Chapter 817

I stared at Hayden, my mind spinning. I’d thought he was Wayne’s hostage, but now? He wasn’t just an accomplice—he’d turned on Lena. Why not take me instead? Was it because he couldn’t bring himself to hurt me? Or was this some twisted plan to use Lena against us?

The chaos around us stopped cold. Everyone froze, their eyes locked on Hayden. His icy glare swept the crowd, finally settling on Aaron.

“Mr. Ace,” Hayden said sharply, his voice slicing through the silence. “You know what to do.”

Aaron was here too, though earlier he’d been attacked, kept from helping Lena. Now he stood frozen, his gaze fixed on her.

“Let her go,” Aaron said. “I’ll take her place.”

“You know what happens to people who waste my time,” he said flatly. The warmth I once knew in his voice was gone, replaced by something cold and unrecognizable.

I couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Hayden, why are you doing this?” I yelled.

He glanced at me—just for a second—before turning his attention back to Aaron, his gaze sharp, oppressive, full of unspoken threats.

Lena, to my shock, stayed calm, her face steady. Meanwhile, I was shaking.

“Hayden!” I shouted again, desperate. “If you need a hostage, take me! I’m pregnant—it’s not just me you’d be hurting! Take me instead!”

“Shut up,” he snapped, his voice ice-cold.

The blade bit deeper into Lena’s skin, a thin line of blood trailing down.

“Hayden, don’t hurt her!” I screamed, my voice breaking with desperation.

Aaron stepped in, his tone calm but deliberate. “Fine. I’ll arrange a helicopter to get you out of here.”

“Uncle Aaron, no!” Lena cut in. “I don’t care if they kill me. What matters is stopping these scumbags for good.”

Her bravery stunned us all. She wasn’t afraid, not even a little. Maybe she’d seen too much—too much blood, too many close calls—but she was fearless.

“No, Lena! Don’t say that!” I cried, trembling, turning back to Hayden. “Please, don’t do this! Hayden, if you have even a shred of humanity left, think of our baby! I’m carrying your child!”

I pointed at my stomach, my voice cracking under the weight of my plea. But his face stayed cold, emotionless, like the man I once knew was gone.

My fear turned into fury. “Hayden, if you hurt her, I’ll never forgive you—never! Not in this lifetime or the next! And I’ll make sure our child never acknowledges you as their father!”

It was like talking to a wall. He didn’t flinch, didn’t react. He just stood there, unmoved.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. “You’re a monster, Hayden! You’re not even human! Did you forget everything you promised me before you left? You—”

“Keira.” Aaron’s voice sliced through my anger. “Don’t waste your breath.”

Without another word, he pulled out his phone and made the call. “Send a helicopter to my location: Immediately. The sooner, the better.”

With Lena as their hostage, even the police had no choice but to stand down and let Aaron comply.

The chaos had quieted, but the air was thick with tension, heavy with a dread that made every second feel like an eternity.

Aaron’s eyes stayed locked on Lena, unwavering. There was worry in his gaze, fear, and something deeper—something that looked a lot like love, the kind too deep for words.

“Uncle Aaron,” Lena said suddenly, her voice light, almost teasing. “If something happens to me, take care of my mom, okay? Tell her not to cry too much. She should have another kid, so I can come back as her daughter in my next life.”

Her words nearly broke me. Of all the things I thought Lena might say, I never expected that. Her dark humor hit like a punch in the chest.

“And Rea,” she added, turning to me with a faint smile. “Don’t get all weepy. Take care of yourself and the baby. Bring them into the world. And every year on this day, bring me some flowers—add fruit and a few drinks, too. Oh, and one more thing—don’t trust men. None of them are any good.”

“Lena, stop it!” I cried, my voice trembling. “If you’re going, I’m going too. If you don’t live, neither will I.”

I moved toward Hayden and Lena, ready to take her place.

Before I could get far, someone grabbed my arm, jerking me back.

Startled, I whipped around.