Gasps filled the room, some people even standing to get a better view. The whispers grew louder, blending into a cacophony of disbelief and perplexity, whatever that means. Nathan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, looking at Alex with a predatory grin. "Well, Alex. I’m still standing. Now, how about you get on your knees and do what’s right?" Alex’s face turned a shade of red so deep it looked almost painful. His arrogance and anger were now a tangled mess inside him, but humiliation was stronger. He glanced around, feeling the weight of every judgmental stare. His eyes darted to Mr. Hearst, hoping for backup, but the old man said nothing, too paralyzed by his own cowardice. The hall felt like it was waiting—no, demanding—something from Alex. A reckoning. With a shaky breath, Alex swallowed what little pride he had left and slowly, painfully, lowered himself to his knees in front of the young bartender, who was still trembling. His voice barely a whisper, he muttered, "I
The entire hall erupted in chaos, but Nathan stood in the center of it all, unmovable, untouchable, his eyes blazing with the kind of rage that only comes from the deepest betrayal. “I’m not the man you exiled, Alex,” Nathan said coldly, standing over his half-brother. “I’m something much worse.” Alex suddenly let out a heavy laughter, appearing undefeated. Then he spat on Nathan’s face. “Oh look at you, stepbrother. Putting on a facade and acting tough. It only took Vanessa one day to get your weak ass to sign the papers to your downfall. You were so weak that even your girlfriend turned her back on you.” he said then shifted his gaze to April who had been standing there, motionless, staring at Nathan. Nathan had returned. Nathan was not dead. This meant a lot to her. So much that she wondered if the best decision was for her to run away forever like she did before or stand and explain everything to Nathan. But the second choice seemed more feasible. This was not the Nathan she
Alex, sensing his advantage, staggered to his feet, his smug grin returning despite the red marks around his throat. He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and took a few steps forward, towering over Nathan now, reclaiming the space. "You see?" Alex said, his voice dripping with malice. "You think you're a monster, Nathan? You think you can come back here and terrify everyone with your empty threats? You're nothing. You’ve always been nothing." Nathan's tears blurred his vision, but he could still see Alex, standing there like a devil made flesh. Every word cut deeper, reminding him of all the failures, the helplessness. Kamsi. Fred. Everyone he had failed to protect because he was too focused on vengeance. "You talk about revenge," Alex sneered. "But you're too soft to follow through. You’ve always been weak. That’s why you lost everything, Nathan. You lost your empire, your family, your life. And now, you're losing again." Nathan clenched his fists, but his strength was sa
She wanted to lie, to say no. But something inside her could no longer keep running. “Yes. I am.” After seeing what her actions had caused Nathan, she knew she deserved punishment. The police would be arresting her for murder which she didn’t do on purpose, but she was going to allow herself to get arrested to suffer for what she did to Nathan, how she betrayed him. A guy who truly loved her. She had the chance to speak up and tell him what Alex was planning. But she was after her selfish interest. And now, she needed to pay. “Are you crazy?” Marcus asked her but she ignored him. “Miss April Freeman, you are under arrest for the murder of Amanda Witson that occurred 6 years ago. We have been looking head and heels for you. You think you can run forever huh?” Marcus immediately stepped in. “Officers, you cannot…” but he was immediately tased and fell to the floor. He could only watch helplessly as April was being handcuffed and carried away, knowing that this could be it.
Nathan roared down the streets of London in his car. His hands gripped the wheel tighter than before, knuckles white, as thoughts of his sister, Fred, and Candace swirled in his head. He couldn’t control the tears that forced its way out of his tender eyes. Candace’s last words rang in his ear. While she was dying, he was weak and helpless, doing absolutely nothing. Therefore, Alex was right. He thought he was a monster, a strong entity. A beast. Yet, he couldn’t protect those he loved. But one thing was clear. Nathan was not going to run away like he did last time. No. He wasn’t going to allow himself to get totally defeated this time again. Thankfully, he left Alex with a threat. This was a game. Alex may have defeated Nathan Reed, but he had not defeated Mr Frost. He wouldn’t dare because it would be impossible. Therefore, the real deal was about to set in. The real revenge at its peak was finally here and it would be more brutal, more dramatic than some wedding announcemen
He pulled Fred closer, feeling the warmth leave his body. Nathan’s fingers trembled as they brushed against the bullet wounds on Fred’s chest. There were too many. Alex’s men had made sure he didn’t stand a chance. Nathan screamed, a guttural, agonizing cry that echoed through the empty woods. This wasn’t just another loss. This was another person he had failed to protect. Another loved one torn away from him because of Alex’s cruelty. He could have stopped this—should have stopped this. If only he hadn’t been so consumed with revenge, so blinded by his own pain. Fred was gone, and it was Nathan’s fault. “I’m so sorry, Fred,” Nathan whispered through his sobs. “Fuck me! Fuck MEEE!!” He slammed his head on the wall beside him. He smashed his head over and over again until blood began to run down his nostrils. And he deserved it. He deserved every second of pain he felt, ticking like a time bomb that would never explode. The rage, sorrow, and guilt all came crashing down at once,
Emma tried to warm herself by rubbing her palms together and blowing air into them. It worked, but only lasted for a second or two and had little or no effect at all. The cold was freezing and her body was almost exposed as she had torn her clothes and used it to clot her blood. She was tired of crying and had gotten used to the pain, the limited oxygen, the animalistic treatment from Vanessa. Yes, she was reduced to nothing but an animal locked in a small, dark cell, barely big enough to stretch her legs. The damp air stung her skin, and the cold stone walls pressed in on her like a suffocating blanket. Emma's breaths were shallow, each one painful as if her lungs had forgotten how to expand fully. She felt like a prisoner, but worse—she felt like a forgotten animal, discarded by the world. Her mind wandered to the life she once had, to the people she thought she could order. She was fucking Megan White and would not even treat her own livestock this way. Vanessa had gone to t
But Emma was not smiling, neither was she frowning. Her face was as still as the Great Wall of China. No emotions. Just a blank stare. “Aw, poor thing. Well, Nathan has returned!” Vanessa announced. “He attended the Hearst family’s wedding and shocked the world. I mean, everyone thought he had died and was rotting in the grave like you are rotting away in this cell.” “But nope. He came back and even bid for a painting for $250 Million! Can you believe that?” Vanessa acted surprised. ‘Nathan is back?’ Emma asked herself. She had also thought that her former boss was dead. 6 years. 6 long years and she did not hear a word from him or about him. So, it was safe to assume that after he was kicked out, he commited suicide. But no. He was back. How?! Emma’s heart began to smile through the pain. There was a sudden flicker of hope that ignited in her heart. One thing was sure. If Nathan was back and finds out how she had loyally stuck to him when Alex threatened her, he would defini