?


    The second I raised the fire extinguisher, I made up my mind-I''d take Wayne down with me if it came to that.


    He was unhinged, a ticking time bomb ready to explode and take us all out.


    "Rea," Jace said weakly, his voice soft, like he was trying to stop me from doing something reckless.


    It wasn''t Wayne he was worried about-it was me.


    But Wayne wasn''t fazed. He gave us that same condescending look, like we were ants scrambling under his shoe.


    Why wouldn''t he? Jace was barely conscious, Isabel wasn''t young anymore, and I was a pregnant woman. He thought he had all the power.


    Wayne smirked. "Rea, think about it. You''ve seen how things are. Come with me, and you and your baby will be safe. Do you really want your child to grow up without parents-or worse, not grow up at all? Hand over what Hayden gave you, and I''ll make sure you live in wealth andfort. Stay here or move wherever you want-it''s your choice."


    Even now, he was trying to y the nice guy.


    "Wayne," I said, "if I did that, how could I look my child in the eye? Knowing their happiness came from others'' suffering? That it was paid for with dirty deals? They''d hate


    me for it."


    As I spoke, I felt a small flutter in my lower abdomen. It couldn''t be real-not this early. But the thought of the life growing inside me made me feel more certain than ever.


    This baby was a miracle, a little piece of Hayden that somehow found its way to me. When he was living as Xander, we''d only done it once-but that one night had changed everything.


    Wayne snorted. "In that case, I have nothing more to say."


    With a sharp p of his hands, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the garage. A dozen men in ck marched in.


    "Restrain them," Wayne ordered coldly. "No one leaves this house until tomorrow''s operation isplete."


    But... nothing happened.


    Something was off. I could feel it, and Wayne clearly could too. His smug expression slipped as he turned to face them, his jaw tightening, his eyes darkening.


    What''s going on?


    1/2


    +25 BOHUG


    Before I could piece it together, a familiar voice broke the silence, calm andced with mockery. "Wayne Johnston, since when did your men start ignoring you?"


    I whipped around, and my breath caught..


    Aaron?Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Aaron strode in, dressed in a ck tactical jacket, his cor popped, his presencemanding the space like a storm rolling in.


    "Uncle Aaron!" Lena''s voice rang out from behind him.


    Another man in ck stepped forward, nodding at Aaron. "Sir, Miss Lane has been rescued. She''s unharmed."


    Aaron''s


    eyes flicked to Lena briefly, and she gave a quick nod. "Thank you," she said softly.


    So Lena had called him for help.


    But how had Aaron reced Wayne''s men so quickly? My mind raced for answers, but Aaron was already face-to-face with Wayne. "People like to say you''re the polite, dutiful son," Aaron said, his tone ice-cold. “Today, I''m seeing just how much that''s worth.” Wayne stiffened, but he forced a calm facade. "Aaron Ace, we''ve got no business together, no personal ties. Isn''t this a little... much?" Aaron slid one hand casually into his pocket. "If you hadn''t messed with someone from my family, I wouldn''t be here."


    It was clear as day-he was here for Lena.


    Wayne''s eyes flicked to Lena, who was already by my side. She gripped my hand tightly, our fingersced together. Today''s Bonus Offer