The gunshot echoed like a thunderclap, ripping through the chaos and freezing time for a single, horrifying second. Ariana had just reached her daughter, her arms stretching forward, her heart already breaking at the thought of being too late—when suddenly, a body moved between them.
A sharp gasp filled the air.
Then—silence.
Ariana's eyes widened as she saw the small figure still untouched in front of her. Her daughter was safe. Completely unharmed.
But someone else wasn't.
Slowly, almost unwillingly, Ariana lifted her gaze.
And her breath stopped.
Victoria stood there.
Right in front of the child.
Her body stiff. Her expression frozen.
A dark stain began to spread across her side, the red seeping through her clothes like a cruel truth no one could ignore.
For a moment, no one moved.
No one breathed.
"Why…?" Ariana whispered, her voice breaking as she stared at her in disbelief.
Victoria swayed slightly, her grip loosening as the gun slipped from her hand and clattered onto the floor. Her usual confident, mocking expression was gone. In its place—something softer. Something human.
She let out a weak, almost breathless laugh.
"Don't… look at me like that," she said faintly. "I hate… pity."
Ariana quickly stepped forward, catching her before she could collapse completely. "You're bleeding," she said, panic rising in her voice. "We need to stop the bleeding—"
Victoria shook her head weakly. "Too late… I know it."
Her eyes slowly shifted—to the little girl.
For the first time, there was no calculation in her gaze. No manipulation. Just a quiet, almost painful honesty.
"I didn't… hate her," Victoria murmured. "I just… hated you."
Those words hit hard—but this time, they didn't carry the same venom.
Ariana clenched her jaw, tears streaming down her face. "Then why save her?"
Victoria's lips curved slightly.
"Because…" she whispered, her voice fading, "she's innocent… unlike all of us."
A heavy silence followed.
Behind them, the chaos had slowed. Adrian had taken down the remaining men, his breathing heavy, his eyes still scanning for any threat. But when he saw the scene in front of him—
He froze.
Victoria… on the ground.
Dying.
He walked closer, his steps slower than usual, something unreadable crossing his face.
Victoria looked up at him.
For a second, something like regret flickered in her eyes.
"Don't… look so surprised," she said weakly. "Even villains… get tired."
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
Then, quietly, he said, "You should've chosen a different side."
Victoria let out a faint chuckle, which quickly turned into a cough.
"Too late for that…"
Her breathing grew shallow.
Her gaze shifted one last time—to Ariana.
"Your daughter…" she whispered, struggling to get the words out, "protect her… from your mother-in-law…"
Ariana leaned closer. "What do you mean? What is she planning?"
Victoria's eyes flickered.
"She's not… done yet…"
And then—
Her body went still.
The faint rise and fall of her chest—
Stopped.
Ariana froze.
"Victoria…?" she called softly.
No response.
The reality settled in slowly.
Victoria was gone.
A complicated silence filled the space she left behind.
Ariana closed her eyes for a brief moment, then gently laid her down.
No more hatred.
No more rivalry.
Just… an ending.
A small tug on her clothes pulled her back.
"Mom…"
Ariana turned instantly.
Her daughter stood there, tears in her eyes, her small hands trembling.
That one word—
It broke everything inside Ariana.
She dropped to her knees and pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if letting go would make her disappear again.
"I'm here," Ariana whispered, her voice shaking. "I'm here… I've got you."
The little girl clung to her, burying her face in her shoulder.
"I was scared…"
Ariana's tears fell freely now, but her grip only tightened.
"You're safe now," she said softly. "No one's going to hurt you again."
Adrian watched them from a distance.
For the first time—
There was no anger in his eyes.
No control.
Just… something quieter.
Something real.
But the moment didn't last.
Because deep inside—
He knew.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
Ariana slowly pulled back, gently wiping her daughter's tears, trying to memorize every detail of her face.
Then—
She froze.
Her eyes moved slightly downward.
To the child's wrist.
There—
Faint, but unmistakable—
Was the same symbol.
The serpent.
Her heart dropped instantly.
"No…" she whispered.
Adrian noticed the change. "What is it?"
Ariana couldn't speak for a second.
Then finally—
"They marked her."
Silence.
Cold. Heavy.
Because that could only mean one thing—
This wasn't just a kidnapping.
This was a claim.
Cliffhanger:
👉 Somewhere far away—
Adrian's mother watches a live feed and smiles…
"Now the real game begins." 😈
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