Chapter 367
“How dare you hurt my son!” Florence screamed, lunging toward Jack’s limp body.
But before she could reach him, Henny’s bodyguard grabbed a fistful of her hair and brutally kicked the back of her knees.
Florence crashed to the floor, kneeling painfully, her head twisted back, hair clutched tight in the guard’s hand.
“Listen carefully, Florence.” Henny glared down at her coldly.
“Your son won’t die just yet. But with that kind of bleeding, I’d say he’s got maybe half an hour left. Call Sophia right now. If she arrives quickly enough, maybe I’ll let Jack live p>
“Please, have mercy!” Florence pleaded desperately. “I’ll call her immediately p>
Henny gestured to her thug, who released Florence’s hair roughly, strands tearing loose and scattering across the floor.
Florence scrambled frantically for her phone, dialing Sophia’s number with trembling fingers.
“Sophia! Where are you? Come home now-it’s an emergency!” Florence’s voice shook with panic.
“Jack’s hurt badly, we need you here right away p>
She ended the call and turned fearfully back to Henny. “Madam Henny, they’re on their way. Please, let me help my son p>
Henny sneered cruelly. “If you’re so confident they’ll arrive soon, you have nothing to worry about. Your precious Jack will survive, right p>
“Please!” Florence pleaded again, her voice trembling with terror. Jack was fading fast — he might not survive before Sophia returned.
Henny narrowed his eyes, sneering. “Then call her again. This time, sound serious. Convince me she’ll come running p>
Hands shaking, Florence redialed. Her voice cracked with urgency. “Sophia, please — I’m begging you. Jack is dying. If you don’t come now… it’ll be too late p>
“Alright, alright, I’ll be there in five minutes! What’s wrong?” Sophia asked urgently.
“Just hurry! I’ll explain everything when you get here,” Florence said and hung up.
She turned pleadingly to Henny. “Five minutes, she’ll be here in five minutes. Please, can I help Jack now p>
Henny’s eyes glinted maliciously. “Of course you can. You can start by
experiencing Jack’s pain firsthand.” She nodded sharply.
The bodyguard stepped forward swiftly and plunged a knife deep into Florence’s stomach.
Florence let out an agonized scream, her thoughts spinning wildly.
All she’d ever done was try to be kind-why was this happening?
“You’ve got about ten minutes before Sophia arrives,” Henny laughed cruelly. “Then you’ll watch her die right before your eyes. And once she’s dead, all of you will follow p>
“We… we never did anything to you!” Florence gasped, tears mixing with blood spilling from her wound.
“Why are you so full of hate toward us? We’ve never harmed you p>
“No harm?!” Henny exploded furiously.
“You think Betty flaunting Sophia around Montclaire and positioning her as matriarch has nothing to do with you? Your family belongs hidden away in the sewers, yet you dared crawl into Montclaire territory p>
“That family is mine!” she raged. “How dare your pathetic excuse for a family try to take what rightfully belongs to me p>
Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the front door. Henny smirked bitterly. “That was quick. Someone open the door and drag Sophia inside p>
The guard swung open the door but froze instantly. Two police officers stood waiting, alert and ready.
“We received a call about a disturbance,” one officer said firmly. “Sophia Lancaster asked us to check things out p>
The second officer peered inside, immediately spotting Jack and Florence bleeding on the floor. He drew his gun swiftly, shouting, “Don’t move p>
Henny’s irritation flickered across her face briefly before she waved dismissively. “Deal with them p>
“With pleasure, Madam!” the guard laughed viciously, charging at the officers.
“Stay back or I’ll shoot!” the officer barked again, but the guard barreled into him, slamming him brutally to the ground.
The other policeman struggled, grappling with another thug, but within moments, both officers lay pinned and subdued.
“What now, Madam?” one guard asked, breathing heavily from the struggle.
“What else?” Henny said coldly. “Shoot them. We’ll blame their deaths on Sophia Lancaster. Let her family burn for this p>
“Wait a minute—we can talk this out!” the officer shouted desperately.
