All Chapters of Waiting in the shadows : Chapter 181 - Chapter 190

The mansion remained unusually quiet that night. Even the guards outside moved carefully, as if they understood something dangerous was about to happen. Rain had fallen earlier in the evening leaving the roads wet and empty while dark clouds still covered most of the London sky.Inside Henri Thoreau's hospital room, tension sat heavily between everyone present. Lucas stood beside the window checking his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. His jaw remained tight, his mind restless. The doctors in Italy had finally confirmed Henri's emergency transfer, but getting him out of London safely was the real problem.Because Kade was watching, everyone knew it.Maya stood near the door quietly wearing a black hoodie while Alicia sat beside Henri pretending to adjust his blanket. Margaret remained unusually silent throughout the entire evening. The fear inside her had become too obvious to hide now."What time does the convoy leave?" Margaret finally asked.Lucas answered without turni

The ballroom looked lavish, and crystal chandeliers reflected across the polished marble floors while soft golden lights illuminated every corner of the hall. Expensive perfume mixed with champagne and laughter, creating an atmosphere so luxurious that nobody would have guessed fear was sitting underneath it all. Every guest present looked lavishly dressed, hidden behind elegant masks that covered half their faces. Politicians, investors, socialites, celebrities, business partners, everyone important in London seemed to be present inside the Thoreau ballroom that night.But beneath all the beauty and celebration, tension quietly existed. Security was everywhere. Lucas had made sure of that. Armed officers blended into the crowd dressed as regular guests while surveillance monitored every entrance, hallway, and exit point inside the building. Even the catering staff had been checked repeatedly before entering.Still, Lucas could not relax. At the far side of the ballroom, Maya stood be

Morning settled heavily over the hospital, but peace still felt far away from everyone connected to the Thoreau family. The explosion at the ballroom had already become breaking news across London. Every television station carried headlines about the mysterious blast during the Thoreau celebration. Reporters crowded outside the hospital gates hoping for statements while police officers moved around the building tightening security.Inside Sophie's hospital room, the atmosphere remained tense.The curtains were partly drawn while sunlight filtered quietly through the glass windows. Sophie sat upright against the bed looking pale and exhausted. Her hair remained messy from the previous night and the bruises around her shoulder had started becoming visible.She looked nothing like the woman who once controlled every room she entered. The door opened slowly Lucas entered first followed by Maya and Damien.Sophie looked at them quietly The tension inside the room felt uncomfortable even af

The moment Maya entered the car, the headlights suddenly flashed directly toward her, forcing her to shield her eyes instinctively. Tires screeched against the wet road before a black SUV stopped barely inches away from her. The driver's door opened immediatelyMaya looked shocked. "You followed me?"Lucas walked toward her immediately, anger burning across his face. "Did you honestly think I would let you walk into Kade's trap alone?""My family is there," Maya snapped. "Layrus is there.""And you think going alone will save him?" Lucas fired back.Maya looked toward Sophie next. "You told him?"Sophie nodded quietly. "I had to tell you, you can't risk your life like this"Maya laughed bitterly."So everybody just keeps making decisions for me now?""No," Damein interrupted calmly. "We are deciding not to bury another soul in this kade shenanigans."The words silenced her.Lucas stepped closer."Kade wants to use you to get to me" he will never release Layrus easily he has Thoreau blo

They rushed to Sophie, who was already spitting out blood from her mouth.Maya was crying, shaking violently."Stay with me Sophie... please... your daughter needs you," she kept repeating, her voice breaking into fragments as if her lungs could no longer carry the weight of the words.Lucas shouted through tears, his hands hovering over Sophie like he was afraid touching her would make it more real."Why did you have to put yourself in the way?" he said, voice cracking at the end, anger and grief twisting together.Sophie, despite everything, still smiled faintly. It was weak, uneven, but it was there."It was my redemption," she whispered.Damein stood frozen. His eyes were wide, unfocused, as if his mind had left his body entirely. The shock had locked his tongue in place. He had seen violence before, betrayal, even death but not like this. Not someone choosing to sacrifice so deliberately.Sophie's breath became shallower. "I'm sorry... for what I did," she continued, blood staini