Semua Bab The Anniversary He Forgot: Bab 31 - Bab 40

​The heavy steel door rumbled as massive locking bolts slid out of place with a series of heavy clicks and clanks.​Alex and Inspector David instinctively stepped back.​"Identity confirmed. Welcome, Alex Swan. Access granted," echoed the electronic voice through the corridor.​With a deep groan, the enormous steel door slowly swung inward, spilling a rush of icy air from the dark chamber beyond.​Inspector David immediately raised his pistol and warned, "Stay behind me."​"If my father built this place, then he built it for me," Alex said quietly, shaking his head.​Without waiting for another word, he stepped inside.​The underground chamber was far larger than either of them had expected, with long rows of shelves stretching into the darkness and heavy steel cabinets lining both walls.​At the centre of the room stood a massive circular table, everything covered in a thick layer of dust as though no one had set foot there for decades.​"This isn't a vault... it's an archive," one o

​"Who are you?" The question echoed through the underground chamber. Alex stood frozen, unable to take his eyes off the man standing before him. The resemblance was impossible to ignore: the same dark hair, the same sharp eyes, and an almost identical height.​Margaret’s eyes filled with tears as she whispered, "Ethan..."​The young man turned to her, his voice heavy with confusion. "Mom... who are these people?"​Alex felt his heart tighten. Mom. For twenty-six years, Margaret had been the only mother Ethan had ever known.​Margaret slowly walked toward him and held his hand. "I've waited for this day to come for so long. I need you to stay calm."​"You're scaring me," Ethan frowned.​Inspector David quietly signaled his officers to lower their weapons, warning them to make no sudden movements. The officers obeyed as Ethan looked around the chamber, completely bewildered. "What's going on? Why are there armed police here?" Pointing at Alex, he asked, "Who is he?"​Margaret took a de

​The study at Swan Mansion was dead silent. Alex stood by the window with his phone still gripped tightly in his hand, the masked leader's relentless words echoing in his mind: "Tomorrow. Nine o'clock. Come to the Hale Estate... alone."​Inspector David Cole folded his arms, breaking the silence. "You're not seriously thinking of going alone, are you?"​"If I don't, they'll hurt my father—and Ethan," Alex replied, turning to face him.​David shook his head firmly. "That's exactly what he wants."​"I know," Alex let out a weary sigh, "but I don't have another choice."​Across the room, Javier had heard every word. Her eyes filled with worry as she slowly walked toward him. "You promised me... you promised you wouldn't leave without telling me."​Gently taking both of her hands, Alex looked deeply at her. "I'm telling you now. I'm going."​Tears immediately welled in Javier's eyes. "And what if you don't come back?"​Alex forced a faint smile. "Then I'll have broken another promise."​

​The black remote rested in Noah Hale's hand, while no one moved or even dared to breathe.​Alex's eyes locked onto the device as he asked, "You rigged the entire estate?"​Noah nodded calmly, replying, "I learned a long time ago that people only reveal who they truly are when they're forced to make a choice."​Kendall stepped forward, panic flashing across his face, and cried, "Noah! This isn't Richard's way!"​Noah's expression hardened as he declared, "My father died because he kept choosing mercy; I'm choosing justice."​Outside the Hale Estate, Inspector David listened through the hidden earpiece Alex was wearing as the color drained from his face.​"He has the detonator," David whispered, just as one of the bomb technicians rushed over to him.​"Sir! We've located twelve explosive devices," the technician reported grimly, adding, "And there could be more."​When David asked if they could disarm them, the technician slowly shook his head and explained, "They're all connected, so

​Bang!​The gunshot echoed through the Hale Estate. Noah cried out in agony as the bullet tore through his shoulder, crashing onto the wooden floor and clutching the bloody wound.​"Argh!"​"Noah!" Alex instinctively rushed toward him, but before he could reach him—Bang! Bang! Two more shots slammed into the wooden floor just inches from Alex's feet, forcing him to jump back.​Adrian Voss calmly lowered his pistol, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."​His armed guards immediately stepped forward, surrounding Adrian and aiming their weapons at everyone else. No one dared to move.​Kendall glared at Adrian, his voice dripping with venom. "So... it was you all along."​"You finally figured it out," Adrian smiled.​Kendall clenched his fists. "I should've known. You were the only board member who disappeared after the Swan Project."​"I do hate loose ends," Adrian replied with a polite nod.​Alex fixed his eyes on Adrian. "You manipulated Noah."​"I gave