One Hundred Eighteen

The dark night sky was illuminated by the faint glow of city lights. The cold air was biting, but nothing could compare to the heat of tension that surrounded the scene. The sound of police sirens grew louder, inching closer with every second, signaling that Edward Novaries' time was running out. With steady breaths and an unshaken expression, Edward assessed his surroundings. A few of Antonio’s men remained in their battle-ready positions, but they knew the police would be there any moment. Antonio, injured but standing tall, clutched his throbbing arm from the previous fight. His eyes burned with fury as he stared at Edward.

“You have nowhere to run, Edward.”

Edward simply smirked, as if he still held control of the situation.

“Antonio, Antonio… You still think this is a game you can win?”

He sighed.

“I’ve always been one step ahead of you.”

Cassandra, standing beside Alexander, clenched her fists.

“You’re a coward! All you do is hide behind your dirty tricks!”

Edward turned his gaze to her, his expression laced with intrigue.

“Oh, Cassandra… You become more fascinating every time I see you.”

Antonio’s glare intensified.

“Don’t you dare say her name.”

Edward chuckled.

“Oh, but I have something even better to do.”

Without warning, he raised his gun and aimed at a passing fuel tanker.

BANG!

The bullet struck the lower side of the fuel tank. Cassandra’s eyes widened.

“No—!”

And then,

BOOM!

A deafening explosion rocked the entire area. Flames erupted into the sky, creating a massive fireball that lit up the night. The shockwave from the blast sent several people flying backward, including Antonio, who had attempted to dodge the flames. But he wasn’t fast enough—searing heat licked at his arm, burning through his sleeve and leaving a painful wound on his skin.

“ARGH!”

Antonio gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the agony, but his hand instinctively clutched his burned flesh.

“Antonio!”

Cassandra screamed, her eyes widening in horror as she watched him collapse to the ground. Alexander quickly pulled her back, keeping her away from the spreading fire.

“Cass! Stay back! It’s too dangerous!”

Thick black smoke filled the air, making it harder to see. The fire spread rapidly across the street, and the blaring horns of cars desperately trying to escape the blast filled the night. In the midst of the chaos, Edward smiled in satisfaction.

“We’ll meet again, Antonio.”

And just like that, he turned and sprinted down a narrow alley, vanishing into the city’s shadows.

“FUCK! HE’S GETTING AWAY!”

Alexander growled, but visibility was too low due to the thick smoke and flames. Cassandra, still trying to reach Antonio, shoved Alexander aside.

“Antonio needs help!”

Alexander hesitated, torn between chasing Edward and staying to help Cassandra. Meanwhile, Antonio gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand despite the pain in his arm.

“We need to leave… The cops will be here any minute,”

he rasped. Cassandra didn’t care about the police—her only concern right now was Antonio’s safety.

“No, we’re taking you to a hospital. Now!”

Antonio held her gaze, their eyes locking amidst the surrounding chaos. But before he could say anything, an ambulance arrived, screeching to a halt near them. A paramedic rushed out.

“Anyone injured?!”

Cassandra immediately turned to them.

“Yes! Him!”

She pointed at Antonio, who was still wincing in pain. Without hesitation, the medics rushed to Antonio and helped him into the ambulance. Cassandra followed without a second thought, but as she glanced back—Alexander was still standing there. Their eyes met in a silent exchange. Cassandra saw something in his gaze—disappointment, exhaustion… and something deeper, something she wasn’t ready to answer yet. Without a word, Alexander turned away, letting Cassandra step into the ambulance with Antonio. The doors shut, and within moments, the vehicle sped off, leaving behind a scene of destruction, fire, and panic. Inside the ambulance, Cassandra held onto Antonio’s hand tightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Are you okay?”

she whispered, her voice trembling with worry. Antonio looked at her, despite his pain, a small smile played on his lips.

“I’ll be fine, Cass. I just need you here.”

The wailing siren of the ambulance echoed through the cold night as it raced toward the nearest hospital. Inside, Cassandra sat beside Antonio, her eyes never leaving his wounded arm. Her fingers remained tightly wrapped around his, even though she knew he was trying to mask his pain. Dried blood coated his wrist, and his skin was red and raw from the flames.

“You should be more careful,”

Cassandra murmured, her voice hoarse with concern.

“You’re always like this, Antonio.”

Antonio turned to her, a faint smile curving his lips despite the exhaustion and pain reflected in his eyes.

"I'm more worried about you,"

he answered, his voice still rough. Cassandra shot him a sharp look, frustration swelling inside her.

"You always say that, but you keep throwing yourself into danger!"

Antonio sighed, his gaze locking onto hers, as if he wanted to say something deeper than just mere words.

"If I don’t protect you, who else will?"

