"Are you sure?" Lucien tilted his head, voice steady. "I’ve already neutralized every one of your men. I knew about your scheme long ago — I let you move first. Now look: you’ve walked right into my trap."

He grinned. "How does defeat taste?"

Lambert’s face drained of color. All those years, he had managed to escape Lucien. But this time, he couldn’t. He had been so confident about his plan that he was almost sure he could end Lucien’s game this time. But he had been defeated again. And worst, he was at gunpoint, trapped badly. There was no hope for escape.

Lucien would kill him this time.

"Yes, you are right," Lucien said as if he had heard his inner voice. "I won’t let you walk out of here." As soon as he finished speaking, he pulled the trigger, the bullet piercing Lambert’s forehead.

Anne shrieked at the loud sound of gunfire. Augustine hurried over to her and hugged her. "It’s over, my love. You are safe."

"Augustine," Anne sobbed.

"I’ll take you out of here." Augustine took out a knife and started cutting the ropes that bound her hands and ankles.

Meanwhile, a swarm of men in black suits rushed in and confiscated the whole place.

Lucien glanced at Augustine. "Get her out. I’ll settle things here."

Augustine gave a firm nod. "Come on, Anne." He helped her to her feet, but froze when he caught sight of Denis moving.

Relief washed over him like a flood. He had thought his brother was gone, yet Denis was still alive.

"Denis," he exclaimed, hopping toward him.

Denis groaned, his body aching all over as he stirred. "You are finally back," he rasped. "I thought I would never see you."

"Thank goodness you are alive." Augustine hugged him, tears blurring his vision. "I have never been so happy to see you breathing."

"If you keep hugging me so tightly, I’ll eventually die," Denis whimpered in pain.

"I am sorry. I’ll take you out of here." Augustine looked up at the men in black. "Please help me."

Two men came forward. They lifted Denis and carried him out, while Augustine followed them with Anne in his arms.

Several hours later...

The doctor finally announced that Anne and the baby in her womb were doing fine. There was no danger. It was just that she was terrified and needed proper rest and care.

Augustine released a long, shaky breath, relief crashing over him. "Thank God... she and our baby are fine." His voice trembled as he asked, "Can I see her?"

"Of course, you can."

He sprang to his feet, restless urgency pushing him forward. "Thank you, doctor." He quickly left the doctor’s chamber and headed straight to the room where Anne was kept.

The moment his eyes landed on her, his chest swelled with mixed emotions – relief, joy, and a raw ache of longing flooded him. He wanted to rush over and drew her flash to his chest. But he slowed his steps when he noticed she was sleeping.

The footsteps alerted Anne. She opened her eyes frantically, horror paling her skin. Her mind was still trapped in that horrific incident.

"Don’t come closer to me," she exclaimed frantically.

Augustine froze, his smile fading. "Anne... it’s me. Augustine."

Her frightened gaze searched his face. Slowly, the haze lifted from her eyes, and recognition broke through. "Augustine," she murmured, her voice breaking with emotion.

"Yes, it’s me," he murmured gently, lowering himself beside her.

Memories of him arriving with Lucien to save her surfaced in her mind, and relief softened her expression. Her lips trembled into the faintest smile as she reached her arms toward him.

"It’s over now," Augustine whispered, drawing her into his arms. "They’ve been punished. You are safe. No one will ever hurt you again."

Wrapped in his arms, Anne felt safe. She knew he was telling the truth, but the trauma had etched deep inside her mind, and it might take time to erase those memories.

Anne suddenly recalled Denis’s condition. "How is Denis?" she asked softly. "That foolish man... he really thought he could take on those dangerous people, even dared to challenge their boss. And that man beat Denis so brutally."

When she recalled the incident, she couldn’t help but shudder. "I was so scared. I thought he was dead."

"He is fine," Augustine assured her. "Just bruised and badly beaten, but he’ll recover in a few days."

"That’s a relief." Anne exhaled, her shoulders relaxing as she nestled closer into his embrace. "I’m finally with you," she whispered. "During those moments, I was so afraid I’d never see you again."

"How could that be? I’ll never abandon you, my love." He held her chin and tilted her head slightly, claiming her lips. "Let’s go home," he whispered against her lips.

"I am dying to go home," she whispered back.

