"T–the injuries suggests," the guard continued carefully, "that Sir Aiden was shot by a right-handed individual. Sir Aiden is left-handed. The doctor confirmed the trajectory could not have been self-inflicted."
Mr. Hugh did not respond.
"And lastly… Sir Aiden's firearm was missing when we found him. It appears to be the same gun the prisoners used to fight their way out. Security footage confirms it—you can see it clearly, sir."
Mr. Hugh stared at Mrs. Hugh for a long moment. Slowly, deliberately, he set the gun in his hand down.
Mrs. Hugh released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Then Mr. Hugh spoke.
"But the footage at the entrance of the holding room," he said calmly, "shows Aiden leading them out himself." His eyes sharpened. "Explain that."
The guard straightened. "Our conclusion, sir, is that he was threatened."
Mr. Hugh scoffed softly "Threatened?" he repeated gently, as if tasting the word.
He stepped closer. "Do you know what threatening a loyal man like Aiden requires?"
The guard shook his head, unable to speak.
"Conviction," Mr. Hugh continued calmly. "Fear alone doesn't work on men like him."
The guard hurried on. "Yes, sir." The guard hesitated, then pressed on. "We also confirmed outside assistance. There was an intrusion in the prison ring. I have the footage here."
He handed over a tablet.
"One of the intruders is affiliated with the assassins who took Liam—also a foreigner. The other is local."
Mr. Hugh watched the footage in silence. His expression never changed.
"And why would she help them?" he asked coolly. "I doubt they knew each other beforehand. Was it money? Fear?"
"No, sir. Neither."
The guard swallowed. "She's the woman Nanali mentioned. The one who hid them."
Mr. Hugh's eyes lifted slowly. "Then she's not brave," he said. "She's sentimental."
A pause.
"And sentiment is a weakness that always leads people back to you."
He handed the tablet back.
"Find her. Strip her life open. I want to know where she eats, who she speaks to, and what she dreams about. She will lead us to where those rats are hiding."
Mr. Hugh turned slightly."And how did they get inside?"
The guard hesitated. His eyes flicked briefly to Mrs. Hugh—then back.
"It appears they entered through a delivery truck… ordered by Mrs. Hugh."
Mrs. Hugh's head snapped up. "I—I swear I had nothing to do with this," she said quickly. "I would never betray you. I didn't know—when I realized they were women, I suspected something was wrong. I should've double-checked—"
Mr. Hugh was already moving.
She closed her eyes, bracing herself.
Instead, he pulled her close, one hand firm at her waist. He lifted her chin gently with two fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"My dear," he said softly, smiling, "why are you panicking?"
She opened her eyes.
"If you had betrayed me," he continued calmly, "you wouldn't be standing here explaining yourself."
His smile sharpened.
"And besides… you don't possess the imagination required to plan something like this."
He released her and turned away, as if she no longer existed.
"They know the passcodes now. Reinforce everything." Then his voice hardened. "Execute the first batch of prisoners."
The guard stiffened.
"All of them," Mr. Hugh added evenly.
"Dispose of the bodies. Quietly. I'm bored of broken things, done wasting time on old stock."
A thin smile crept across his face.
"I want new ones."
A pause.
"Liam's assassins especially. They resist."
His eyes gleamed.
"And resistance makes the lesson memorable."
"Yes, sir," the guard said immediately.
"And Carrington," Mr. Hugh added without turning, "is to know nothing. If he asks, tell him thieves got ambitious."
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Hugh cast one last glance at Aiden's restrained form—then turned and walked out.
As the door shot the guard exhaled shakily.
"I've never seen him this invested before," he muttered, almost in awe, he glanced at Mrs Hugh "Those prisoners must be something."
Mrs. Hugh shot him a look of pure contempt and walked away without a word.
The guard chuckled quietly, bowed mockingly toward Aiden, then locked the door behind him.
Silence returned.
Aiden finally leaned back, exhaling through a crooked smile.
"Damn it, Jason…" he murmured. "You might've just saved my life."
He let out a quiet laugh.
"Smart little bastard. He knew exactly what would happen."
Aiden stared at the ceiling.
"Wherever you are," he said softly, "I hope you're far from here."
