STEPHEN is fuming mad when he sees his wife. She’s covered in bruises and wounds, with a bandage wrapped around her head.
He had believed that Aries wouldn’t dare harm his wife. But it seems Aries’ state of mind has deteriorated beyond repair.
Stephen tightened his grip on the two guns he held, and his eyes locked onto Aries.
“Let go of her! If you have a grudge, it’s against me, so face me!” he shouted angrily.
Aries filled the air with a loud laugh before letting out a sarcastic sigh.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have much time to deal with you. Besides, you and your foolish friends are all going to die together in this place!”
His attention shifted to Nathalia. Her hands were tied, and Stephen could feel his anger boiling within him.
“Goodbye, Anderson!” Aries taunted with a laugh before dragging Nathalia away.
He was about to go after them when John blocked his way.
“Where are you going, shithead? Come on! Fight me!” Their guns were pointed at each other in an instant.
“I don’t fucking care about you, so you better get out of my way!” Stephen retorted, seething with anger.
But his surprise grew when he heard Nathalia’s shout.
“Don’t worry about me, Tep-Tep! I’ll go back to you. I promise!”
Stephen’s heart rate suddenly accelerated. He couldn’t believe what Nathalia had just called him.
Damn! She remembers already!
With this realization, the exhaustion that had been weighing on Stephen since earlier seemed to vanish into thin air. They had been battling all day, and he had been feeling drained.
That was until he heard her voice.
“What are you grinning about over there? Have you gone crazy?” he asked.
His grin widened due to what John had said.
“Well, I think I really am. But it’s this lunatic who’s going to end your life.”
Before he could fire the gun, Stephen swiftly dodged and kicked it out of John’s hand, sending it flying to the ground. He didn’t give him a chance to recover, immediately firing shots in rapid succession.
“Serves you right, motherfucker!”
He wasted no more time and quickly followed Nathalia, determined not to let her be taken away from him again.
NATHALIA was doing her best to untie her hands, while Aries gripped her right arm tightly. Fortunately, Albert had taught her how to escape from restraints within a minute. She couldn’t do it earlier since it’s better executed when the opponent’s back is turned.
“So, you remember now? Too bad because you will not see each other again!” Aries tightened his grip on her, but she didn’t let it bother her anymore.
A triumphant smirk appeared on Nathalia’s lips as she finally succeeded in freeing herself. She quickly grabbed Aries’ hand and twisted it, causing him to drop the gun, before using all her strength to hurl it away. They were currently near the balcony.
“Damn! Damn you!” he winced, both in pain and frustration.
Nathalia was about to reach for his gun, but Aries swiftly got up and tightly embraced her from behind.
“Let go of me!” She struggled to break free, but her attention suddenly shifted to the wall.
She sprinted towards it and ran along the wall before forcefully leaping, causing Aries to lose his grip on her.
“Nathalia!”
Nathalia was momentarily distracted upon hearing Stephen’s voice. Aries seized that opportunity to grab the gun and point it directly at Nathalia.
Stephen stood frozen in his spot, and Nathalia felt her breath catch in her chest due to the rapid beating of her heart.
“One wrong move, Anderson. One wrong move,” Aries emphasized as he pressed the gun against her temple.
Stephen slowly lowered the gun in his hand and raised both of his hands in surrender.
“Don’t hurt her,” he pleaded.
Aries raised an eyebrow. “Of course I won’t,” he responded, quickly redirecting the gun towards Stephen.
Nathalia’s heart skipped a beat when a series of gunshots rang out. She jolted in surprise as Aries fell to the ground behind her.
She was startled and looked up at Stephen, who immediately enveloped her in a tight embrace.
“Thank God, you’re okay! I’m so sorry if I came late. I’m so sorry if I—”
She shook her head and held him just as tightly. She had thought she wouldn’t see him again. She had thought she wouldn’t have another chance to say those three words to him.
“No. Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. You’re here right now. That’s all that matters,” she reassured him, gently cupping his face with both hands.
“I love you. I love you so much that it scares me if I won’t see you again,” she admitted, looking deeply into his eyes.
For the first time since that day, Stephen broke into a wide smile. “Y-You really do?” he asked in disbelief.
Nathalia nodded, trying to hold back her tears. “Yes, I do. I really do.”
Her attention was diverted when she suddenly remembered something. She stepped back from Stephen and glanced at Aries’ lifeless body. “How did that happen?”
Stephen looked toward the balcony with a smile. “Ace happened.”
Nathalia also looked up, even though she couldn’t see Ace. He really did come from a family of snipers.
But her brows furrowed when Stephen suddenly approached Aries and began to search his clothes and pockets.
“It should be here,” he whispered to himself.
“What are you doing?” she asked, confused.
“There! Got it!” He stood up and faced her, holding something out to her.
Nathalia gasped as she saw it. It was their family brooch—a symbol of a gun and sword crossed in an 'X' shape.
“I saw him take it when you two had an accident.”
Her hands trembled as she took it. Before, she found that brooch peculiar. But now that she clearly understood her own mafia lineage, she understood its significance.
She pinned it on the left side of her dress over her chest before they decided to head downstairs.
They were quickly welcomed by their friends, who seemed exhausted. But she noticed her husband’s brow furrowing.
“What is it? Is there a problem?” she asked, feeling concerned.
Stephen’s forehead creased slightly. “The other members of the organization are here.”
Nathalia blinked before she looked around, noticing the unfamiliar faces that she had never seen before in her entire life.
But she was taken aback by their next actions. All of them knelt before her!
“Welcome back, our queen,” they all respectfully said in unison before bowing.
Her jaw almost dropped when her friends and even her husband followed suit.
What the hell is happening?