Emily was dragged to her knees, her legs buckling under the pressure. Her hands were bound, hanging limply. Daniel’s jaw clenched, anger burning in his chest. One of the men in black pulled out a gleaming knife, pressing it menacingly against Emily’s delicate throat.
“Stop! Don’t hurt her!” Daniel roared, his voice hoarse with desperation.
“I’ll kill you,” Sean growled, his body writhing against the men’s grip.
Daniel met Anthony’s gaze with icy intensity. “Release her,” he commanded, his voice firm, “or you’ll regret it.”
Tears streamed down Emily’s cheeks, despite her efforts to hold them back. Fear coursed through her, but she tried to appear strong.
“Interesting,” Anthony sneered, his smile sharp as a blade. “Two men in love with the same woman.”
“Seeing this,” Anthony continued, his smile mocking, “reminds me of the past. Doesn’t it, Sophia?”
Sophia furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“Can’t you see?” Anthony scoffed. “This sweet little love triangle. Like… your husband who loved your brother’s wife. Seems like old memories are repeating themselves, wouldn’t you say?”
“Sean loves this woman?” Sophia scoffed, her voice laced with disbelief. “Impossible! Sean could have any woman he wanted.”
Sean met Sophia’s gaze with a cold stare. “There’s nothing wrong with loving Emily. They’re divorced, and I’m free to love whoever I want.”
Sophia fell silent, her eyes wide with disbelief. She hadn’t expected Sean to truly love Daniel’s ex-wife. “Sean, you…” Her words trailed off, swallowed by the wave of anger and disappointment that washed over her. Bitter memories of her husband, Sean’s father, who still loved his brother’s wife despite being married to her, swirled in her mind.
Meanwhile, Emily squeezed her eyes shut, her body trembling. The knife felt cold and sharp against her skin, a real and terrifying threat. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel cold sweat beading on her forehead. Daniel watched with a cold, unwavering stare, his jaw clenched. His mind raced, searching for a way to save Emily.
Anthony laughed, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. “Your love story is quite intriguing,” he whispered, his voice menacing. “Alright, I’ll release you and your mother as promised,” he said.
Anthony stepped closer to Sean, his eyes narrowed. “But, would you like me to give you a chance to save this woman too?” he asked, his voice a low, threatening whisper. He glanced at Emily, who remained silent, her body trembling under the threat of the knife.
“What do I have to do?” Sean asked, his voice filled with despair.
“Kill Daniel for me. You can do it, can’t you?” Anthony asked, a smug smile playing on his lips as he looked at Sean.
Emily shook her head frantically. “Don’t do it, Sean!” she cried, her voice trembling. The knife pressed harder against her neck as she moved, causing a searing pain and drawing blood.
“Emily!” Daniel yelled in panic, his voice shaking with suppressed rage. He struggled with all his might to break free from the men’s grip, his body thrashing like a trapped lion.
The men were overwhelmed by Daniel’s resistance. They began to attack him, raining blows upon him. The thudding sounds echoed through the warehouse.
Emily sobbed and panicked as she watched Daniel being beaten. She felt helpless, trapped in a terrifying situation. She wanted to scream, to help Daniel, but she couldn’t do anything.
“Daniel!” Emily cried, her voice muffled by her sobs. Tears streamed down her face, washing away her makeup. She felt desperate, not knowing what to do.
Emily could only watch in horror as Daniel collapsed to the floor, injured and covered in blood. Her heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. She didn’t want to lose Daniel.
“Please, stop!” Emily screamed, her voice breaking with sobs. But the men didn’t hear her. They continued to beat Daniel brutally.
“Make up your mind, Sean,” Anthony hissed, his voice low and urgent, cutting through the heavy silence.
Sophia stood frozen, her stomach churning with a mixture of fear and helplessness.
Daniel lay limp, his body pressed against the rough stone wall. Blood stained his shirt a dark, ominous color, and his breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a heavy effort. “Kill me, Sean! Please save Emily,” he pleaded, his voice hoarse and weak.
