Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)

"Colby, you-"

"Get your people to find her, I've got other matters to handle."

"What could be more important than finding Sophie?"

A fierce glint flashed in Colby's eyes. "Whoever hurt her, I will never forgive them."

On the fifth floor, Vanessa's anger erupted into a frenzy as she saw Colby arrive and everyone scattered. "Colby! Colby! Why must you always ruin my plans? Is Sophie really that important to you? So important that you'd come to her rescue despite your own injuries?" Vanessa screamed, trying to vent her rage.

She didn't notice Sophie had already crept up behind her.

"The game's over."

Sophie's voice was breathless. Vanessa turned, but Sophie was faster. Not knowing what Vanessa might do next, she pinned her to the floor without hesitation.

Vanessa, frail as she was, stood no chance and was firmly restrained.

"Do you enjoy playing with lives? Does killing give you a thrill? Vanessa, this time I won't hold back just because of your connection to Colby. Spill everything you know! Otherwise, I have ways to make you wish you were dead but keep you alive!" Sophie knew Vanessa's actions were driven by a death wish.

But she wouldn't let Vanessa take the easy way out. Today's events were way beyond what Vanessa could pull off alone; someone had to be pulling the strings, using Vanessa as a pawn to get to her.

Even if Vanessa's actions were exposed and failed, she would never betray the mastermind due to her death wish and hatred. This would ensure Sophie's future was filled with turmoil.

And the mastermind could wash their hands clean of the whole affair.

Vanessa was just a pawn, a tool for murder.

"Sophie! What gives you the right? Let go of me!"

Vanessa screamed towards the hall, "Someone! Kill Sophie! Kill her!"

Sophie noticed the four bodyguards who had been with Vanessa were nowhere to be seen.

Inside the hall, Odie's people must have arrived, leaving Vanessa isolated.

She had noticed earlier that Odie's men had captured all the hunters, but those four bodyguards, along with the masked individuals from

the

second floor, were still missing...

Those people had to be of some significance.

"Why... Why did you leave... Kill Sophie! Kill her!"

Vanessa's cries went unanswered.

Finding sudden strength, she overpowered Sophie and knocked her down. Sophie stumbled, and Vanessa scrambled to pull a knife from her black handbag, ready to charge at Sophie. But then, a gunshot echoed through the hall.

Silence fell instantly.

Vanessa stared incredulously at her arm, now bleeding from the bullet

wound, and the knife dropped from

her hand.

She turned and saw Colby, his face dark and eyes cold, looking at her as if she were already dead.

"Colby... anyone in this world can hurt me... but you, you can't hurt me anymore!"