Zara shuddered in terror, her hands flying instinctively to her belly, shielding her unborn child. She wanted to turn around, to see who stood behind her. But fear had pinned her in place. She couldn’t move.
"Don’t do anything reckless," she pleaded, her voice quivering. "There are surveillance caras everywhere. The guards are stationed outside. You won’t get away with this. Put the weapon down and listen to ."
She sucked in a shaky breath. "I’ll give you as much money as you want. Just let go. I swear I won’t do anything against you."
She was certain this was about money. Desperation pushed her to continue. "If you don’t listen, the guards will catch you. They won’t show rcy. They might even kill you. Think carefully and accept my offer."
For a fleeting mont, she clung to the hope that her words would sway him. But his response crushed it completely.
"I don’t want your money," Zachary snarled. "I’m not here for that. And I’m not afraid of being beaten to death because a man who is ready to die has nothing left to fear."
Zara’s breath hitched. Sothing about his voice felt disturbingly familiar. A cold realization crept into her chest, tightening with each second.
"Who are you?" she whispered hoarsely.
"You still haven’t recognized ?" He bent closer, his breath brushing her ear. "I’m Nathaniel’s sworn enemy—Zachary. Rember now?"
Her heart plunged.
Zachary.
The na reverberated in her mind like a sinister echo. mories of betrayal and suffering flooded back. This was the man who had inflicted so many problems on this family. She knew his goal all too well: to destroy Nathaniel.
Tears burned down her cheeks as terror consud her. More than her own life, she feared for the child she carried. She was afraid he would harm her baby.
"Listen to . You don’t have to go this far," Zara pleaded. "You can still live a normal life. Nathaniel won’t co after you. I swear, I’ll speak to him myself."
He let out a low chuckle. His fingers suddenly tightened around her throat while the blade slid down, hovering dangerously close to her swollen belly.
Zara sucked in a sharp breath, terror seizing her. "Please... don’t hurt my baby," she begged in a trembling whisper.
"Sorry, sweetheart," he murmured, pressing his cheek against hers. "I hate to disappoint you."
Revulsion crawled through her, but she didn’t dare to move. Even the slightest movent felt too risky. She couldn’t lose her child again.
"I know my days are numbered," he continued calmly. "Too many people want dead. They are hunting everywhere. But I won’t go down alone."
His voice turned vicious. "I’ll drag this entire family to hell with ."
He shoved her forward. "Move."
Gripping her arm, he dragged her toward the main hall.
"Everyone out," he bellowed. "The party’s over. Leave. Now."
He raised a gun and fired into the air.
The deafening booming sound echoed through the mansion.
Screams erupted instantly. Panic spread like wildfire as guests bolted for the exits.
Zara flinched, her body trembling. Every instinct scread at her to crouch down, to cover her ears, but Zachary’s presence anchored her in place. Her legs shook violently, yet she forced herself to stand still.
The guards outside tried to push in, but the swarm of terrified guests jamd the main doors. People shoved and trampled over one another in desperation.
So fell to the ground, but no one stopped. No one looked back. Survival was all that mattered.
Amid the chaos, Liam carefully guided his parents toward the backyard, slipping away as quietly as possible.
"What’s going on?" Hayley asked, her body still shaking with fear. "Was that a gunshot? Who fired it?"
She barely had ti to process anything before the crowd surged into a panic. All she had heard was a deafening, piercing bang.
"I didn’t see anything," Rowan said, equally unsettled. "I was talking to Vincent when everything spiraled out of control."
Before he could make sense of the situation, Liam had already pulled him away. Rowan turned to his son anxiously. "Did you notice anything?"
Liam’s face was set in a hard line. He had seen Zachary holding Zara hostage, but he kept his mouth shut. He couldn’t bring himself to frighten his parents.
"I didn’t see anything either," he lied. "My priority was getting you both sowhere safe. You need to leave imdiately. This place isn’t safe anymore."
"Are you not coming?" Rowan asked.
"I have to check on Uncle and Aunt," Liam replied. "They’re still inside. Grandma, Zane... and Zara too. I can’t just leave."
"No!" Hayley clutched his hand tightly. "You are coming with us. I won’t let you go back in there."
"Mom, please," Liam urged. "They are in danger. I can’t just walk away."
"I don’t care," Hayley cried. "I won’t let you put your life at risk."
