Chapter 46
It felt like needles pricking my heart as I watched them stroll in leisurely, unfazed despite being surrounded by eight Shadow Knights. Not a flicker of lear crossed their faces.
“Mr. Knight, I thought you didn’t want to get involved in my family matters, yet here you are right in the middle of it. I must say, I’m genuinely surprised.”
Those were more words than I’d ever heard my father speak at once.
“What can I say?” Killian removed his mask with a slow, deliberate motion. “Andersons and Knights are irreplaceable.”
“If you needed a bargaining chip to control Mila, you could have just asked,” my father said smoothly, as if offering a business deal.
“You’re not even loyal to your own family,” Killian replied, voice dripping with disdain. “It’s a good thing you never set foot in Knights‘ territory. There’s nothing about you that would make me consider you an ally.”
My father only smiled. I couldn’t see it from here, but I knew his light green eyes must be cold, devoid of emotion
“Your tone suggests you have sympathies for Mila,” he said. “As for my loyalty, it has always been with my family. Mila was always a mistake.”
My blood ran cold, my hands clenching into fists.
Killian’s gaze darkened. “Like I said before, I don’t care. Now, gentlemen, I hate to make things messy, so why don’t you get out of my way?”
“I’m only here for one thing,” Christen Meng interjected, his tone casual. “If you let me handle my business, I’ll be out of your way.”
Killian’s sharp gaze flicked past him, focusing on someone behind him. Then, without looking back, he said, “Speak.”
“I want to know where M is. Word is, he paid you a visit a few days ago, and you killed the men who saw his face.”
Killian’s expression darkened further. “My apologies, but I can’t help you with that.”
A gun appeared at Christen Meng’s temple. “Maybe I can help,” Misha’s familiar voice cut through the tension. He was dressed like any other Shadow Knight, his face covered, blending seamlessly into the group.
My father shook his head. “I’m surprised to see you here, but what now? Kill me?”
I looked at Killian, trying to read his expression. It looked like he might.
Killian exhaled sharply, lowering his gun just a fraction. “For the sake of our past ties, I’ll let you go this time,” he said, voice razor–sharp.
My father chuckled, a slow, mocking sound that made my skin crawl. “Killian, your grandfather was right. You’re soft. Just like your father.” He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. “If it were up to your grandfather, I’d have a bullet in my head by now.”
I saw the way Killian’s jaw locked, his fingers twitching ever so slightly. The words cut deep. My stomach twisted as I looked between what I would feel if my father died right here, right now. Relief? Grief? Nothing at all?
My phone buzzed in my pocket, shattering the tense silence. I answered quickly, slipping in my AirPods.
wasn’t sure
“Mila! Move from there now!” Jina’s urgent voice fang in my ears. “Something is wrong at the Anderson mansion. We can’t reach the guards stationed there, and the CCTV isn’t showing them.”
Panic flared inside me.
I ended the call, shut my laptop, and stuffed it into my bag. Moving swiftly, I went to my study’s bottom drawer and pulled out a small magnetic device, slipping it into the waistband of my black sweatpants. Then I threw on a coat and rushed to pick the lock on my balcony door.
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10:44 Fri, 11 Jul GD
Chapter 46
The soft click of my bedroom door unlocking made me freeze.
I turned sharply, tucking the lockpick behind my back.
Franny walked in, dressed in a deep plum–colored dress, her dark hair styled in soft waves. Her face lit up with excitement.
“Happy birthday in advance!”
I forced myself to relax.
“You’re ready?” she asked, tilting her head before her gaze flicked over my clothes. “Why are you in black sweatpants? And–is that a man’s shirt?”
I had ransacked my wardrobe earlier, looking for something to take with me, but everything inside had been chosen by Adeline or Franny. I wanted to leave this life behind. So I chose Jina’s sweatpants and Killian’s shirt. Not for sentimentality, but because it gave me an odd sense of security. I pulled a gray sweater over it for good measure.
“I didn’t know you were coming so soon. I just wanted to be comfortable today.”
Franny huffed. “What do you mean? It’s already six!” She pointed at the clock.
My stomach dropped. **Six?**
Too soon. I hadn’t confirmed my mother’s safety yet. The Shadow Knights at the mansion–who had taken them out? Was David still here?
“It’s fine,” Franny continued. “If you dress up too much, the staff will know we’re going out and tell Mom. I’ll buy you a dress on the way.”
My pulse pounded. If someone had neutralized the Shadow Knights, was Franny in danger too?
Just in case, I needed to take her with me.
“Alright, fine. Let’s go.” I grabbed her hand, and she grinned, practically skipping beside me.
We pulled out of the Anderson estate in **a sleek black BMW M8 Coupe* a car far too extravagant for an eighteen–year–old, but nothing was out of reach in the Anderson household. The streets of New York blurred past us–towering skyscrapers looming overhead, neon billboards flashing vibrant colors against the darkening sky. The city pulsed with energy, yet a suffocating unease settled in my chest.
Yellow cabs honked impatiently, pedestrians hurried across crosswalks, and the smell of street food mixed with the crisp autumn air. But all I could focus on was the gnawing anxiety clawing at my insides.
At the mall, Franny wasted no time tossing dresses at me, each one more extravagant than the last. I went through the motions, pretending to humor her, but my mind was elsewhere–searching for an opening.
Then, I spotted a counter offering free samples of a new juice brand.
Franny’s eyes lit up. “Oh! I want to try this.”
She rushed over, and my opportunity presented itself.
I stepped back-
“Mila! Where are you going?”
I cursed under my breath. Killian was right. This girl had the worst timing.
“I just saw something I want to check out,” I lied. “Why don’t you drink this and wait for me?”
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10:44 Fri, 11 Jul G
Chapter 46
“Only if you try it too!” She stuck a straw into a small juice box and handed it to me.
I took a sip absentmindedly.
Turned to leave-
And then I choked.
My heart slammed against my ribs. Heat surged through my veins like wildfire, my blood burning beneath my skin.
I looked down at the juice box, my vision warping.
Then I turned back-
The crowd parted like a slow–moving tide, revealing Franny.
Her face was blank. Emotionless.
And her light green eyes–my father’s eyes–were as cold as ice.
My vision blurred. My throat closed as if invisible hands were strangling me.
I clawed at my neck, gasping for breath.
Franny turned away, disappearing into the sea of people.
My smartwatch vibrated–warnings flashing. **Heart rate spiking. Blood pressure unstable.**
The distant hum of voices faded into nothing.
The last thing I saw was the stark white of the mall floor rushing up to meet me before everything went black.
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