Chapter 6

Before long, they drove to a remote warehouse on the outskirts.

Gideon had already been waiting for them there.

"So you really could bring yourself to do it." He burst out laughing, amusement glittering in his eyes.

Adrian paid no attention to him at all. His eyes were fixed only on Lydia, who was tied to a chair not far away.

"I brought her. Let Lydia go now!"

Even though she had prepared herself for this, seeing how desperate Adrian was still felt like a blade driven straight through her chest. The pain was so sharp she could not speak.

Gideon seemed to catch the shift in her expression and drawled with a mocking smile, "Don't look so heartbroken, Mrs. Lennox. Since Mr. Lennox doesn't want you anymore, why not come with me? I'd treat you real well..."

Adrian's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles went white, fire nearly bursting from his eyes, yet he did not say a single word.

Celine let out a self-mocking smile and stepped forward slowly. "You'd be better off turning yourself in now. Otherwise, my team won't let you walk away."

"Cut the crap." Gideon was in no mood to listen. His voice turned cold. "Either you stay or she stays. Pick."

"Celine..." Adrian sounded frantic, like he could not wait even one second longer.

Celine closed her eyes briefly, then said in a low voice, "Let her go. I'll stay as the hostage."

"Good. That's what I like, nice and easy."

A moment later, Lydia was untied and shoved forward.

As they passed each other, Celine clearly caught the flash of triumph in Lydia's eyes.

Adrian rushed forward in one stride and pulled Lydia into his arms. "Lydia, don't be scared. It's over now."

He gently wiped away the tears on her face and never looked at Celine again.

Watching the scene unfold, Celine found that not even a trace of sadness rose in her anymore.

From this day on, she and Adrian were finished. Completely.

Gideon kept taunting her. "I really didn't expect Adrian to hand you over that easily. Back then, he nearly died for you. And now he's giving you to me for another woman. He must've forgotten that the three of us brothers ended up dead or in prison because of you! Today, I'm going to make sure you learn exactly what living worse than death feels like!"

He bound Celine tightly to the chair and raised a branding iron, glowing hot, right in front of her face.

"Wait!"

At the sight of Celine in mortal danger, a sudden, inexplicable panic surged through Adrian.

He thrust out a hand and shouted sharply, "Isn't revenge what you want? Take me instead!"

"Adrian! Are you crazy? You're not going!" Lydia screamed.

She grabbed Adrian's arm and refused to let go no matter what.

Just then, the sound of sirens suddenly wailed outside. The police had arrived.

"Gideon, give it up and surrender. You're not getting away," Celine said coldly.

In fact, before leaving, she had already sent a message to her team and arranged the arrest.

But Gideon did not panic in the slightest. Instead, he threw his head back and laughed.

"Even if I die, I'm taking you with me!"

He suddenly yanked a handgun from inside his jacket and aimed the dark barrel straight at Adrian.

In that split second of crisis, Celine tore free of the ropes and threw herself at Gideon with every ounce of strength she had.

The shot rang out.

Lydia instantly threw herself in front of Adrian, and the bullet grazed her arm. Blood burst out at once.

She cried out and collapsed into Adrian's arms.

"Lydia! Are you okay?"

Adrian caught her in sheer panic, never noticing that the same bullet had struck Celine too.

A second shot cracked through the air.

Gideon was hit by the SWAT team and dropped dead on the spot.

Holding Lydia tightly, Adrian rushed out without ever looking back.

Lying in a pool of blood, Celine watched Adrian's figure disappear into the distance, and a faint smile slowly tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Adrian, you saved me once before. Now I've saved you too. From now on, we owe each other nothing."