Dylan’s eyes widened in horror as he listened to James’ sinister words over the phone. “What?! You bastard, what have you done with Leo?!”Azure King and Lord Owens observed Dylan closely, sensing his anger and understanding that something was terribly wrong.“Oh, come on, Dylan. Of course your friend is fine for now, otherwise, how would I use him as a pawn against you? Between the two of you, Leo is a drop in the ocean compared to you — you’re the big fish, you know? You're the one I'm truly after. So if you care about this useless friend of yours, then you're gonna have to do as I say.” James taunted over the phone.Dylan sighed, trying to keep his countenance calm. “What's wrong with people trying to blackmail these days? So you think you’ve hit the jackpot because you have Leonard, right?”“He’s been your best friend since high school, and I know you care about him deeply, considering you broke my leg to protect him. That memory is still fresh in my mind,” James replied.Dylan ch

(Apologies for the delay! I'm back to uploading chapters!)Dylan, overcome with shock, collapsed to the ground with a gasp, his eyes widening in a chilling blend of disbelief and horror as Leonard lay atop him, blood streaming from his mouth.Dylan’s chest rose and fell in rapid breaths as he grappled with the reality of the situation. Shaking his head in futile denial, he uttered a desperate, “No.”Summoning strength, he pulled Leonard away, rising with a gun in hand, directing it at James who, sprawled on the ground, wore a malevolent smirk on his battered countenance, still gripping a gun.“That bullet was meant for you, Dylan!” he snarled with fury, his laughter echoing in manic resonance. “But killing that bastard was no problem!” he taunted, a derisive chuckle punctuating his words, before attempting to pull his trigger—only silence, eliciting a gasp of disbelief.In the grip of fear, he glanced up at Dylan, noting the anger on his face, then promptly stood, hands raised in an a

Dylan stormed out of the house, his heart racing with worry, his fingers frantically dialing Allison’s number, his mind praying fervently for her safety. The gunshots he heard sent a shiver down his spine, signaling that something had gone terribly wrong.“Dylan, where on earth are you rushing off to?” Stephanie’s concerned voice trailed after him as she hurried to catch up.Dylan came to an abrupt halt, his gaze locking with Stephanie’s as he struggled to contain his urgency. “Steph, listen to me. Stay put inside the house, alright? Don’t come out,” he instructed firmly, a sense of urgency lacing his words like a tight knot.Stephanie’s brow furrowed in confusion and worry. “But why? What’s going on out there? And where in the world are you off to in such a hurry? she demanded, her concern mounting with each passing second as she noticed how restless he was.Dylan’s lips pressed into a thin line as he struggled to find the right words. “Look, Steph, I… I was just talking to Allison o

Dylan did not hesitate for even a moment upon receiving the address from Romero. The urgency in his steps reflected the agitation in his mind, as he ensured his gun was securely tucked at his side. The possibility of seeing his mother alive, even if shackled and bound, overpowered all sense of reality. He couldn’t think straight. He needed to understand why he had seen his mother, who he had believed to be dead. Though he suspected it might be a trap, a flicker of hope kept him moving forward.As he approached the building described in the address, its dilapidated exterior did nothing to allay his fears. The structure looked abandoned from the outside, but as he steeled himself and ventured further inside, his eyes quickly fell upon a wooden door, flanked by two imposing men.One of the men, noticing Dylan’s arrival, smirked and spoke in a tone that was both welcoming and sinister, “The boss has been expecting you.” Without further ado, he swung the door open, inviting Dylan into in

Dylan’s return to the hospital sparked a flurry of emotions within Alison, who dashed towards him with tears streaming down her face. “Where have you been?” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with worry.Dylan’s eyes widened in surprise, and he gently grasped her arm, pulling her away from him slightly. “Why? What’s wrong? Why are you so upset? Is everything alright? Is Jenna alright?”Alison nodded with a sigh. “Yes, Jenna is stable, thankfully. But I was so worried about you. You were saying something earlier, then suddenly disappeared. And when I tried calling you, there was no response. You can’t imagine how worried and anxious I’ve been, especially with my sister in the hospital.”Dylan let out a sigh of relief and enveloped her in a comforting embrace. “I’m sorry for causing you worry. I didn’t mean to add to your stress. But I’m back now, and everything’s under control. Those responsible for this situation are facing the consequences, and we’re safe now.”Alison gazed at him, a