But his plea ended abruptly as muffled gunshots tore through the room. Both officers collapsed instantly, bullet holes perfectly centered in their foreheads.
Silence hung heavy in the air as their lifeless bodies sprawled across the floor. “You murdered the police!” Jack gasped, shock and horror etched on his pale face.
“Oh no,” Henny sneered coldly, “you’ve got it completely wrong. You two killed these officers. Later, you’ll both conveniently commit suicide, and this house will burn to ashes p>
Jack and Florence’s faces turned ghostly pale, realizing Henny had meticulously planned everything-there would be no mercy.
“I’m tired of waiting,” Henny said impatiently, pulling out a handgun.
“Maybe I’ll just kill one of you now. Remember, if you want someone to blame, look no further than your Grandma Betty and Sophia. They brought this on themselves by meddling in Montclaire’s affairs p>
“Stop right there!” A powerful, commanding voice echoed through the entrance. Henny spun around sharply, glaring at Sophia and Alex standing defiantly in the doorway.
“Ah, the real guests of honor,” Henny snarled venomously.
“You sick old hag,” Sophia growled, eyes blazing. In one swift motion, she pulled a handgun from her bag and aimed it squarely at Henny. “Don’t even think about trying anything. Let go of my mother and Jack – now p>
“Oh, look-Paris’ arrogant new governor,” Henny sneered mockingly.
“You think becoming Guise’s widow gives you the right to take what’s mine?” She pressed her pistol brutally against Florence’s temple.
“Sophia, I’ll give you a choice. Either you shoot Alex right here and now, or I blow
your mother’s brains out. Decide quickly p>
“What did you just say?” Sophia’s voice trembled with anger.
“Was that not clear enough? Let me
repeat myself,” Henny’s smile
vanished, replaced by chilling
menace. “Shoot Alex, or I kill
Florence and Jack. I’ll give you to the
count of three to decide p>
“Madam Henny, we’ve never wronged you!” Sophia said fiercely. “Why are you
doing this p>
“No grudges?” Henny laughed bitterly, eyes wild with rage. “Ask the people around you about grudges! Don’t you know what your dear grandmother has done p>
Suddenly, she shot Florence viciously in the thigh.
Florence screamed in agony, blood staining her clothes.
“How dare your grandmother look down on me just because you’ve become governor! She’s nothing-a disgraceful outcast! How dare she!” Henny roared furiously.
“Take your revenge on Betty or on me!” Sophia shouted desperately. “Leave my family out of this p>
“Oh, I intend to,” Henny hissed cruelly.
“But first, you’ll watch everyone you love suffer and die. I want to see the pain, despair, and anguish in your eyes. You’ll learn what true grief feels like p>
Henny was beyond reason now.
Having lost everything, she had nothing left to lose. She wanted to drag everyone down into hell with her.
“Now make your choice, or I’ll shoot your mother!” Henny screamed, finger tightening on the trigger. “Three p>
“Henny, don’t!” Sophia shouted, eyes filling with tears.
“Two! Make your choice-your mother’s life is slipping away p>
Sophia’s hand trembled uncontrollably as she stared at Florence’s terrified,
pleading face.
“Help me,” Florence begged.
“One!” Henny screamed, eyes filled with murderous intent.
“Sophia Alex whispered softly.
Suddenly, Sophia raised her trembling hand, aiming her gun straight at Alex’s
head.
Her voice was barely audible, choked with pain, “I’m sorry.” “Sophia Alex’s voice faltered, his eyes wide with disbelief and heartbreak.
She pulled the trigger. A thunderous gunshot echoed through the room.
Shock and betrayal flashed across Alex’s face as the bullet slammed into his forehead.
His expression froze-stunned, shattered-before his body collapsed to the ground, blood spreading fast beneath him.
In that final moment, his soul seemed torn in two-half by the searing pain of the
bullet, half by the devastation of betrayal.
No one could tell which would kill him first.