Chapter 476
“It’s a bomb!”
Caitlin screamed, and everyone else froze in utter shock.
It was too cruel–unspeakably vile.
Not only had they kidnapped the child, but they’d strapped explosives to her tiny body. It was beyond evil. Megan might have carried it out, but Sebastian knew–this level of planning, this kind of method–wasn’t her style. She didn’t have the capability. Someone else was pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
But there was no time to dwell on that now.
Sebastian snapped, “We’ve got just over two minutes left! Everyone clear the area! Caitlin, that includes you!”
He started evacuating the floor, but Caitlin shook her head, refusing to leave.
“I’m not leaving Patricia!”
Her daughter trembled in her arms, sobbing. Sebastian dropped to his knees beside them and began inspecting the explosive device strapped to her back, searching desperately for a way to disarm it.
Felix rushed up, handing over a pair of pliers. “We’ve contacted the bomb squad!”
“There’s only two minutes left–they won’t make it in time! Start clearing people out!”
Felix nodded and began ushering everyone down the stairs.
Caitlin looked at Sebastian, her voice tight.
“Can you do it? Can you stop it?”
Sebastian was sweating, his hands visibly shaking. There was a cold helplessness in the air. The countdown ticked steadily forward, each second a hammer blow to his chest.
He wanted to save his daughter–more than anything.
But he didn’t know the first thing about bombs.
And this one wasn’t anything standard. If he misjudged and cut the wrong wire, it could detonate everything on the spot.
One minute left.
Caitlin and Sebastian were both at a complete loss. James and Tyler paced anxiously behind them, powerless.
Then, suddenly, Zeke burst back up the stairs, ignoring the blood gushing from his reopened wound.
“Let me try!”
Everyone turned to look. Zeke was still in his hospital gown, his arm soaked in blood. He pressed a hand over the injury, grimacing in pain.
“Let me try to disarm it,” he said, breathless.
“You know how?” Sebastian asked.
“I… I’ve studied it.”
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K=92%
Chapter 476
Zeke had always been fascinated by destruction, once obsessed with the precision and power of explosives. He’d spent years studying bomb mechanisms–not for any noble purpose, but out of a dark personal thrill.
But that twisted curiosity might just save a life today.
He’d never dared let Caitlin–or anyone else–know about this part of him.
Caitlin, hearing his words, looked at him like he was a miracle.
“Zeke, if you know what to do–please! Please save my daughter!”
He stepped forward. Despite the pain in his arm, he pushed it aside and crouched next to the child.
Everyone held their breath.
Sebastian steadied Patricia, pressing her gently to his chest. Caitlin, with tears clinging to her lashes, kept her arms around her daughter’s body, watching Zeke work with trembling intensity.
Zeke took the pliers and began his inspection.
Time ticked away–10 seconds… 9…8…
Caitlin’s breath hitched. She didn’t know if Zeke would make it in time. Her heart beat so loudly she couldn’t hear anything else.
Which wire?
Which line would end it, and which would end them?
3 seconds. 2.1.
Snip.
Caitlin shut her eyes and hugged Patricia tight, bracing for an explosion-
-but none came.
The countdown hit zero.
The device powered off.
No blast. No sound.
Zeke had done it.
Sebastian exhaled, chest heaving. They’d made it. Patricia was safe.
Caitlin opened her eyes and stared at the lifeless device in disbelief–its lights were off. No ticking, no warning beeps. It was over.
“She’s safe. We’re safe. We’re all safe.”
She burst into tears again, this time from relief.
Sebastian and Caitlin wrapped their arms around Patricia, overcome with joy.
Zeke sank to the floor, every muscle drained.
He’d won the gamble,
Sebastian gently removed the rest of the device from Patricia’s body. Caitlin wiped away her tears and helped lift their daughter to her feet.
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09:21 Mon, 18 Aug
Chapter 476
Sebastian turned to Zeke and offered his hand.
Zeke looked up, then gripped it.
Sebastian pulled him to his feet.
“Thank you. You saved my daughter. You saved all of us. Thank you.”
Caitlin echoed softly, “Thank you, Zeke. You saved Patricia.”
“No need to thank me. I… it’s what I had to do.”
Zeke was overwhelmed. For the first time in his life, he felt redemption. The thrill of destruction had once given him pleasure–but saving someone… that gave him something far deeper.
Peace.
Downstairs, everyone had been waiting, praying. Megan’s body had already been taken away. Joshua had been escorted by police. But the building remained tense, unsure.
No explosion.
Did that mean…?
Then Caitlin, Sebastian, Patricia, and Zeke descended the stairs together.
Everyone rushed forward.
“It’s over! It’s over!”
Vincent and James immediately ran to them.
“Patricia! Patricia!”
Ximena, eyes red, touched the child’s face.
“Patricia..”
The little girl lifted her arms to her.
“Grandma…”
That one word made Ximena burst into tears. She hugged Patricia tightly, covering her with kisses.
Felix approached.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, that was too close… Your daughter is blessed to be alive.”
Sebastian nodded and said loudly, “If it weren’t for Mr. Preston, we’d all be mourning today.”
Everyone looked at Zeke.
Ximena’s gaze was filled with pride. Zeke simply shook his head.
Sebastian’s expression darkened slightly.
“I think today’s incident and the amusement park collapse are connected. Megan had help. She wasn’t working alone.”
Felix nodded.
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09:21 Mon, 18 Aug
Chapter 476
“We’ll do everything we can to investigate. Whoever is behind this—we’ll find them.”
Caitlin gently lifted her daughter in her arms.
“We need to get Patricia checked at the hospital. Zeke, you too. Your wound’s opened up again.”
“I know…”
Somehow, the concern in her voice made Zeke feel… less pain.
Felix waved them off.
“You go. We’ll take care of things here.”
Just as everyone was preparing to leave, James narrowed his eyes at a flash of light coming from the nearby woods,
It looked like a glint–like sunlight reflecting off glass.
Something clicked.
Without a word, James bolted in that direction.
“Where’s James going?” Caitlin asked, noticing her brother suddenly sprinting off.
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