"Liam, listen to ," Rowan chid in. "I understand how you feel, but that man has a gun. You can’t fight soone like that. He’ll kill you. Think clearly. Stay out of it. I’ll call the police. This is their responsibility, not ours."
Liam fell silent for a mont, weighing his options. "Alright. I won’t go back inside. But I can’t leave yet. I need to locate the guards."
He strode away.
"Liam, wait," Hayley called from behind, but Liam had already walked far enough.
He didn’t slow down. He didn’t look back.
Hayley broke down in tears.
"Stop crying for a second," Rowan muttered tensely. "Let call the police."
He stepped aside, pressing the phone to his ear.
Inside the room—
The hall was nearly deserted now. The guests had fled in panic, leaving behind only the family. They hadn’t run. They couldn’t. Their legs remained glued to the ground when they saw Zara standing at gunpoint. The sight locked their bodies in place.
"Let her go," Vincent demanded sharply. "If you want money, I’ll give you whatever you ask for. End this madness right now."
Zachary let out a cold laugh. "Your money ans nothing to . What I want is your ruin. I want to watch every one of you die—slowly, painfully, in absolute despair."
"I always knew you were a monster wearing human skin," Paulina snapped. "I should never have allowed my husband to take you in back then. Your mother destroyed my marriage, and then you ca into this family, bringing nothing but chaos. When will it ever end?"
Her body shook violently, her eyes blazing red with rage. "You tried to kill Nathaniel. You manipulated Riya and turned her against us. You sched, lied, and did everything you could to tear this family apart. And look at you—you are a fugitive now. Is this what you wanted from life? Are you satisfied with where you’ve ended up?"
Zachary’s lips contorted with fury. Paulina’s words struck too close to the truth. He had poured years of effort, wealth, and blood into destroying this family. He had gambled his life, descended into the underworld, all for one purpose—to crush Nathaniel, to force him to bow.
And yet, everything had ended in nothing.
His revenge was incomplete. His desires remained unfulfilled. Satisfaction was nothing more than a hollow illusion. Instead of triumph, he was cornered, his life hanging by a thread.
He knew there was no way out tonight. Either the guards would catch him and hand him over to the police, or he would be shot dead on the spot. And even if he sohow escaped this mansion, the don and his n would hunt him down and erase him without leaving a trace.
Still, surrender was not an option.
"Shut up," he bellowed. "Say one more word, and I’ll shoot her."
He jamd the barrel of the gun against the side of Zara’s head.
Paulina gasped, her trembling hands flying to her mouth. Zane recoiled in terror, ducking behind Gracie, while Zara stood rigid, her eyes squeezed shut.
"Don’t hurt her," Vincent cried out. "Your grudge is with us. She has done nothing. Let her go. Take instead. Use as your hostage."
Tears welled up in Zara’s eyes. Vincent’s words pierced her heart. He was willing to place himself in danger to save her, sothing even her own biological father had never done. That man had abducted her once for money. And Vincent – he was ready to sacrifice himself to protect her and her unborn child.
"You are too old for that," Zachary sneered with contempt.
The gun pressed harder against Zara’s head.
Terror tightened around her like a noose. She thought it was the end.
"I want Nathaniel," he snarled. "Why isn’t he here? Did he skip his own parents’ anniversary celebration?" His grip tightened as his threat turned brutal. "Call him—now. Or the child growing inside her won’t survive."
Gracie gasped, instinctively pulling Zane into her arms.
"Don’t hurt her," Vincent shouted urgently. "I—I’ll call Nathaniel."
"No, Dad," Zara cried out. "Don’t call him."
She knew too well the depth of Zachary’s hatred for Nathaniel. She couldn’t imagine what this man might do if Nathaniel showed up. More than anything, she prayed he was still stuck at work, far away from this nightmare.
"Do you want to die?" Zachary hissed, his breath hot against her ear.
Zara squeezed her eyes shut as tears stread down her face. "If my life can save him, I’ll give it willingly. But don’t think you’ll walk out of here alive if you hurt . You still have a choice. Put the weapon down. Let go. I swear, no one will harm you."
"Say another word," Zachary growled, "and the next second, a bullet will go through your head."
Zara fell silent at once, her body turning cold and numb.
"Let her go."
The commanding voice echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Nathaniel had arrived.
"You wanted . I’m here." His icy gaze locked onto Zachary.
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