“Mr. Druft, we have a search warrant. Our operation is legal. We’ll arrest you for obstructing authorities if you keep to be on our way.”
He locked eyes with the police, threatening the chief officer while the latter is trying his best not to get intimidated. They’re in his Druft tower conducting a search operation after a court ordered it. Of course, Daemon is not naïve to read that the ruling is influenced by someone who knows him, maybe an enemy but always a close friend.
He hitched the police’s collar prompting his men to aim their guns at him. “Who ordered this? Tell me. Is it the Farrows? Maddy? The senator? Tell me Lucas or else I will not spare you and your family.”
Lucas just sighed and pushed him away and then looked at the other officers. “Take him out of here.”
He resisted and was about to grab his gun to fight back when Lucas put a sense on his head. “Daemon, we’re just here to do our work. Nothing personal. Come on, man!”
He has no choice but to leave them alone. Lucas is just a pawn, a puppet controlled by a higher force and he has to know who is making him do all of this.
“Damn it!” He kicked the glass door and threw the chair to the hallway.
It’s one of the few times that he’s been this helpless. He always made sure he’s two steps ahead from everyone but he guessed someone already beat him.
To cure his frustration, he went to the wine bar to help himself get off. While drinking his favorite rum, he’s busy analyzing the situation.
Who must have been behind all of this? Is it that fucking Gestoni Farrows who wanted to show his daughter that she has no future with me or is it Maddy to get back on me?
Or are the two of them are teaming up against him?
But who would benefit the most from it? And who is powerful enough to influence the judge? Daemon set down the glass on the counter and with a death glare, walked his way to his Benz.
He found himself into Maddy’s office in the central station. Despite her secretary pulling him away, he barged into her office room and threw the photos on her desk.
“Stop your husband or else I’ll release these.”
With a sly grin, Maddy put down her phone on her side and glanced at the photos.
“Oh, they’re beautiful. Send it to the media. I’ll just tell my husband that you edited them.” She walked around the table and stopped right in front of him. “Daemon, stop fighting already. I’m more powerful than you now. Come back to me and everything will be alright. I’ll even help you to beat Gestoni. Stop fooling yourself that you love Devon. Both you and I know that we’re the best match. We are meant to be, Daemon.”
So it was her just like he thought. She didn’t even try to deny it. At her admission, Maddy only cemented her death wish to make him her enemy.
“I’m sorry but I don’t. We’re too crazy and toxic to be able to survive together.” He retrieved back the images and the videos on the table. “Are you really sure you want me to send these to the media? Wouldn’t your husband wonder who leaked them when only the two of you had the copy?”
“What?! What do you mean?!” Her eyes widened upon realization and snatched the images in his hand. It was actually the photos while Maddy’s husband is having sex with minors while she is sitting around watching him molest the poor girls.
“No! Daemon! Give that to me! How did you get it?! I put it on our safe!”
He grinned. “Maddy, I thought you were more powerful than me but why can’t you quite figure out how I got it? This isn’t some kind of difficult puzzle, honey. This is even far from the kind of power I will be demonstrating to you if you won’t stop pestering my wife.”
“Give the copy to me now!” Maddy looked so distressed. “Daemon! My husband will kill me!”
“No one cares,” he said coldly. “I knew it was your doing. You’re thinking that if you make me preoccupied with the issues surrounding my business, then we’ll be distracted in finding our daughter. Tell me Maddy, do you know where our daughter is?”
She swallowed and simply shook her head. “No, I don’t.”
Daemon narrowed his eyes on her making sure that she’s not lying.
“I won’t trust you again, Maddy. You know the drill. I’ll only return it back to you if you make your husband stop from destroying my business. I trust that you’ll choose the better choice.”
“No!” she cried out. “I can’t let you be happy with her! You’re only mine, Daemon! Only mine!”
His patience finally exploded. Without saying anything, he choked her ruthlessly. Maddy struggled for air while she fought for breath.
“No? Then I’ll play it myself on my own broadcasting station. What do you think?”
“Daemon…” She tried to free from his hand but it only got tighter and tighter.
“Don’t try to challenge me again, Maddy. I know why you’re doing this but you’ll never succeed. You know that I will do anything to make this relationship work. You cannot be a stumbling block on my greatest dream.”
He let her go and then walked towards the door.
“Daemon! Daemon!” She called for him but he had already slammed the door behind him.
“DON’T you miss your family?”
Devon looked at Daemon from where she was standing on the balcony. They were both relaxing on the third floor thinking what to do next.
The question is so bizarre given that he knows how bad her relationship is with her family.
“Why are you asking?” she asked before watching the sun set from the horizon.
“Just answer it.”
“I do.”
He walked beside her and took her hand in him. “Do you want to see them?”
“Where is this going?”
“I just received an intel report.” He took out an envelope and gave it to her. “You’re right, Devon. Our daughter might be your brother’s daughter. And this is not news to your family.”
“What do you mean?” She hurriedly opened the package.
“Here, look at this.”
He took out the sets of photos showing her mother and father meeting Ariane with Emily in her arms. Devon gasped hard and teared up when the next CCTV screenshots captured Ariane giving the baby to her mother.
“No…” she whispered, her knees giving in upon finding out the truth. “This can’t be! They knew all along?! Daemon, they have our Emily!”
“Yes, so this is what we need to do. We have to get the kid as silent as possible. If you go back to your family, Brian will think that you’re planning on getting in touch with Lucy so he will transfer her immediately from where they’re hiding her just to make sure. That’s the time I’ll track them down.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll do it. I’ll do anything,” she said desperately.
She knows she still needs to process everything but that will be for later. Her hunch came true. Her family is really behind all of this. She just didn’t expect for her mother to keep it from her. That is her baby her own family is keeping from her!
“But Devon, promise me one thing.” Daemon’s face became serious when he cradled her face.
“What is it?”
“No matter what happens, no matter what we are about to find out, promise me you’ll be strong. For me, for yourself. Don’t be scared. I’ll always be here to protect you.”
A wave of anxiety hit her. His tone is not the usual. It’s filled with panic and fear.
She nodded. “I’ll be strong, Daemon. For our family,” she assured him.
“Thank you.” He hugged her so tightly. “Thank you so much.”