Hudson advanced towards Tristan. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” he said, shoving the poison into Tristan’s neck.
Tristan gasped as the guards released him to the floor.
Tatiana watched as Tristan struggled for his life, screaming in terror, wishing the pain would end soon. She recalled how the agony had driven her to madness… but the poison used on Tristan was even more painful than what had been inflicted on her.
“Make it stop!!! Arghhh!!!” Tristan’s screams echoed through the room, the veins in his face and neck bulging, his eyes changing color as blood spilled from his mouth. His hand reached out, trying to grasp Tatiana’s dress, begging for the antidote.
“Please… Argh!!!”
For the pain he had caused her loved ones, especially Issabella, who had once seen him as a father figure. For the trauma he had inflicted on so many. Tristan deserved every ounce of the pain ravaging him at this moment. He deserved ten times more.
Several minutes passed, and Tristan’s movements became barely noticeable. All that could be heard was the faint wheezing of his breath… until he took his last.
Tatiana’s eyes remained cold, showing no trace of remorse.
Aurora wasn’t surprised to see Tatiana like this. The once broken and traumatized pregnant woman had become utterly unforgiving.
Tatiana’s emotions were in turmoil; she would do anything to destroy those who had hurt her and reunite with her husband.
—
Maximus stared at the lifeless body of the little boy, Leonard.
Though Leonard wasn’t his biological son, he couldn’t suppress the surge of anger within him. Worst of all, no one knew what had happened.
He had gone to deal with the deep mess caused by Mr. King. Normally, he would have sent Tristan to handle it, but his brother was now in the hands of the Kings.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have given him up.
His wife was dead, and now his son? He had checked the CCTV footage and saw how Leonard had tried to kill Rafael, but the tables had turned, resulting in his own death.
“Where are Silence and Rafael?” Maximus asked, his voice tight with emotion.
“They’re nowhere to be found, sir,” Oliver responded from behind. Maximus clenched his fists, a vein pulsing in his jaw.
Oliver’s phone buzzed. “Boss, he’s calling.”
Maximus snatched the phone. “Silence, what the hell is going on?”
“I have Mr. King,” Silence replied.
Maximus froze, momentarily forgetting the real reason he had called. “What did you just say?”
“Mr. King is my captive,” Silence confirmed before ending the call.
Maximus’s eyes widened, his expression unreadable. He glanced at Leonard’s lifeless body and barked orders at Oliver. “Clear the body. Tell the wedding planner to speed things up.”
As Oliver pulled out his phone, his face paled. A video had been sent anonymously-a video of Maximus killing his wife.
Maximus’s eyes widened in shock. How did they get this? Then realization hit him. His room.
He stormed into his room, tearing it apart until his gaze landed on a tiny, hidden camera near the door. His eyes burned with fury as he muttered, “Catelyn.”
Grabbing his gun from a drawer, he stormed toward Catelyn’s room, only to find it empty.
“She’s probably with Issabella,” Oliver said as Maximus stormed off. But that room was empty too.
“Where are they?” he muttered. “Where the hell are they?!” he roared, his eyes landing on a letter on the bed.
‘I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL, BROTHER,’ the letter read. Maximus crumpled the paper in his fist.
“Find them! Get all your men and find Catelyn and Issabella!” he shouted at Oliver.
—
Meanwhile, Tatiana smiled as she chatted with Holden on the phone.
“Thank you, Grandpa. I’ll try not to worry too much,” she said. “How are my aunt and sister?”
“They’re fine,” Holden replied, and Tatiana recalled how they had pulled it off.
—
Before Catelyn went to the mansion, she had met with Holden, who provided her with the camera. Holden had access to advanced technology and skilled people.
Catelyn was tasked with secretly placing the camera in Maximus’s room while distracting him. Tatiana had been nervous, fearing Catelyn might get caught, but she hadn’t.
Tatiana had been monitoring Maximus for a while, but it had been difficult as he often made plans in his study or outside the mansion.
But then, she witnessed something unexpected-Maximus murdering his own wife. Every secret was laid bare.
When Leonard was shot, the mansion erupted in chaos. Catelyn rushed out, yelling for the guards to investigate. The sound had come from the twins’ room down the hall, leading the guards to believe there was an intruder.
“Let’s get out of here,” Catelyn said, grabbing Issabella, who held her baby.
Catelyn knew the mansion’s layout well, having helped Maximus design it. She led them out safely and called Holden, who arranged their escape.
—
After chatting with Holden for a while, Tatiana received another call.
“Hello, Father,” she said, her voice calm.
“You really think saving your sister will help you win? You’ve forgotten I have Maya and your husband, Mr. King.”
Tatiana’s expression remained unchanged as she stared into space.
“Bring back Issabella and Catelyn, or Maya dies.”
Tatiana chuckled. “You’re not going to kill her. Silence is allying with you through marriage. Maya is the bride.”
“Then I’ll kill your husband.”
“You’re so adamant on merging with the Kings. Isn’t that why you made me sleep with him? Are you really going to throw all that effort away now that you have him in your grasp?” Tatiana asked, tilting her head slightly.
Maximus chuckled. “How clever of you, Tatiana. I’m impressed.”
“Impressed?” Tatiana pouted. “I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet…
At this moment, Maximus, the video of you killing your wife is spreading like wildfire through the media. Every single citizen in Australia and beyond is currently witnessing your true colors.”
—
“Spread it as far as you can. If anyone tries to take it down, tell them we’ll pay double,” Jolene ordered over the phone, her eyes fixed on the screen as she typed furiously, gathering as many reporters as she could.
—
Maximus sighed. “Oh, dear Tatiana. The cops won’t do a thing. Aren’t you tired of using the same old tricks?”
Tatiana gazed down at her stomach, gently caressing it with her thumb. “That’s not all, Father. Of course, I know how dirty you play your games. The cops won’t do anything… but the bounty hunters will.”
Maximus froze on the other end of the line. His brow furrowed deeply. Bounty hunters?
“I may have placed a bounty on you.”
—
In a secretive location, a group of men in black readied their guns and other deadly weapons. The one who seemed to be their leader puffed smoke from his dark lips.
“Let’s roll, guys. Maximus Wallington, our target, must be dead. That twenty million will be ours.”
Many other deadly hunters, disguised on the streets, saw the job on the secretive dark platforms.
Twenty million dollars for whoever kills…
Maximus Wallington.
—
Tatiana continued, “You were right about me, Father. I am indeed your offspring… ruthless, like you. But unlike you, I care deeply about those I call family.”
Maximus couldn’t believe Tatiana had managed to pull it off. How in the world had she placed a bounty on him?
Tatiana’s red lips curled into a dark smile.
She muttered,
“HAPPY DEATH DAY… FATHER.”