n

n

nWhile the pursuit of the armed individuals was going on, Edward had received a call from Seven and the other bodyguards about his sons.

nFortunately, they were able to evacuate from the building along with the other customers of the hotel. His children are safe - or at least, the two of them. Much to his trepidation, he also learned that the other bodyguards were still searching for his eldest son who happened to leave the room around midnight.

nDamien was with Seven when he went out to buy some snacks, but on their way back, he suddenly disappeared from his side. At that exact time, the clamor erupted, and from then on, the search for him became a little difficult with all the rumpus that was going on.

n'Yet why would my son disappear just like that? And his bodyguard didn't even notice? It couldn't be because someone took him away. Unless that person was insanely skilled in sneaking around people's backs, Seven would have sensed their presence right away,' Edward pondered heavily as he searched every hall and lounge that was near to their hotel room.

nWhat was bad about this entire thing was that the place was close to the bar and casino - to where the shooting was taking place.

nKnowing how heedful Damien is, he would surely go back and not stray to the danger zone. But for some reason, there was still no trace of him in any of the current safe locations in the building nor even outside of it, which must have meant that he most probably was somewhere out there.

nThen, seconds turned into minutes, and minutes took what seemed like an eternity.

nEventually, Edward found Damien hiding in one of the lounges that was just outside of the bar.

nHe was crouching down under a table, looking all too calm despite the situation and how petrified he was feeling the entire time. As soon as his father found him, his composed facade broke at last. He was so relieved that he came running to his arms and embracing him - finally taking refuge.

n

"Damien, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?

" Edward asked his son while he caressed the back of his head in an attempt to comfort him.

n

"I'm fine,

" Damien murmured ever so softly, sounding too enervated.

n

"Come on, let's get out of here-

"

n

"Dad, I saw them,

" he then suddenly said, much to his bafflement.

n

"Saw who?

"

n

"I don't know why they're together, but I know they're not supposed to be. After all, he shouldn't be here.

"

n

"Damien, what are you talking about?

"

n

"Ms. Sophie...

"

nAt that point, Damien is starting to drift off to sleep. He was so exhausted that his drooping, heavy-lidded eyes are beginning to admit defeat, wanting to delve in his much-deserved slumber. Edward had seen him like this before, and it was when he used up all of his strength in thinking and staying emotionally stable even though he should've already been barely coping up.

nAlthough Edward badly wanted to know what happened, he just let Damien rest and carry him in his arms as they left the lounge.

n

"Ms. Sophie was being escorted by the gunmen,

" were his last words before eventually losing consciousness.

n---

nIt was the last nail in the coffin.

nEdward had been suspicious of Sophie for a while now. He could see how she has tried to wrap Adrian around her playful little fingers, acted out of her usual benign character from time to time, and looked at Cassidy with hidden animosity. But then, rather than seeing them for real, he only kind of sensed them. He himself wasn't sure if he got it right or not.

nNevertheless, Edward has sensed enough to be wary of Sophie.

nHe would observe her, make presumptions, and end up feeling even more dubious of her. While he knew that Adrian had his own way of shoving women away, he thought that he really should have been a bit harsher with this particular one despite how much Gertrude favored her. He himself should have taken action long before, but again, he was not certain.

nTo begin with, there is a lot of women around his brother that he is also skeptical of. Some of them are just as bold as her - not at all bothered of becoming his mistress. She is not the only one.

n'I have ignored what Damien kept telling me back then - about Ms. Sophie and Adrian, that is. But what he didn't know was that I just didn't want him to get involved in those kinds of matters, so I pretended to be indifferent. I myself already knew. Then again, she was not the only one who tried it. She just got the upper hand since she had Mother on her back. If it wasn't for that, my brother would have already kicked her out of the company...' Edward thought as he made his way out of the building and into the parking lot.

n'But now, I won't ignore what my son said anymore. That woman doesn't only need to be kicked out. She had to pay for what she did.'

nAfter getting Damien to safety, he trailed after Sophie and followed her tracks with the help of some of their bodyguards.

nSeven and the others would not be able to come for back-up any time soon since they were now searching for Cassidy and his three other siblings, but he still told them about his plan. He couldn't get enough aid from the police either, considering that there was no concrete evidence and he didn't have enough time to explain the whole thing.

nThat being said, Edward came after Sophie by himself.

nAt that moment, his hunches are stronger than they have ever been. Perhaps, she is really working with those armed individuals who he assumed are pursuing his family members right now. If that's indeed the case, it would be also safe to assume that she was going to escape at this very night. No matter if he was right about that or not, he would finally get some answers at the very least.

nAnd answers - he was able to find.

nSophie was just about to enter her car the moment Edward found her.

nShe appears to be frozen all over. Her eyes are as wide as saucers and her mouth are gaping a little. She seems to be in quite a shock, but not at his sudden arrival. At that second, she still hasn't noticed him. Instead, she is looking at something from a far distance - something that soon made her whole body shake in seething fury and turned her gaze into a sharp, dagger-like glare.

nShe was livid.

nConfused, Edward then takes a look at what Sophie is glowering at - only for him to find out that she has her eyes on both Adrian and Cassidy the whole time.

n'They're safe...' he thought with a relieved sigh as soon as he saw his brother carrying his sister-in-law while they were making their way out of the hotel.

n'Thank goodness they're safe.

"

nSeconds later, Edward suddenly heard a car engine starting.

nSophie has just entered her vehicle - all ready to drive away.

nHe cursed underneath his breath and hastened towards her direction, regretting how he just missed his chance right there. Adrian and Cassidy had his full attention for almost a minute, causing him to lose track of his plan. With that, the target he has come after is now going to drive her way out of that place.

n

"Shoot! I won't make it...!

" he hissed before taking out his cellphone and calling for back-up from the others.

n

"At the very least, she needs to be stopped!

"

nThe fact that she wasn't there with the police and the other victims of the shooting was enough to convince him that she had separated herself from the crowd on purpose. She really was planning to escape. Although there were no gunmen in sight, which worked better for him actually, the furious reaction she showed a moment ago had given him the impression that she was just as capable of causing harm and bringing disaster.

nBut then, just as Edward expected, he did not get to catch up to Sophie.

nShe went full burst and zoomed out of the place. Her driving was hectic - too fast and a little out of control. That got him thinking. It could either be that she managed to see him and thought he was going after her or she was planning something else with that dangerous driving of hers.

n

"Wait, no...!

" Edward then found himself exclaiming the instant he realized something.

n

"Why is she going back to the hotel?!

"

nFrom then on, everything flashed before his eyes with the speed of lightning.

nHe ran after the fleeing vehicle, but what he witnessed right after was downright bloodcurdling. It made him halt on his tracks. He was thunderstruck all over and thoroughly disconcerted. If he had only been quick on his feet - no, if he had only done something much earlier, this would not have happened.

nSophie was supposed to be aiming for Cassidy, but the one she ended up driving over was Adrian.

n