Cassandra bit her lip, her emotions bubbling to the surface. She knew Antonio always acted like this—like his own life meant nothing compared to keeping her safe.

"You don’t have to do this all the time, Antonio,"

she whispered, her voice softer now, almost vulnerable.

"I don’t want to lose you."

Antonio’s eyes softened slightly, but there was something there—something deeper, something he wasn’t willing to reveal so easily.

"Cass…"

His voice was barely a whisper. Cassandra took a deep breath, looking away, trying to control the storm of emotions raging inside her. But there was one question she could no longer ignore.

"Antonio… Who exactly is Edward?"

Antonio remained silent. Cassandra turned back to him, her expression not just filled with confusion, but anger.

"Why is he your father’s right-hand man?!"

Antonio inhaled deeply, as if weighing how much he should tell her.

"He’s not just my father’s right-hand man, Cass."

"Then who the hell is he?!"

she demanded, her voice rising. Antonio finally closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, his expression darker, more serious.

"He’s the man who tried to destroy The Silver Thorn from the inside."

Cassandra stared at him in stunned silence, trying to piece his words together.

"Destroy… The Silver Thorn?"

Antonio gave a slow nod.

"Edward isn’t just an enforcer. He’s someone who has been waiting for the right moment to exact his revenge on the Franches family."

Cassandra felt her body tense.

"Revenge? Revenge for what?"

Antonio’s gaze bore into hers, as if debating whether she was ready to hear the truth.

"My father… destroyed his life."

Cassandra frowned, her emotions spiraling further into uncertainty.

"What do you mean?"

Antonio exhaled slowly, staring at the ambulance ceiling before turning back to her.

"Edward was once one of my father’s most trusted men. He was raised in the same brutal world I was, trained to be strong, obedient. But…"

His grip on Cassandra’s hand tightened.

"One night, everything changed. My father saw him as a threat… and ordered his entire family to be slaughtered."

Cassandra’s breath hitched, her body stiffening.

"What…?"

Antonio gave her a slow nod, his face dark with old, buried pain.

"Edward lost everything overnight. And from that moment on, he swore to destroy anything tied to the Franches name—including me."

Cassandra sucked in a sharp breath.

"So he wants to tear down The Silver Thorn… to avenge his family?"

Antonio nodded.

"Yes. And he knows the best way to do that is from the inside."

Cassandra bit her lip, her heart pounding erratically.

"So… this isn’t just about you. It’s about me too?"

Antonio tightened his grip.

"He knows you’re my wife, Cass. That makes him want to take me down even more. Because he knows you’re the only weakness I have."

Cassandra stared at him, her chest tightening.

"I’m not your weakness, Antonio."

Antonio held her gaze for a long moment before a small smirk played on his lips.

"You’re right. You’re not my weakness, Cass. You’re the only reason I keep fighting."

Cassandra felt her heart lurch. Outside, the ambulance sirens continued to wail through the cold night, rushing them toward safety. Her tear-filled eyes stayed locked on Antonio’s, overflowing with emotions she couldn’t control. Anger, sadness, confusion—they all swirled inside her like an unstoppable storm.

"Antonio…"

her voice was barely a whisper, but it carried a deep, painful weight.

"Was Edward the one who killed my father too?"

Antonio stared at her in silence, as if deciding how to answer. But when he saw the desperate hope and fear in her eyes, he knew he couldn’t lie. Finally, in a low, heavy voice, he said,

"Yes, Cass. Edward killed your father."

Cassandra gasped, her chest tightening as if all the air had been sucked from the small space inside the ambulance.

"No… No, that’s not possible…"

she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. Antonio’s voice remained cold and steady.

"Your father was one of my father’s most trusted men. He wasn’t just an underling—he was part of the inner circle, someone who knew too many secrets. And that made him a target."

Cassandra bit down on her trembling lip, tears spilling freely.

"So… he was killed because he was loyal to your father?"

Antonio nodded.

"And I only just found out, Cass. After my men tracked down whoever sent you those documents, everything started to make sense."

"Documents…?"

Cassandra stared at him, her tear-filled eyes now brimming with growing rage. Antonio nodded.

"Someone sent documents proving that your father was murdered by the mafia from The Silver Thorn. I never knew before… But as soon as I saw Edward’s name in them, everything became clear."

Cassandra felt her head spin. The world she thought she knew had just shattered before her eyes. Her father wasn’t just another victim. He was part of a vast network that involved Antonio’s family. And now, Edward had returned to finish what he started. Her heart cracked even more.

"Why…? Why am I always trapped in this world?"

She began sobbing uncontrollably, the grief she had suppressed for so long finally breaking free.

"Why does everyone around me die because of your world?! Why do I have to lose them?!"

Her cries deepened, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Anger, sorrow, fear—everything exploded into her screams. Antonio pulled her into his embrace immediately. His injured hand gripped her tightly, refusing to let her drown in her own despair.

