Chapter 122The flashing red and blue lights of the police cruisers faded slowly as the dust settled over the broken remains of Tania’s last stand.She had been dragged out, cuffed, weeping, her sobs muted by the pounding of footsteps, the calls of medics, and the lingering echo of Brian’s collapse.But in the center of that ruined room, surrounded by bullet casings, bloodstains, and broken dreams, Andreas held Mia and Sofia close. Their bodies trembled in his arms, but they were alive. Alive. And for now, that was all that mattered.The paramedics hovered around them now—one team already crouched beside Brian’s still frame, working with soft urgency as they checked vitals, oxygen, and administered CPR. Another attended to Sofia, gently bandaging her scraped knees and bruised arms. One more stood beside Mia, trying to coax her onto a stretcher, but she refused to let go of Andreas’ hand.“I’m not leaving him,” she whispered, hoarse and shaking, her eyes still wide with fear and disbel
Chapter 121The room fell under a thick, suffocating silence.Tania knelt beside Brian’s lifeless body, her shaking hands trembling over his cheeks. Her breath came out ragged, shallow gasps that rattled through her chest like a broken lullaby. Her fingers skimmed his hair, the strands soft and damp against her palm.“No… no, no, no…” she whispered like a prayer she’d never learned how to say. “Please, baby, wake up.”She shook him gently at first. Then harder. Then with desperation that cracked her soul.Her sobs tore through the abandoned house, echoing against crumbling walls like a mother’s curse. It wasn’t the kind of weeping that begged for comfort—it was the kind of cry that shattered the bones of the world. Wishing that time could be reversed. But it was too late. Behind Andreas, Sofia, and Mia wept. Losing Brian was like losing a part of their soul. “Mummy…Brian. Is he really gone?” Sofia asked her mother in between sobs. But Mia didn't have an answer for her daughter. Inst
Chapter 120Andreas stood rigid, his body a shield before Mia and Sofia, all of whom were huddled behind him, trembling as Dante held them at gunpoint. His gaze unflinchingly. He'd warned them severally not to make any sudden move, else he wouldn't hesitate to shoot. And from his expression and body language, he would. The air was thick with tension, the kind that sucked the sound from the room and left behind a heavy silence that pressed against the chest. Dust motes danced in the shafts of weak sunlight slicing through the broken windows of the abandoned house.At the top of the staircase, Brian stood there, tears streaking down his pale cheeks as he stared at the chaos below. His small voice trembled as he called out."Mummy, please... Let them go. Sofia is hurt."The words hit Tania like a knife. Her hardened expression faltered as her eyes met her son's, and for a fleeting moment, her maternal instincts overrode the madness. She dropped to her knees, rushing to his side with tea
Chapter 119The moment Andreas stepped into the building, the smell of mildew and old rot hit him hard. The crumbling walls, the dim light barely seeping through broken windowpanes, and the eerie silence painted a haunting picture of neglect. But none of that mattered. Not when he believed Mia and Sofia were in here, somewhere, possibly barely holding on. Not when the weight of two million dollars now sat behind him in a duffel bag, exchanged for the only people in the world he couldn't bear to lose.Tania was already waiting for him, arms crossed, eyes sharp and cold. Her lips curled into an almost playful smirk as he entered."Welcome home, darling," she purred. Her smile was wide. And mad.He didn't respond to her greeting. If he could call it that. Instead, he asked. "Where are they?" Andreas demanded, his voice slicing through the stillness like a blade.But Tania cocked her head slightly, brushing the question off like it was an annoying gnat. "Where's the money I asked for?"Wi
Chapter 118 Tania stood frozen in the dim hallway, her eyes wide with shock and betrayal. Brian’s piercing scream still echoed off the peeling walls. He was standing just beyond the doorway she had wanted him not to open, his trembling frame hunched protectively over Mia and Sofia. Brian turned slowly, his face pale with shock. "Mummy... you lied." The two women were lying against the cracked plaster wall, bruised and weak, their eyes barely able to focus. The air smelled of mold and damp decay, thick with the scent of something cruel and rotten. Her entire body tensed. “Brian!” Tania's voice thundered through the house, "What are you doing out of your room, Brian?! I told you to stay put!" Brian didn't back down. Though his voice wavered, there was steel in his words. "Why are Mia and Sofia here, Mum? Why are they like this?! This isn't right! Did you kidnap them?" She approached with a thunderous gait, but her words stumbled. She had no answer that would make sense to an in
Chapter 117As Andreas zipped the brown duffel bag shut with the final bundle of cash, his phone buzzed violently on the edge of the desk. He didn’t need to check who it was. Unknown number. The timing was too perfect. He grabbed the device and answered it in one smooth motion, his voice hard, impatient."I have the money," he barked, not waiting for a greeting.On the other end, Tania chuckled, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. Her excitement is evident. But she tried her best to mask it. "Ooh, eager little puppy, aren't we?"Andreas didn’t respond to her provocation. His pulse thundered in his ears."I’ll send you the address," she said, snapping back into her businesslike tone. "Follow it. Come alone. Remember, no police. You know the rules. Don't mess with me."The line went dead.Almost immediately, his phone pinged again. A message popped up. It was an address. A location buried deep on the outskirts of