Chapter 280 - Two Hundred And Eighty: A Glimmer Of Hope
The third point of view:
The pressure in the air was so obvious that even the dead could feel it. Both parties stared at each other with a cold-blooded stare.
Just like a video game, Sakuzi's side was determined not to let the enemy penetrate their fortress while Eden's men were determined to invade this fortress by all means possible.
Each side had their guns loaded and aimed at one another. Quite a pity there wasn't a producer around to capture this stunning scene, it was like a clip taken out from an action movie - the film would have been a blockbuster.
"Put your guns down," Eden ordered his men as soon as he came down from the car, "We're not here to start a war but to end an impending one,"
His men created a path which he followed to reach the front, standing in front of the giant who looked like he would snap him into two.
"I need to meet Sakuzi, I believe he has my cousin for reasons best known to him. I think there might be room for negotiations," he said to Emerald who didn't respond.
He went on anyway, "We're not here to start a war so you should order your men down too - for a start,"
Emerald lifted his hand, eyes still trained on Eden and his men as his own men lowered their weapon.
Eden gave him a warm smile as soon as he saw that, they were in for negotiations then.
"Open the gate! "Emerald commanded.
Immediately, the gate was opened allowing Eden and his entourage to drive into the courtyard.
"Where is he?" Eden questioned.
"If you want to see Sakuzi, you have to come in alone,"
"Like hell," Eden refused, "I'm not going into the lion's den unprepared. Look around pal, you guys have the advantage here-what could we possibly do?" he pointed out at the fact that their men were numerous plus the advantage of playing host - they knew here like the back of their hands unlike them.
Emerald wrinkled his nose, "Just one person," he added, "Without a weapon,"
"That is bullshit -"
His shadow guard was about to protest on the partiality however Eden motioned him to quiet down.
"You can go ahead," Eden submitted his weapon and out of the corners of his eyes, signaled his shadow guard to do the same.
Though fuming, the guard had no choice but to bury the grievance in his heart as his weapon was confiscated and they searched him thoroughly.
"You can go in," Emerald made a sign for one of his men to lead them to Sakuzi.
Eden and his shadow guard were then led into the house. Along the way, he observed their surroundings and possible escape routes. To be frank, Eden had no idea what he was doing, all he knew was that he had to make retribution for his sins.
"Here," They led them into the living room where Sakuzi was awaiting him.
"What a pleasurable visit, what brings you to my humble home?" Sakuzi acted the role of a humble host.
Eden had a smile on his lips as he shook hands with Sakuzi, the man was a pretty good pretender.
"You should already know why I'm here," Eden went straight to the point, "Release Niklaus,"
Sakuzi threw his head back and laughed, then he gave a sign with his hand for Niklaus to be brought over.
"How did you know to come so quickly?" Sakuzi asked him.
"Niklaus might not be the family head anymore but that doesn't mean he could be easily kidnapped without notice,"
"Kidnapped?" Sakuzi laughed then murmured beneath his breath, "Reina, that ignorant girl," He already figured out it was her doing.
The men sent out to get Niklaus returned. Niklaus' hands were bound from behind and had a black eye plus other wounds and bruises - he was quite a sight.
"Niklaus," Eden shot up to his feet, heart arching at the sight of his cousin. Though both hated each other, blood was thicker than water. He would rather beat Niklaus up than let an outsider do so.
Eden moved to receive Niklaus but Sakuzi's men blocked him, that action angered him.
"Let him go this instant!" he fumed, glaring at Sakuzi.
"You see that's not possible," Sakuzi told him smugly, "Niklaus is not leaving here without losing a part of his body,"
"You can try but that would happen over my dead body," sneered Eden, "Aren't you afraid of going to war with the Sakuzi Clan? You know we're evenly matched,"
"I wouldn't have started this if I was afraid of that. I'm all prepared and ready to go to war if that means he pays for the death of Maxwell," Sakuzi was determined.
"Niklaus is not responsible for that," Eden told him but the man misunderstood him.