"Cass, listen to me…"

His voice was deep, steady, unwavering.

"I will kill Edward. I swear on my family’s name, on my own name, that I will end him. I will avenge your parents."

Cassandra sobbed into his chest, clutching his suit with all her strength.

"You don’t understand, Antonio… I can’t accept this. I just want a normal life. I don’t want my world to be filled with murder and revenge!"

Antonio stroked her hair gently, trying to soothe the woman who had shaken his entire existence.

"I know, baby… But listen to me…"

He took a deep breath.

"You are no longer just someone who happened to cross paths with me, Cassandra. You’re not just my desire, not just someone who stumbled into my life."

Cassandra looked up at him, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Antonio gazed at her intensely, his voice softer but filled with absolute certainty.

"You are my soulmate, Cass. I love you more than anything in this world."

Her heart pounded wildly, her breath catching in her throat.

"I will never let Edward touch you. I will never let anyone take you from me. Because you are the only thing keeping me alive in this world."

Cassandra was speechless. Her heart melted. This man—the man she had fought, the man she had tried to hate—had loved her in the deepest way possible. She knew she had tried to deny her feelings all this time. But now, in Antonio’s strong, protective embrace, she could no longer lie to herself.

"Antonio…"

Her voice trembled. Antonio leaned closer, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Cass… Believe in me."

Cassandra swallowed hard, then finally closed her eyes, letting herself fall into the emotions she had buried for so long. Her hand slowly lifted, brushing against Antonio’s face—tired, wounded, but filled with sincerity.

"I believe in you…"

she whispered. Antonio gave a small smile before pulling her even closer, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. As if silently promising that he would always be there for her. Cassandra knew… Her heart had already chosen. Outside, the ambulance continued racing through the night, carrying them to safety. But deep in her soul, Cassandra knew this was just the beginning of something even more dangerous. But this time, she didn’t feel alone. Because she had Antonio by her side. The ambulance screeched to a halt in front of the hospital. Red and blue lights flashed through the cold night, illuminating the chaos with blinding intensity. Cassandra immediately jumped out, rushing to help Antonio get down. Her face was filled with panic as paramedics hurried toward them with a stretcher.

"Antonio, can you stand?"

she asked, her voice trembling with worry. Antonio groaned slightly, but he still tried to mask the pain.

"Don’t worry, I’m still breathing."

"Idiot,"

Cassandra muttered, her eyes glistening with tears.

"You always act like you’re invincible."

The paramedics quickly lifted him onto the stretcher and began wheeling him inside the hospital. But as Cassandra turned around, her heart suddenly clenched. Alexander was gone. Her eyes darted around the area, searching desperately for the man who had always been by her side. But all that remained were the shadows of busy hospital staff moving under the harsh fluorescent lights. Empty. Alexander had left… without a word, without a goodbye. “No way…” Cassandra whispered, her chest tightening painfully. She had always assumed Alexander would stay—always lingering in the background, keeping his distance but never truly leaving. But now, for the first time, he was truly gone. Her heart felt hollow. But before she could let herself drown in that realization, Antonio’s weak voice pulled her back to reality.

"Cass… let’s go inside."

She turned to see Antonio still gripping her hand, even in his wounded and barely mobile state. He’s still trying to protect me… Cassandra felt her chest tighten even more. But as she looked at Antonio, she knew her heart had already chosen. With whatever strength she had left, she followed Antonio into the hospital, gripping his hand even tighter. Inside the Hospital The hospital felt cold, the harsh white lights glaring down from above. Doctors and nurses rushed to tend to Antonio, pushing him into the emergency room. Cassandra followed closely behind, her eyes never leaving him, worry etched across her face. As they reached the treatment room, a nurse stepped in front of her.

"Miss, we need to assess his condition. You’ll have to wait outside."

Cassandra bit her lip, unwilling to leave his side. But before she could protest, Antonio raised his free hand and brushed his fingers against hers.

"I’ll be fine, Cass,"

his voice was steady, even though she could tell he was still in pain. She stared at him for a moment, then reluctantly nodded.

"I’ll be waiting outside."

Antonio gave her a faint smirk.

"Don’t wander too far."

Cassandra let out a deep breath before stepping out of the room. But as soon as she walked into the quiet hospital corridor, her thoughts drifted back to Alexander. Why did he leave just like that?

Why didn’t he say anything? She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes for a brief moment. I know why he left. Because he knew I had already chosen. Alexander had always been there—protecting her, loving her in silence—but in the end… My heart still belongs to Antonio. Even though she had made her decision, a part of her still felt a hollow ache in her chest. Alexander had been a constant in her life, and for the first time… he was truly gone. Cassandra bit her lip, trying to push back the emotions swirling inside her. But before she could dwell on it further, the sound of footsteps approached.

