Chapter 456

"The Lockridges must have spoiled you rotten. It seems you've forgotten that playing the hero comes with a price."

With that, Victor glanced at the bodyguard beside him and said coolly, "Teach him a lesson."

The meaning of "teach him a lesson" was brutally clear.

The bodyguard hesitated for only a moment before advancing on Finn.

It was impossible to tell who threw the first punch, but in an instant, the men were a flurry of fists and feet, each blow landing with savage force.

"Stop!"

"Stop it!" Evangeline shrieked, struggling against her captors.

To her astonishment, Victor actually raised a hand, halting his bodyguards' assault.

Finn sensed something was wrong.

He forced his heavy eyelids open and quickly understood Victor's intentions.

"Evangeline,” Finn managed to say, his voice strained. He mouthed a single word at her: "Run."

Evangeline didn't move.

She had once considered leaving all her problems with Victor for Finn to solve. After all, Victor wouldn't kill him. And hadn't she first gotten close to Finn to gain the power to resist Victor?

But just now, watching Finn's back, she suddenly remembered something from early in their relationship. They had been testing each other over drinks, and she had asked him a question.

What would he do if Victor ordered him to get rid of her?

Finn had said he would help her.

And now, he was truly helping her, without a second thought, even putting his life on the line. He had saved her so many times. How could she treat him as just a partner in a mutually beneficial arrangement and abandon him?

Victor might spare Finn's life because he was a Lockridge, but he was furious over Theresa. For Finn, the outcome would be a fate worse than death.

Her eyes were bloodshot, her fingers clutching the edge of her pocket.

"Where's Tessa?" Victor demanded, his voice low and threatening.

Evangeline's lips formed a tight line. "She's dead."

"If you don't believe me, I have proof of her death."

As she spoke, she slid her hand into her pocket, her gaze fixed on Victor.

The mention of Theresa worked. Victor's guard dropped, and for a fleeting moment,

a flicker of distraction crossed his icy eyes.

"What proo-"

BANG!

Before Victor could finish his sentence, Evangeline had whipped a pistol from her

pocket and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The recoil sent a numbing jolt through her palm.

Victor clutched his chest and staggered back two steps.

A hit? She'd actually hit him!

"Mr. Lockridge!"

"Mr. Lockridge!" the bodyguards yelled in shock.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Evangeline scrambled to Finn's side and grabbed his hand.

"It's over," she said urgently. "Finn, let's go."

Finn was still reeling from the shock, staring at her in disbelief.

Had she killed Victor? After all these years, with enemies everywhere, no one had

ever managed to harm him. And Evangeline had done it so easily?

As the thought crossed his mind, Finn's gaze shifted to the space behind her, and his eyes widened in horror.

"Evangeline, watch out!"

He tried to push her away, but the pain wracking his body slowed his reflexes.

Before he could move, a hand

tangled in Evangeline's hair, yanking her backward with brutal force. A

sharp pain shot through her scalp as someone snatched the gun from her grasp.

Victor's voice, like a ghost's whisper, drifted down from above her.

"Finn, you gave her a gun to use against me?"

"I don't know if you've gotten naive or if you think I've gotten stupid, but did you

really think she could hurt me?"

As he spoke, he gave her hair

another vicious tug. She stumbled, and her arm brushed against his

body That's when she felt it thin, hard layer of a lightweight bulletproof vest under his suit.

Victor chuckled, bending down so he was close to her ear. "Evangeline he said his tone dripping with

triumph,survived that little!

gunshot of yours."

"You'd better pray that Finn survives, too."

With that, he aimed the gun at Finn without a flicker of hesitation.

"No! I'm begging you, don't!" Evangeline screamed.

"Victor, I know you hate me! I'm the one you want revenge on!"

Victor's smile was dark and menacing. “Evangeline, the best revenge is to make someone understand exactly what their victim went through."

“You said Tessa is dead, didn't you? Well, there's only one way to make you feel what I feel..."

He smiled, his finger slowly tightening on the trigger of the gun pointed at Finn.

"Tessa's not dead! She's alive!"