Walker Grant never did anything unprepared. On his way here, he had already set everything up. The moment Miles Hawthorne showed his face, hidden snipers would take aim at his head.

Miles Hawthorne’s target was Chloe Reed. He had already planned one assassination attempt after another. Now that an opportunity had finally presented itself, he certainly wouldn’t let it slip away.

Miles Hawthorne glanced up, as if he knew he was being targeted. He showed not a shred of fear, just a faint smile as he said, "The switch is in another man’s hands. The moment something happens to me, he’ll press it, and this little kid will be turned into a pincushion."

He pointed at Noah, suspended in mid-air, his lips curling into a bloodthirsty grin. "Walker Grant, have you really made your choice?"

"Walker Grant! Walker, I’m begging you, you have to save Noah! He’s your older brother’s only child! Your brother was so good to you... He took your place on that plane back then. If it wasn’t for him, you would be the one who died. For his sake, because he died for you, please save his only son, okay?"

Sunny Reed begged and cried relentlessly, her tear-streaked face turned toward Walker Grant.

The small boy dangled in mid-air, a bed of sharp steel plates directly beneath him. His fate hung by a single, thin rope.

He was frozen with fear, staring blankly at the scene. He no longer even had the strength to cry.

"Walker, I’m begging you... If you save Noah, I’ll do anything you ask. I’m willing to die if you want..." Sunny Reed’s desperate pleas continued.

Her sobs echoed through the vast, empty factory.

A chill ran through Chloe Reed. She looked at the playful, mocking expression on Miles Hawthorne’s face and spoke up. "Fine. But at least let me die knowing why. Who exactly wants to kill me?"

A thoughtful expression flickered across Miles Hawthorne’s face. "Nope," he finally said. "You’re not dead yet, so I can’t say a thing."

Chloe gave a wry twist of her lips. "Then how would I find out the truth once I’m dead?"

"Then you can just be a ghost who died in ignorance." Miles shrugged. "You can only pray that you aren’t born into such a complicated family in your next life."

’A complicated family...’

That was the only clue he had revealed.

And yet, it still left her completely in the dark.

Chloe slowly lowered her gaze. Then, she looked up at Walker Grant, her face deathly pale. "After this is over, take Sunny Reed to get the antidote. You have to make sure Grandma is cured. Then, send her home. Don’t let her come back here again."

It was as if she already knew what Walker Grant would choose and was now giving her last words.

Walker Grant’s sharp brows furrowed. A surge of irritation washed over him as he watched her, so calm and ready to face death.

’Is she that certain I won’t choose her?’

’She’s never trusted me, has she?’

’From the day the cracks first appeared in their relationship, her trust in him had completely vanished.’

’No matter how much I’ve done, she chooses to ignore it.’

’This must be what it feels like to have your heart ache so much you can’t breathe.’ Walker Grant took a deep breath, trying to ease the suffocating pain.

When Walker still didn’t say anything, Chloe gave up hope that he would. She simply turned and started walking toward Miles Hawthorne.

The next second, a hand seized her wrist. She glanced down and felt the grip tighten, as if he were trying to crush the very bones within.

Then, his voice followed, sharp and seething. "Chloe Reed, I told you before. You can’t die without my permission!"