Even as curiosity and nervousness pricked beneath her skin, Selina suppressed them, unwilling to ask about his intentions. His ruthless warning was still fresh in her mind as she silently followed him until they entered a basement on the mansion grounds.
As they moved further in, she noticed six men standing guard at the corners, with a familiar figure kneeling in front of the empty sofa.
It was her father.
Fear twisted her expression as she rushed past Zane toward him. She dropped to her knees in front of Hudson, narrowing her brows in worry at the sight of his bruised face and swollen cheeks.
She didn't look impressed, but she couldn't play dumb about why he was in such a state after everything Zane revealed to her.
"Father, what are you doing here?" she asked, concern threading through her voice.
Hudson, who looked shocked at Selina's presence, glanced around at the men before answering. "I was about to leave after you did, but these men said they were from Mr. Zane and that he wanted to see me."
Her worry deepened, sinking into her chest like a weight. "Did they hit you?"
"Yes. They hit me whenever I demanded to be let go," Hudson explained, his voice betraying his agitation.
Selina could feel her heart tighten at the thought of what he had endured. She lifted a hand, brushing off the stain of blood that clung to his bruise. "I'm sorry you have to face this," her voice came low, trembling with emotions.
"It's just a scratch. I'm fine," Hudson said, trying to reassure her, though a flicker of pain still pulsed beneath his voice.
"Father…"
When his mind drifted to Selina's safety as panic surged in, he urged. "You can't be in such a dangerous place. Leave now, quickly."
"Mr. Zane brought me here, too," Selina replied, confusion crossing Hudson's face.
Hudson quickly scanned her body for signs of injury. Worry crept into his voice as he asked, "Did he hurt you?"
Selina shook her head. "No. He didn't hurt me. But he told me something," she said, embarrassed by the memory of the previous night, which she couldn't tell him.
Before they could speak further, Zane's chilling presence approached. The air shifted, thickening with uncertainty as he neared.
Zane settled into the sofa, crossing one leg over the other in front of them. His intense gaze fixed on them.
"Mr. Zane, I don't understand what you're doing," Hudson said, his voice tinged with confusion. "But you can't drag my daughter into a place like this. Let her go; I'll do whatever you want."
"There's a score to settle between us," Zane said, his voice low and menacing with deep-seated resentment, sending a chill through the room. "How can I let either of you go so easily?"
Hudson's brow furrowed in bewilderment. "I don't understand. Our groups have always been allies. We've never been enemies."
Zane clenched his jaw as his face darkened, intense emotions brewing beneath the surface. His gaze locked onto Hudson while watching him closely, and despite that, he couldn't tell if the old man was being ignorant or pretentious just to escape his retribution.
A ridiculous snort escaped his nostril as Zane pulled back from the sofa surface, leaning closer. "Seems I've grown so well you can't even recognise the boy you haunted with nightmares," he said coldly. "I envy your freedom."
Hudson adjusted his glasses, taking in Zane's features. This young man's bold and rude words did not offend him, nor could he deny the resentment simmering beneath his words.
"I'm not slow-witted," said Hudson. "If you don't mind, can you tell me about it?" He hoped he would settle things peacefully if there were a problem.
Zane clenched his fist.
"Don't you remember that night?" Zane's voice trembled at the edge. His tight jaw hardened more, battling to contain the flood of memories. "You killed my family and left me with nothing."
While Zane's words sounded like a thunderstorm, Selina froze, and her breath caught in her throat.
That's impossible. It can't be.
She swiftly spun her head toward her father, desperate for him to deny it. But when she saw the look in his eyes, her denial crumbled to dust.
A trace of guilt twisted across Hudson's face as he collapsed to the floor, a wave of that emotion threatening to overwhelm him. His mind flashed back to that tragic night, and now he realised the boy in front of him was Zane—the one he had wronged so terribly.
The one he never expected would survive such a tragedy.
