PART 45.
Xyrel's POV
I never expected Tito Havier to be such a wicked person. He had evil intentions, and his visit was not just a simple visit. We are now being held captive by his men, and I couldn't help but feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I sense the fear in my child. He was very happy earlier, but now he's hurt and crying.
"What's wrong, Hades?! Why can't you speak now?!" Tito Havier shouted and grabbed a gun from one of his men, pointing it aggressively at my child's head.
"Nooo!" I screamed, "Please, Tito Havier. Take me instead, take me instead and spare my child." I begged him, tears streaming down my face. I saw Walter trembling in extreme fear while silently crying. I couldn't bear to watch my child in total fear and horror.
"Shut up over there!" he yelled at me, giving me an evil look. "Stay quiet if you don't want me to shatter your child's skull!" I silently wept. Why was all of this happening?
"Let go of my kid," Hades said as he slowly released his grip on the gun and slowly knelt down. He was also crying now. "Please, not my child." He pleaded.
"Release my child," Tito Havier commanded, which Tyler immediately followed. He let go of Angela, and Angela removed the blindfold covering her eyes.
"Daddy!" she shouted and ran towards her dad. They immediately embraced each other.
"We're almost done, Dria. We're almost done," Havier said to his daughter.
"Please, Dad. Stop this. Don't go through with your plans. All those years of suffering are enough already. I don't want to lose my father. You know you're the only one I have as an ally in life, right? Please, Dad, let's stop it," Angela said to her dad after they embraced.
"No!" Havier shouted at the top of his lungs. "I won't let everything we've planned be ruined! What?! Are you just going to throw away all the hard work we've put in? You even faked your death for the sake of this plan! You lived a new life, separated from me, and you were struggling by yourself when I was in the mansion and couldn't even spare a penny to provide you with food! And now what? You're just going to simply dump everything?!"
"Dad, I know you're upset. But violence will only breed more violence. Killing them won't solve anything - it'll just land us in prison and tear our family apart further. I know you want justice, but there are better ways to get it." Angela said.
Havier stared at the ground, fists still clenched.
"Two wrongs don't make a right. I struggled too after what they did. But resorting to their tactics won't bring Mom back or heal our pain. The only way forward is to break this cycle with love and wisdom."  Angela added with a softened voice.
He suddenly let go of Walter, who then ran towards his father, embraced by Hades.
"Daddy!" our child exclaimed fearfully as Hades hugged him.
"No," Havier said while glaring at my husband and child. "They don't deserve to be happy. I will never allow it!" Havier added and pointed his gun at my husband and kid.
"No!" I shouted as Havier pulled the trigger. But my eyes widened when Angela blocked the bullet with her own body. Angela's body fell to the ground, blood flowing from the gunshot wound in her chest.
"Alexandria!" Tyler shouted and immediately rushed to his cousin's side, cradling her. Havier's hand trembled as he watched his child's body drenched in her own blood, while Tyler carried her and walked out of the building.
"Fuck! It's all your fault!" Havier shouted and fired his gun again. I immediately ducked and hid in a corner as the gunfire erupted between Hades and Kyro, and Havier and his men. My eyes searched for my child because I wanted to take them and get them out of this place. When I saw my child, I cried and ran towards the hiding place where Hades had taken them. I didn't mind the gunfire happening around me; all I cared about was getting my child away from this chaos.
"Xyrel!" Hades shouted, embracing me, and then I heard a gunshot. My eyes widened as I looked at Hades, blood coming out of his mouth.
"Hades!" I exclaimed, tears streaming down my face. "No! Hades, no!" I shouted, holding him tightly as his body slowly fell to the ground.
"No, Hades, please. Don't leave me," I pleaded, and we both collapsed on the floor because I couldn't bear his weight. We knelt together, locked in a gaze.
He held my face, his hands covered in blood. "I love you so much, wife. Please take care of our kid, Walter." Those were his last words before he lost consciousness completely.
"No! Hades, wake up! Wake up, please don't leave me!" I cried, pleading with him as I held onto his cheeks.
"Nooooo!" I screamed and tightly embraced his body.
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Hades' POV
((Few hours ago))
I sat by Grandpa's bedside as he lay in bed, waiting for him to fully wake up.  
When he opened his eyes and saw me, he asked weakly, "Grandson? What are you doing here?"
"Grandpa, I have a favor to ask." I told him, holding his hand.  
With concern on his face, he asked, "Yes grandson, what is it?"
I replied, "Make Tyler your heir. He deserves it more than I do. He's strategic, critical thinking  and resourceful. He'll make a great leader for the empire." I gently rubbed his hand as I spoke.
"Why?" Grandpa asked. "What about you?"   
I explained, "Grandpa, I already have Dad's business to handle. It'll be too hectic for me to fully recover that and also be your heir. I couldn't be that greedy, right?" I smiled reassuringly.
"Alright. If you insist." Grandpa replied. Then he asked, "By the way, how's the empire?"
Sadness washed over me. I didn't want to tell him, but he deserved to know.  
I replied, "Aunt Yvonne has been corruptly running your empire all these years as CEO. I have evidence that could put her in prison, but I wanted to wait for you to fully recover first and decide for yourself."
Grandpa nodded gently and said, "I see. Then put her in prison. She deserves it, right?" He let out a deep sigh. "Though I feel responsible for not raising her properly or teaching her right from wrong."
I squeezed his hand. "You taught me right from wrong. That's what matters."
He smiled. "You're a wise grandson."