"Cass…"

Cassandra turned around, seeing Antonio standing at the doorway of his treatment room, now wearing a loose hospital shirt. Despite the exhaustion and pain evident in his face, his eyes were locked solely on her.

"Are you okay?"

he asked. Cassandra stood still for a moment before offering a small smile and walking toward him.

"I should be asking you that, Antonio."

Antonio shrugged, even though she could see the stiffness in his movements.

"I’m a tough man."

Cassandra sighed.

"You’re an idiot."

Antonio chuckled softly. Without thinking, Cassandra reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his.

"I don’t know what happens next, Antonio… I’m scared."

Antonio gazed at her deeply, as if he understood everything she couldn’t put into words.

"You don’t have to be scared, Cass. I’m here."

Cassandra bit her lip before slowly nodding.

"I know."

And for the first time since the night began, she felt a small sense of peace. But deep down, she also knew… This wasn’t over. Edward was still out there. Outside the Hospital The cold night air greeted them as Antonio walked out of the hospital, his steps steady despite the lingering pain from the burns on his arm. Beside him, Cassandra walked cautiously, occasionally glancing at him to make sure he was truly okay. As they reached the hospital entrance, Marcus was already waiting in front of a sleek black car with the engine running. The moment he saw Antonio, Marcus quickly opened the door.

"Sir, we need to leave. It’s not safe to stay here too long."

Antonio nodded without hesitation before turning to Cassandra.

"You’re coming with me to the mansion. You’ll be safer there."

Cassandra frowned.

"Antonio, I can go back to my apartment. I can’t keep hiding behind you forever."

Antonio’s gaze sharpened.

"This isn’t about hiding, Cass. This is about keeping you alive. I won’t risk Edward getting to you while you’re alone."

She held her breath, seeing the unwavering determination in his face. Deep down, she knew he would never let her return to her normal life—not after everything that had happened. With little choice left, Cassandra finally slid into the car, sitting beside Antonio. Marcus shifted the gear, and the car smoothly pulled away from the hospital, cutting through the city streets still buzzing with sirens from the earlier tanker explosion. The tension inside the car was thick, as if everyone knew… This was only the beginning of a much bigger war.

"What’s the situation outside?"

Antonio asked, his voice calm but filled with tension. Marcus, sitting in the driver’s seat, replied in a low, heavy tone.

"Edward managed to escape our men. They lost track of him in the back alleys of the southern district. Looks like he planned his getaway well."

Cassandra tensed, her hands clenching on her lap.

"So… he could attack at any time?"

Marcus nodded slightly.

"Yeah, and we need a solid strategy to take him down. This time, we can’t just rely on instinct."

Cassandra lowered her head, her mind racing. Edward was dangerous—not just a killer but a cunning strategist. A chill ran through her entire body. What if Edward came after her again? What if he wasn’t just after her but also Antonio? Without realizing it, her hands started trembling. And then Antonio took her hand. Cassandra startled, turning toward him. His strong, unwavering gaze locked onto hers, sending warmth straight to her core.

"Don’t be afraid, Cass,"

he murmured, his voice carrying an unspoken promise.

"I’m here. I won’t let him touch you."

Cassandra bit her lip, trying to suppress the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Why does he always know exactly how to calm me down, even when the world around us is burning?

"We’ll find Edward,"

Antonio continued,

"And this time, we’ll end it."

Cassandra nodded, even though deep down, she knew this battle would be bigger than anything she had ever imagined. Meanwhile… Alexander walked into the police station, his steps heavy, his expression blank. Detective Daniels, one of his colleagues, immediately approached him.

"Alex, are you okay? We got reports of a tanker explosion downtown. What the hell happened?"

Alexander threw a folder onto the desk.

"That wasn’t an accident. It was an attack. Edward Novaries shot the tanker to create chaos and escape." Daniels raised an eyebrow.

"So this was mafia-related?"

Alexander nodded.

"Yeah. And we need to push this story to the public. This isn’t just another crime—this is a war happening in our streets."

Daniels flipped through the report quickly before looking back at Alexander, concern in his eyes.

"Are you sure this won’t blow up in our faces? If we bring this to the media, the mafia groups could escalate things even more."

Alexander exhaled sharply.

"If we don’t, innocent people will be the next casualties. I don’t care how powerful these crime families are—we can’t let them take control of everything."

Daniels gave him a firm nod and headed toward the conference room to contact the press. Alexander remained standing, staring blankly out the large office window. The city lights still shimmered outside, but to him, they didn’t seem as bright as they once did. Because he knew… he had lost something more valuable than anything. Cassandra had chosen her path. And it wasn’t with him. A bitter smile formed on Alexander’s lips—the taste of defeat more painful than any bullet wound. Then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the station.