"Of course, you're going to support him as a family - "
"I'm the one responsible for Maxwell's death," He finally confessed.
"What?" Sakuzi was so shocked that he stepped back. His eyes were bulging with veins around his forehead, "What did you just say?"
"You heard me right, Sakuzi. I was the one who leaked your location that day to the police. I'm the one who caused your son's death, you should hold me responsible,"
It was at that tension-filled time that Reina made her appearance known, pushing past the guards to hug Niklaus.
"Thank God, "she was relieved, hugging him tightly only to receive a wince from him. That sound made her look up only to find the damages her father did to him. His appearance made her blood boil and was about to give her father a piece of her mind when she stumbled upon the revelation.
"You're trying to say that Niklaus didn't betray me?" Sakuzi was dumbfounded.
"Yes, I was the one who sabotaged that deal,"
Reina gasped, her hands cupping her mouth from the shock. Niklaus was innocent?
"Is what he said right?! " Sakuzi now turned to Niklaus, eyes red from emotions.
"You already heard him, what more do you want to hear? Didn't I tell you all those years that I wasn't the one who leaked the location, yet you never believed me? Why would I sabotage a deal that cost me, my ex-wife?" Was?Niklaus' slightly sarcastic reply.
"I know my apology would not mean anything to you neither would it bring Maxwell back but I'm truly sorry. I didn't call the police intentionally though. I was just childish and blinded by jealousy because he won over the woman I loved too; Niklaus had everything he ever wanted - "
"Adam is the worst, you think I want him as a father? " Niklaus glared at him.
"You have a supportive father who isn't afraid to give you the world, unlike me who has none - thanks to your father, " Eden argued.
"My father is a heartless, manipulative psychopath that I would willingly give to you without even blinking twice," Niklaus retorted, ignoring the stabbing pain at the corner of his jaw.
Then, they began to argue back and front.
"Now stop it! The both of you! " Sakuzi boomed, eliciting a silenced hall instantly. He looked between the both of them, then at Niklaus, "You knew about this all this while, didn't you? You knew your cousin was the perpetrator yet you kept silent?"
"You never asked neither were we on speaking terms, remember?" Niklaus reminded him with his brows raised.
Sakuzi nodded his head, "It must have been funny, wasn't it?"
"What?" Everyone was confused.
"Making fun of me," The seething Sakuzi said and before anyone could stop him, aimed his gun and fired at Niklaus.
But then, something happened.
Just when Sakuzi was about to fire, a tiny scared voice was heard, "Grandfather, no!"
The child got in the way and took the bullet.
"Ailee!" Reina shrieked when she saw her daughter, Ailee, fall to the ground.
There was a horrid look on everyone's face.
The gun dropped from Sakuzi's hands, disbelief mixed with shock written all over his face. His hand which held the gun earlier trembled. What has he done?
Eden and Niklaus went after Reina who was on the floor, cradling her daughter's upper body and wailing like a banshee.
"Ailee," Allen who had been attracted by the sound of the gunshot hurried over to his twin sister.
"Call 911!"
"Get help!"
Eden and Niklaus boomed orders when Reina wouldn't let them get close to the girl.
"Ailee! Stay awake! Stay awake with mommy," Reina burst into tears, burying her face into the girl's stomach.
"I'm sorry mom but I can't hold on," her croaked voice was heard.
"You can't die yet, Ailee," She continuously wept. Her heart was breaking, her daughter always wanted to see her father and now he was finally here, she was dying. No, that was so sorrowful.
"Urm, isn't this the point where she dies already?" Allen said.
Reina looked up, offended by her son's casual insensitive statement, and was about to lash out at him when he pointed to Ailee's chest.
"There's no blood, see?"
Indeed, there wasn't.
A glimmer of hope rose in Reina, that she quickly took off the girl's clothes to see that the bullet was perfectly hedged in the center of the rose gold full circle pendant necklace she was wearing.
Reina couldn't believe her eyes, the necklace she had bought the girl for her seventh birthday saved her life.
This could only be a miracle.
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