Liam and Hannah were locked inside one of the mansion's inner rooms, sealed off "for protection" after the gunshots echoed through the grounds. Armed guards stood watch just outside the door.
Hannah sat on the bed, thumbs flying across her phone, completely unbothered.
Liam paced the room, nerves coiling tighter with every second. Finally, he stopped.
"Do you know what's happening out there?"
Hannah didn't look up. "…Oh. You were talking to me?"
Liam gave her a look. There was literally no one else.
"Well," she said lazily, still typing, "I heard some guards saying some new prisoners escaped."
Liam froze. "New prisoners?"
"Yeah." She shrugged. "Probably the ones who kidnapped you. Those guys were insane. I still can't believe they escaped Dad."
Liam's heart jumped.
Jason…
"They escaped?" he thought, relief blooming in his chest—until Hannah continued.
"I honestly don't get why they even came for you," she added. "Like… what did they see in you? There's nothing special there."
She smirked faintly. "I mean, why didn't they kidnap me? I'm clearly more important. It actually kind of hurts they chose you over me."
Liam should've felt crushed. But he didn't,
He was already used to it.
All he felt was relief. Jason and the others were free.
The door suddenly opened.
Mrs Hugh swept in, eyes wide with panic—but they went straight to Hannah barely sparing Liam a glance.
"Hannah, darling—are you hurt? Did anyone touch you?" she asked, gripping her shoulders, inspecting her like fragile glass.
"I'm fine, Mother," Hannah said, annoyed.
Mrs Hugh barely heard her. She kept checking.
Liam stood quietly off to the side, forgotten.
I'm glad big bro escaped, he thought. I wonder what they'll do next… will they come back for me? A faint smile tugged at his lips. I hope they do. They're the only ones who ever treated me like I mattered.
Then his smile vanished.
Mr Butler…
The realization hit him hard.
I didn't even look for him. He didn't come to see me. I haven't seen him since I got here.
"Where's Mr Butler?" Liam asked suddenly.
The room went still.
Hannah slowly turned to him "…You don't know?"
Mrs Hugh's hand flew over Hannah's mouth.
"Enough," she whispered sharply. "He's already broken. Don't make it worse. If your father senses weakness, you know what he'll do."
She turned back to Liam, her face smoothing into something fake. "He went on a vacation," she said calmly.
Liam blinked. "A… vacation?"
"Yes."
"Butlers don't take vacations," he whispered. His voice cracked.
"Well, this one did," Mrs Hugh replied coolly. "You were always clinging to him. Following him everywhere. He got tired of you."
Hannah smirked.
"Yeah. A really long vacation. Might not even come ba—"
Liam's breath broke. "That's a lie!"
Tears spilled before he could stop them. "That's not true! Mr Butler never got tired of me!"
Mrs Hugh raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know that?"
"Because he smiled when he was with me," Liam said, shaking. "And those smiles were real."
He looked at her then—really looked at her. His voice went cold. "Not like the ones you give me."
The slap came fast.
His head snapped to the side. He stayed standing.
"If big bro were here," Liam whispered, fists clenched, tears pouring freely now, "he'd never let you hit me. He always protected me. Something none of you ever did!"
Another slap—harder.
Liam fell to the floor.
"You ungrateful brat!" Mrs Hugh snapped. "After everything I've done for you—no wonder the butler left. You selfish good for nothing."
She turned toward the door."You're staying here. No dinner. You don't leave this room."
Liam's voice shook from the floor. "I don't believe you… Mr Butler wouldn't abandon me. Not unless something bad happened. He'll come back. I know he will."
Hannah scoffed quietly."Yeah. From heaven."
Mrs Hugh grabbed Hannah's hand and dragged her out without looking back. The door slammed shut. A key turned. She faced the guard.
"Do not let him out," she ordered. "Even if he begs."
The footsteps faded.
Liam curled in on himself, silent sobs wracking his body. "If Mr. Butler is gone…" he whispered through sniffles, "who'll take my side? Who'll play with me?" His shoulders shook.
"I'll be all alone again…"
He wiped his face desperately. "There's no way it's true. Maybe he had family problems… yeah, that must be it.His voice broke completely."I don't want to be alone in this house. Dad is scary. Please… come back."
He hugged himself tighter."Please… come back. I don't want to be alone." His cries faded into the silence.