Chapter 26
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Lavender and Beige both couldn’t help but feel sick to their stomachs.
Desmond wheeled himself over to Lavender, his eyes full of worry. “Avy, don’t be afraid. I would never treat you like that. I love you so much.”
Her voice was numb and detached. “But you once loved Cyanne to your very core too, didn’t you?”
Desmond’s body stiffened. He held her chin and forced her to look at him.
“Avy, as long as you don’t betray me, I swear–I’ll never point a gun at you.
“The plane lands in ten minutes. Just ten more minutes, and you’ll be mine. Completely
mine.
“As long as-”
Before he could finish his twisted promise, a sudden explosion rocked the doors. Dust and debris burst into the room like a wave.
“What’s going on?!”
A guard rushed in. “Sir! A group of people just stormed the gates and blew them open!”
In that instant, a flicker of life returned to Lavender’s dull eyes.
Only one person could create such chaos–Red.
Desmond noticed the glimmer of hope in her gaze, and jealousy instantly surged inside him like wildfire.
“Avy, you’ve only been with him a few months. How could you fall out of love so fast?
“But it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve planned for everything. Not even he can take you away from me now!”
Lavender’s brows furrowed. A quiet unease crept into her heart. “What did you do?”
“I’ve planted explosives all around this estate. If I can’t take you with me today, then we die together. If we can’t live together… then we’ll die together!”
Her pupils contracted. Her body froze.
“Desmond! You are insane! Have you even thought about Aunty Clarise? About your mother?!”
For a moment, his empty eyes wavered. But the softness vanished quickly, replaced by unfeeling resolve.
“Avy, there’s no turning back for me now. Trying to sway me with emotions–it’s useless. So here’s your options. Either have Red retreat, or we all die! Choose!”
Lavender pressed her lips together, hesitating.
Outside, the sound of jet blades grew louder and louder. Desmond’s patience was wearing thin.
“Avy, don’t force my hand.”
For our Wedding Anniversary Gifted Him Divorce Papers &
15:01 Thu, 22 May
Her nails dug into her palms. Just as his last bit of patience ran out, she finally spoke.
“I’ll go with you. But you have to let everyone else go.”
A flicker of something human returned to his eyes. He smiled faintly. “Of course.”
“Then release me.”
Desmond frowned; letting her go right away was risky.
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Lavender knew his hesitation, so she negotiated with him. “Then send Beige out. Once I know she’s safe, I’ll go with you.”
Besides, Beige had only been caught by accident.
Desmond didn’t plan to use her anyway, so he simply ordered her release.
Minutes later, Lavender’s hands were bound, and Desmond was escorting her outside, where a private jet hovered above the estate.
“Avy,” he warned, “don’t try anything. You can’t afford the price.”
As they stepped out, Lavender met Red’s eyes.
They said nothing. But in that silent exchange, they understood each other completely.
“Your legs aren’t okay. You go up first,” Lavender said expressionlessly.
Desmond was still cautious. “You go first. I’ll follow behind.”
Without hesitation, Lavender stepped onto the platform, obedient and quiet.
At the moment she and Desmond were separated by just a few steps, she glanced at Red
once more.
A second later, a sniper hidden ten meters away in a tree pulled the trigger.
The bullet flew straight to Desmond’s head.
A loud bang echoed, and he didn’t even have time to react–he was dead on the spot.
Red rushed to Lavender, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
“It’s over. I’ve got you now. You’re safe.”
The incident with Desmond caused a huge uproar.
Even though he died, Hackett Holdings couldn’t escape the fallout. By morning, they had announced bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Lavender had taken a blow to the head and suffered a mild concussion. Doctors recommended she stay admitted for observation.
Red was personally feeding her soup, careful and gentle, when an assistant entered the room. “Sir Red. Ma’am Lavender. Mr. and Mrs. Winslet are outside. They wish to see you, Ma’am.”
Red didn’t answer for Lavender. Instead, he turned to look at her, who glanced toward the door and caught a glimpse of how her parents had aged dramatically after everything that happened.
“Tell them I won’t see them,” she instructed the assistant calmly. “I’ve already paid them for giving me life. From now on, tell them, stop trying to bother me.”
Chapter 26
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The assistant nodded and handed over a voice recorder. “Ma’am, Mr. Hackett left this behind. He said it was for you.”
Lavender barely glanced at it. Her voice was flat and steady when she gave another instruction.
“Throw that away. From now on, anything related to that psycho–throw it all away.”
(Series 1–The End)