They again kissed each other, lost in the warmth of the moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Black Perl was destroyed. The vipers were hunted down one by one. Both Lambert and Vlad were killed. With no backup, Tania knew she couldn’t stay in town any longer. She packed her bag, ready to sneak out.

Gabriel watched her with a twisted smile. "So, what about Vlad? Dead already?"

Tania glared at him but said nothing. She wouldn’t waste her time arguing with him.

"I can smell your fear," Gabriel taunted. "Didn’t I warn you? You chose the wrong family to provoke. Denis and Augustine won’t spare anyone who hurts them."

"That includes you," Tania retorted coldly. "Don’t forget—you’re their greatest enemy. I’ll disappear without a trace, but you? Look at your state—you can hardly stand. Where will you escape to? Who will help you now? No one. So stop mocking me and worry about your own miserable end."

With that, she strode out of the room. Gabriel’s laughter echoed behind her.

"You think you can run? You can’t. Denis and Augustine will hunt you down. Hahaha... The money and jewels you are clutching won’t save you. Hahaha..."

Tania paused right outside the doorstep. Hearing his words, she felt chills on her back. But she forced herself onward. If the brothers caught her, it would mean death. Dragging her suitcase, she rushed out of the house.

Moments later, she slipped into her car and sped away.

Within minutes, she reached the airport. Pulling a scarf over her head, she slipped into the terminal, trying to blend in. But before she could take another step, police officers closed in, blocking her path.

"Miss Tania, you are under arrest for the murder of Enzo and for fraud," one of them announced firmly. "You deceived Mr. Gabriel Beaumont and brought turmoil to his family. You’ll have to come with us."

The color drained from Tania’s face. Her heart pounded as she realized there was no way out. Her shoulders sagged. She lowered her head in defeat and allowed the officers to lead her away.

Augustine came to see Gabriel, and for a fleeting moment, despite everything Gabriel had done, he couldn’t help but feel a trace of pity seeing him paralyzed.

"Augustine..." Gabriel’s voice was heavy with remorse when his eyes met his nephew’s. But soon his gaze wandered, searching. "Where is Denis? Has he not come to see me?"

"Denis is still recovering in the hospital," Augustine answered evenly. "I came to take you to the police station. You murdered my parents, and even your wife, the woman who stood by you for so many years. And you didn’t stop there. You argued with Grandpa, despite knowing his condition, and because of that, he suffered a heart attack. Now he’s gone." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Gabriel lowered his head, shame and guilt pressing down on him. But regret couldn’t change the truth. He had already destroyed too much.

"You chose a deceitful, manipulative woman," Augustine went on coldly, "and abandoned your wife. You had Denis—the boy you raised as your own. But you threw him away like garbage, convinced Tania would give you a son."

His voice sharpened with scorn. "And now look at you—broken, paralyzed. This is the price of your own choices. You betrayed your family and lost everything. Was this what you wanted?"

Augustine snorted derisively. "You are suffering because of your own mistakes. What did you get by doing all this? You went against your own family and ended up paralyzed. Is this what you wanted?"

With each word Augustine spoke, Gabriel felt a stab in his heart. But he could say nothing. He had accepted the fate that he would be punished.

"There is no escape from the punishment," Augustine continued.

"I know," Gabriel said regretfully. "I finally see the mistakes I made. If it’s possible... please, forgive me."

"Forgive you?" Augustine snorted bitterly. "You murdered my parents, tore Denis away from his real family, and tormented me for years. You even schemed to kill me and my pregnant wife. After all that, you still expect forgiveness?"

Gabriel lowered his head. "I understand. The pain I’ve caused you is unforgivable. Forgetting and forgiving are beyond your reach—I know that. But I can only beg for it, even if it never comes."

"Too late," Augustine muttered coldly. "A sorry offered now is worthless. The police will be here soon. This is the last time we’ll see each other—I’m leaving the country."

Gabriel’s eyes dimmed, but he mustered one final plea. "Then... could you at least ask Denis to visit me?"

"That’s up to Denis," Augustine replied sharply. "I won’t pass along your request. Take care of yourself."

With that, he left.

Gabriel sat in silence, loneliness and despair sinking into his chest. After some time, the cops arrived and took him away.