should I do?" His eyes were red, brimming with unshed tears.Steadying his breath, Jasper replied, "Even if it comes to killing Justin, it shouldn't be your hands that get dirty. I'll do it.""Are you kidding me? If we're taking that bastard down, we do it together!" Axel's expression was fierce and unyielding. "We went through the same military academy. We have to fight side by side!""Justin is my older brother. It's my family's matter to handle. And don't think I'm doing this for your sake—I have my own reasons."After a moment of silence, Jasper's voice softened. "I came to see you today for another reason. When you get home, don't blame Lyse. She's been torturing herself with g
When Axel heard the news, he immediately returned to the city where his organization was based. Without even reporting back to work, he booked the earliest red-eye flight to Cyrris. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and when he emerged from the arrival gates, an ominous air surrounded him. A black luxury car awaited him at the exit.Standing in front of the car were Jasper and Xavier, who had been waiting anxiously for his arrival.Axel's gaze locked onto Jasper's fiery eyes. His presence radiated fury, unrestraint, and a barely contained viciousness. A strong gust of wind swept through the terminal. Snow danced in the air, tangling both Jasper's and Axel's hair into disarray."Let's talk in the car, Axel," Jasper said in a low, measured voice.Red-eyed, Axel insisted, "I need to find my wife right now." "That's exactly why I'm here. Get in the car, and we'll talk." Jasper turned on his heel. His tone grew colder. "But let's be honest—you won't find her no matter ho
Jasper wanted to console Alyssa but found himself at a loss for words. So, he remained silent. "Disappointed, aren't you?" Alyssa sniffled as she smiled bitterly."Not at all." Perhaps he had been expecting too much. As a woman, she was intelligent, capable, and a strategist for victory. Beyond that, she boldly stepped forward to fight against the dark forces. She was strong and perfect as she was—why should he expect her to be anything more?Yet, seeing Alyssa's vulnerable side unsettled him. Something tugged at his heartstrings, a deep ache he couldn't ignore."I found it! I found Ms. Altman's cell phone!" With more manpower and better visibility as the sun rose, it didn't take long to locate Amber's bloodied phone. "Ambs…"Alyssa's face drained of color as terror gripped her at the sight of the bloodstained device. Jasper, on the other hand, remained composed. He tried powering on the phone, and to their surprise, it turned on. "What's the password?" Jasper asked g
"Five times more potent than the previous version? Are you sure it's safe for Remy to consume this?" Sheryl picked up the pill, unease flickering across her face. As much as she despised Remy, she couldn't deny his prowess as a fighter and his value as Justin's right-hand man. Having him around would certainly ease Justin's workload, prompting her to double-check."It won't kill him, but it won't be pleasant either. Don't worry—it's temporary," Justin replied, a sinister smile curling his lips. He continued nonchalantly, "When he takes the pill, his adrenaline will spike, flooding him with energy while his muscles tense. He'll feel both pain and euphoria. Then, it will fade, leaving him dependent on the drug moving forward." The implication was clear to Sheryl. Justin intended to control Remy through addiction. "Remy wasn't born for the shadows," Justin continued, his gaze darkened. "He's just a victim of post-traumatic amnesia, his nervous system subdued with sedatives and anes