“No! Don’t! Release Daniel, don’t kill him!” Emily’s scream echoed, her voice torn apart by hysterical sobs. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks.
Anthony, his face cold and expressionless, handed a piece of wood to Sean. “Hit him with this!” he commanded, his voice a cold whisper. “Remember, your mother and that woman are still in the hands of my men. If you don’t obey me, I’ll kill them immediately.” His threat was like a knife, piercing Sean’s heart.
Sean stood frozen, his eyes fixed on Emily, who sobbed in the grip of the men in black. Fresh blood stained Emily’s injured neck. In the distance, Sophia remained surrounded by Anthony’s men, her face pale and lifeless.
“Still hesitating?” Anthony asked, his voice cold and menacing. He stared at Sean, his gaze sharp and piercing.
“Don’t influence my son to commit such a vile act!” Sophia exclaimed, her voice trembling with rage. “Sean, please think of your reputation as the leader of W Company. Don’t do this, Sean. Don’t do anything this bastard tells you. Do you want to give up your struggle to reach this point so easily?”
Sophia’s words were filled with passion and conviction. But before Sean could answer, one of the men in black silenced Sophia with a harsh slap. The sound of the slap echoed in the air, making Sean flinch.
“Bastard! Don’t you ever touch my mother!” Sean roared. His body thrashed, trying to break free from the grip of Anthony’s men, but his efforts were futile. His eyes were red, filled with the desire to kill Anthony and his men, but he couldn’t do it with Sophia and Emily still held hostage.
“Make up your mind!” Anthony hissed. “If you keep stalling, I won’t guarantee their safety anymore.”
“Give it to me,” Sean said, his voice hoarse. He pointed at the wood in Anthony’s hand.
Anthony, with a sly smile playing on his lips, ordered his men to loosen their grip on Sean. Though hesitant, Sean finally accepted the wood from Anthony’s hand. Anthony’s gaze sharpened, as if he was enjoying the destruction of the Winston family before him. He was deliberately using Sean to kill Daniel because they both belonged to the family he despised, the Winston family.
“Alright, punish him for me,” Anthony whispered into Sean’s ear. “That way, you can save the woman you love and you can save your mother. Remember, he’s always been one step ahead of you. This time, you’re the winner.” Anthony’s words, laced with poison and manipulation, pierced Sean’s heart.
“Sean, don’t do it. Please,” Emily pleaded, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. Her voice trembled, filled with despair, but her gaze remained fixed on Sean, begging him not to make a mistake he would regret for the rest of his life.
“Emily,” Sean called, his voice hoarse, filled with pain and doubt. “Did you ever love me?”
Emily fell silent, her eyes welling up. She felt Sean’s heart being torn apart by the question, and she didn’t want to add to his pain. “I’m sorry, Sean,” she replied, her voice soft. “I can’t lie to myself. I only see you as a good friend.”
Sean smiled, but the smile felt empty, more like a mask hiding the wound in his heart. “I understand,” he said, his voice hoarse. “If Daniel dies, will you accept my love?” His gaze was fixed on Emily, filled with hope and despair. Anthony watched the scene unfold, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. His plan was working flawlessly, Sean was now under his control.
“Don’t do it, Sean!” Emily yelled, her eyes blazing with anger. “If you expect me to accept you after Daniel’s death, you’ll never get it. I only love Daniel.” Her words, firm and confident, pierced Sean’s heart.
Hearing Emily’s words, Sean’s smile faded, replaced by a hollow expression that was heartbreaking to see. The bitter smile seemed to expose the wound in his heart, a wound that deepened with Emily’s rejection.
“Go ahead, Sean! Kill me and make Emily happy,” Daniel said calmly, his voice weak.
“I will,” Sean hissed. “I’ll kill you, Daniel.”
The wood in Sean’s hand swung swiftly, striking Daniel’s body with force. The sound of the impact echoed through the air, and Emily screamed hysterically.
“No! Stop!”