His sudden action stunned everyone. Hugo’s instincts kicked in. With a swift, precise action, he fired two shots into the butler’s chest before the man could even pull the trigger.
The gun clattered to the ground, slipping from his lifeless fingers as he collapsed, his body twitching for a moment before going still. The life drained from his eyes.
The shooter sat frozen, paralyzed by fear. His mind raced, but his body refused to move, eyes wide and fixated on the fallen butler. The reality of death was too close, too real. His thoughts spiraled into a panic—was he next? His breath came in ragged gasps, his body quivering uncontrollably.
"And you!" Theodore’s voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and unyielding.
The shooter snapped back to the present, his fear intensifying as he frantically began to plead for his life. "I’m sorry!" he cried out. "Please forgive me! I swear I’ll leave this profession, I’ll disappear, just please let me go!"
Theodore’s cold eyes bore into him, unmoved by the desperate pleas. "I’m not the one who will decide your fate," he said coldly. "You shot my assistant—an innocent man who had no quarrel with you or the Hills. He could have died because of you. It’s only fair that he decides what happens to you now."
The shooter’s heart sank. He had hoped for mercy, but Theodore’s words offered none. His shoulders slumped further as he realized there was no escape, no easy way out.
His mind replayed the moment of the shooting, remembering how the smoke bomb had clouded his vision. He had aimed for the gang leader, but in the chaos, he couldn’t be sure if his shot had landed. So, he shot another bullet to ensure the gang leader was dead but a figure suddenly rushed toward that side and the bullet hit him.
He had never intended to harm an innocent man. The weight of his actions pressed down on him. The terror in his eyes deepened as he awaited his uncertain fate, his mind racing with dread and regret.
It was a pure accident. He had never intended to shoot him.
Lost in his thoughts, the shooter barely registered the approach of another figure. When he finally looked up, he was startled to see a man he didn’t recognize. He gaped at him, bewildered by his sudden appearance.
Theodore, too, was taken aback. "Skyler!" His voice was laced with surprise and disbelief. He hadn’t expected to see his friend. "Why are you here? I thought you were on leave, recovering from your wounds."
"I’m fully recovered now," Skyler replied with a calm smile, his presence bringing a sense of reassurance.
Hugo, who had been standing by, nodded in agreement. "Skyler has been working behind the scenes, helping us gather information about the attack. If it weren’t for his efforts, we wouldn’t have uncovered the Hills’ involvement."
Theodore’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I thought you were resting, but it seems you were busy with your investigation."
Skyler’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a determined expression. "I nearly died because of that attack. I couldn’t just sit and do nothing. I needed to find the person who shot me and bring them to justice."
His sharp gaze fell on the shooter, who cowered under the intensity of his glare. "It didn’t take long to trace the shooter, but I needed to dig deeper to find out who had hired him. My investigation led me to the butler of the Hill household. He had been in close contact with Miss Ivy Hill before the attack. I’m certain she is the mastermind behind this."
Skyler’s attention then moved to the lifeless body of the butler, a hint of frustration in his voice. "It’s disappointing that we lost the chance to question him. He might have shed some light on Ivy’s motive and her connection to the gang. But now, we’re left with more questions than answers."
"But he is still alive." Theodore pointed out, nodding towards the trembling shooter.
All eyes turned to the man, their gazes piercing with anger and disgust.
The shooter’s head shook frantically, his fear escalating. "No, no... I don’t know anything," he stammered. "My job was just to follow the client’s instructions. I never ask questions. Please, let me go."
"Letting you go is not an option," Skyler interjected with icy contempt. His gaze was unyielding as he stared down the man who had almost taken his life. "Because of you, I was on the brink of death. You deserve to be punished."
With a sharp gesture, he signaled the guards. "Take him away and hand him over to the police."
As the guards dragged the terrified shooter away, Hugo stepped closer to Theodore, leaning in to speak in a low voice. "Miss Hill was spotted with Miss Young a week ago at a café." He pulled out his phone and showed Theodore a photograph he had just received. "There is a strong possibility that she leaked the designs."
Theodore took the phone, studying the image of Ivy Hill and Trina Young together. His thoughts shifted to Bella, realizing that she had been waiting for him. He recalled that she had something important to discuss with him and felt a sudden urgency to return home. Perhaps she was troubled by all that had transpired.
"I’m heading home," Theodore said, handing the phone back to Hugo. "Wrap things up here. And Skyler..."
Skyler immediately stood at attention, straightening his back.
"We’ll talk tomorrow."
"Understood," Skyler replied with a nod. "I’ll be back on duty first thing in the morning."
With one last glance at the butler’s lifeless body, Theodore turned and left, a sense of urgency propelling him forward.
At the villa...
When Theodore arrived home, he went to Bella’s workstation, the place where she had been spending most of her time lately. But to his surprise, it was empty. The worktable, meticulously organized, looked untouched as if she hadn’t been there at all that evening.
A wave of concern washed over him. Where could she be? 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
He headed straight to the bedroom, his worry intensifying when he found it vacant as well. "Where is she?" he wondered, anxiety creeping into his thoughts.
It was then that a figure on the balcony caught his eye. Even in the dim light, he could recognize her instantly. Relief mingled with the concern in his heart as he made his way towards her.
The sound of his footsteps broke Bella from her reverie. She turned, and their eyes met in the soft twilight. "You are home," she murmured, stepping forward to wrap her arms around his waist.
The warmth of her embrace soothed his worries, but there was an underlying tension in her voice. "I’ve been waiting for you. Why did you take so long?"
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