Tyler's POV
After everything that happened, we were able to imprison Aunt Yvanne and Uncle Havier, while we mourned the loss of Alexandria, also known as Angela. I wasn't able to get her to the hospital in time.
"Ty," Ayesha said gently, tapping my shoulder. "Want to drink somewhere?" she asked, trying to lift my spirits after I had been crying since Angela's burial earlier.  
"I had to visit Hades later." I replied in an emotionless tone. Hades had been in the hospital for a while and had not yet woken up.
"Nah, You're coming with me." My brow creased slightly as Ayesha gently took my arm and led me toward the memorial exit. As much as I appreciated her desire to lift my spirits, I still felt I needed time alone with my thoughts.  
When we reached my car, Ayesha stopped and said, "You drive. I don't know how." She looked at me with a pleading smile.  
I took a breath, reminded of Ayesha's good intentions. "I appreciate you wanting to cheer me up," I said. "But I think I need some time to process everything that's happened."
Ayesha's smile faded, but she gave my arm a kind squeeze. "Of course. I'm here if you need anything."
I gave a small nod, grateful. "Thank you."      
Ayesha smiled again. "Anytime." She gave my arm one last squeeze before heading back to the memorial.
As I got into my car, my phone rang. I connected it to the car speaker system and started the engine, backing out of the driveway.   
"Hello?" I answered.  
It was Kyro. "Tyler, Grandpa wants to meet you at the empire headquarters," he said.
Worried, I asked, "At the office? Why? Is he there right now? What about his health condition?"    
Kyro replied, "That's what I'm worried about. That's why I'm on my way there with him. Let's meet up at the empire, okay?" He ended the call.
I took a deep breath, concerned about Grandpa traveling in his condition. But I started driving faster toward the empire headquarters.    
When I arrived, I found Grandpa sitting with Kyro in his  office. I went to his  side. "Grandpa, are you okay? You shouldn't overexert yourself."
He patted my arm. "I'm fine, grandson. I'm just here to announce something important." He got up and Kyro and I assisted him as he walked towards the conference room.  
The board members were already seated. They stood to show Grandpa respect as we entered.   
Grandpa gestured for them to sit. "As you know, I have three grandsons. Kyro and Tyler are here with me today." 
He continued, "My original heir was named after me. But today, I announce my official empire heir - Tyler John Lavisca."
I widened my eyes in shock. Me, an heir? I glanced at Kyro, worried. But Grandpa smiled warmly. "Yes, Tyler. I know you will guard this legacy well."
Xyrel's POV
"Mommy, when will Daddy wake up?" Walter asked as I visited him at my parents' house. He couldn't come to the hospital, so I left him with my parents to care for him while I tended to his father in the hospital.  
"Soon, baby," I said gently. "Daddy needs rest to heal, then he'll play with you again." I brushed Walter's hair, just finished bathing him.   
Walter said sadly, "I don't want Daddy to play with me. I just want him to wake up and smile again."   
My eyes welled with tears as I hugged him tight. I had prayed constantly for Hades to wake up after days unconscious in the hospital.
I took a deep breath, wanting to comfort Walter despite my own distress. "Daddy will keep fighting to give you his beautiful smile again," I assured him. "We just have to be patient  and stay hopeful."
"Okay, Mommy. I love you. You can go to Daddy now," he said sweetly. "I'll be good and wait here with Grandpa and Grandma until you and Daddy come pick me up."
I kissed his cheek. "Mommy loves you so much. We'll come get you as soon as we can."   
I said goodbye to Walter and my parents, then drove away wiping my tears. I cried as I drove back to the hospital, pleading,  "Hades, please wake up. You have to wake up."
Tyler's POV
As everyone congratulated me, I still couldn't believe Grandpa's announcement. I didn't think I deserved to run the empire - I didn't feel capable of handling such a huge responsibility.  
When we walked out of the conference room, I said to Grandpa, "I'm not sure I can do this. I don't think I can manage the empire."     
Grandpa turned to me with a warm smile. "You can. You're capable of great things. Just believe in yourself. Kyro will be your personal assistant. The two of you together will build another legacy." He patted our shoulders.  
Kyro and I exchanged glances of disbelief. I still couldn't process what was happening right in front of me.  
Grandpa said, "I trust you both. Make Grandpa proud." Then he left with Kyro assisting him.   
I stood frozen, staring blankly at the floor.  
"Tyler?" A familiar  voice said. I turned and saw Ayesha holding a stack of documents. She ran to me, smiling.   
"What are you doing here?" she asked, furrowing her brow.     
I told her, "Grandpa just announced to the board that I'll inherit the empire."   
"Wow!" she said in shock. "I think you can manage it well. Remember what you told me before? 'I try to stay on top of things.'" She smiled, reminding me of our time in Korea.
I said, "I don't think I can handle the pressure. This is a successful, established business - a huge challenge."  
"You can manage it. I know you will." Ayesha said. "And Xyrel just contacted me - Hades woke up! I can come with you to the hospital, if you'd like the company."   
Her offer took me by surprise. I had been so focused on my doubts that I had  forgotten I wasn't alone. Ayesha's support and gentle faith in me lifted my spirits.
"I'd really appreciate that," I said with a grateful smile. "Having you there with me would mean a lot."      
"Okay, let's go. But aren't you at work?" I asked, glancing at her documents.  
She looked at her watch. "It's almost lunch. Can you wait in the lobby while I deliver these?"
"Sure, I'll meet you there," I said, smiling.