Hudson crawled closer to Zane, clasping his hands. "Please, forgive me for what I've done. I never meant to cause you so much pain. I'll accept whatever punishment you deem fit," he said, his voice thick with regret that had been gnawing on him over decades.
Zane's expression remained stoic and untouched by the sincerity in Hudson's voice. Instead, that bitterness and revenge feeling was boiling inside of him.
"Forgiveness?" Zane snorted. "You'll never get such luxury from me."
Hudson's heart skipped a beat at the finality in Zane's tone. "Everything that I cherish?" He muttered as his mind flashed to his family.
Zane gestured, and Damien stepped forward, handing a document to Hudson. Hudson hesitated before accepting it, dread creeping into his chest as he scanned the words.
His heart almost sank and lost its beat at the thorough read of Zane's demand.
"I'm sorry. I can't give you my assets or shares," Hudson declined in a soft tone.
Zane narrowed his eyes, his voice turning deadly as his patience thinned. "Then I'll make you sign it and bury both your bodies in the woods."
Hudson's heart raced as he locked eyes with Zane, stepping in front of Selina like a shield of armour. "I don't care what happens to me, but please—spare Selina. She's suffered enough. She's innocent in all this. Don't make her bear the weight of my sins," he begged, his voice cracking with desperation.
Hudson never intended to enrage Zane by his refusal. But he had gathered and protected that wealth for her future, in case the Everett family ever rejected her.
A dull ache stung Selina's chest, shattering into pieces at her father's self-sacrifice. She shook her head vehemently in disapproval. "You can't say that, Father. You didn't do it! I won't let you atone with your life!" she retorted, her eyes welling with tears as she clung to him desperately.
She wouldn't allow even a piece of him to be touched again.
Hudson gave her a sad smile, his hand trembling as he cupped hers. "I've failed you, Selina. I've always wanted the best for you. But this is the truth. Dad is sorry," he whispered.
Selina's voice cracked as she pleaded, "Don't say that. I know you cannot hurt anyone for a selfish reason or whatever! Tell him it was never intentional. Please, don't leave me. Please," Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, desperate for him to take back his words.
Zane watched them with a cold, calculating gaze, yet their grief stirred something deep in his chest. A reminder of when he was once in a desperate situation like this, where his cries and pleas went futile. He lost everything precious to him in one night.
It tightened his heart, aching terribly at those painful memories.
Unable to contain the atmosphere, his infuriated voice sliced through the room. "Whether she lives a peaceful life or a miserable one depends on me," he threatened. "And so does your family's fate."
His words struck Selina and Hudson like a blow, and her breath caught in her throat. The finality of his tone was chilling.
"Please, let her go. She's innocent. Don't make her pay for my mistakes," Hudson begged, his voice cracking with remorse.
Zane's cold smirk deepened with satisfaction to see how frightened, helpless and desperate Hudson sounded. He rose from the sofa, walking toward Selina, and got closer in no time.
Pulling her into his arms, Zane wrapped his arms around her neck and retrieved a gun from his coat. Selina's heart raced, panic flooding her veins as the cold barrel pressed against her skull.
Cold sweats dripping down her spine.
"Don't kill her!" Hudson shouted, struggling against the men holding him back. "Please, don't shoot!"
Zane leaned close to Selina, his voice a low whisper in her ear. "You have ten seconds to sign the document. If you don't, I'll bury your favourite daughter first," he said, his tone filled with unyielding authority.
Hudson flashed a resigned smile at Selina, who remained in a subconscious state. Struggling to lift his aching body, he took the pen from Damien. Without hesitation, he signed the documents with trembling hands.
Once Hudson had finished, Damien stepped forward and collected the papers.
"I've signed the document. Now let her go!" Hudson demanded, dread thick in his voice. His heart pounded violently, tightening with each beat at the sight of his daughter standing on the edge of death.
Zane's expression hardened, darkening with the weight of vengeance as he shifted his aim.
Bang!!
The gunshot rang through the air, and Selina's body jolted before collapsing to the ground, helpless and unmoving.