422 Lady Margaret’s heart pounded in her chest, her gaze flickering toward Darwin for just a second. But before she could respond, Harrison raised his hand, silencing the room. "Tick-tock, Margaret," Harrison said, his tone almost sing-song, as if this were a game to him. "You have five seconds. S
423 Bruno, Harrison’s right-hand man, stepped forward, his towering figure casting a long shadow over the room. His voice was rough, authoritative. "There’s no need for this, boss." Harrison turned slowly, his eyebrow raised in mild surprise. "Oh? Enlighten me, Bruno." Bruno’s gaze flicked to Lad
424 A collective gasp echoed through the room, and Lady Margaret felt the blood drain from her face. Several guests shrieked, others frantically looking around as if the walls might betray some hidden clue. "No," a woman sobbed, clutching her child closer. "No, please!" "Calm down!" Darwin shoute
425 The room was a powder keg of panic, fear coursing through every guest like a live wire. People huddled together, whispering frantically, while others broke into sobs, clutching their loved ones close. The clock on the screen counted down relentlessly, every second like a drumbeat heralding the
426 Selena’s hands moved with practiced precision, her brow furrowed in concentration. Jeremy stood beside her, his face pale as he handed her tools, clearly out of his depth. The entire room seemed to hold its breath, the only sound the ticking of the clock as it continued its merciless countdown.
427 "It’s a security system we installed years ago," Lady Margaret explained quickly. "In case of emergencies. It might buy us some time." The guests stared in stunned disbelief as the shields locked into place, the tension rising even higher. But it wasn’t enough to calm everyone. "You fool!" A
428 Lady Margaret’s breath hitched. "No! Wait, please!" She stepped forward, her voice breaking as she tried to bargain once more. "There must be something—anything—you want! Just don’t do this!" For a brief second, there was a flicker of hesitation on Harrison’s face, but it quickly vanished. "I’
429 A tense silence filled the space, broken only by the sound of ragged breathing and faint sobs. Slowly, eyes began to open, and confused murmurs spread through the crowd. "What… what just happened?" a woman stammered, clutching her child tightly. "We should be dead," a man whispered, his voice