When I saw Emma, my lips curved. “Foolish and ignorant. You didn’t even check that this woman is my enemy. Truly, thank you, father.”

I raised the gun again and aimed at his forehead. “Perfect. Let me kill two birds with one stone.”

Seeing that I was truly fearless, my stepfather panicked, and his face twisted with disbelief. “If you dare kill me, this woman will surely die before me!”

I raised an eyebrow. “Then go ahead and try.”

As I was about to pull the trigger, I felt cold pressure at my waist crawl across my back.

A gun barrel was pressed against me from behind.

Then a voice I knew rang out, “Let your people release Emma, and I will let you go.”

In disbelief, I turned my head and saw the cold, ruthless Easton. When his eyes met mine, he quickly looked away. In a voice just for us, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Betrayal hit me like falling into a cold pond, struggling blindly, and then drowning in hopelessness.

Seeing me held by one of my own, my stepfather laughed up at the sky.

“Didn’t expect it, Tisha, you’d have a day like this too!” He nodded at Easton with satisfaction. “Very good.”