It was a premeditated act of revenge.


    "Chief Taylor, we''ve got bad news!" Another policeman rushed over, covered in sweat. "The killer is at


    the rooftop with a hostage! He threatened to jump to his death with the hostage if we refused to release


    him."


    Then, he handed a phone to Cyrus. Cyrus took the phone and saw the scene of Denver bellowing at


    the policemen with a female hostage in his arms.


    His eyes widened in shock as he recognized a pale-looking and tear-stricken Lauren in Denver''s grip.


    His heart sank, and panic surged through his veins.


    How could Lauren be the hostage?


    Cyrus, who had always dealt with the toughest armed criminals with calm, found himself breathing


    unevenly. He immediately dashed toward the rooftop.


    At the same time, Angelina rushed toward him with fury in her eyes, holding Lauren''s teddy bear.


    "Is the hostage... Madam Lauren? Is that true?" She sounded teary.


    Cyrus nodded with a serious face. She looked like she was on the brink of a breakdown.


    She offered, "I''ll go with you!"


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "I know you''re in a panic, but your presence will only worsen the situation. You know nothing about the


    criminal, and you don''t have the negotiation skills. If you provoke the criminal, he might take Lauren''s


    life!" Cyrus advised.


    Then, he stared into her misty eyes. His tone softened. "Have faith in the police; trust me!"


    "Mr. Cyrus, please save Madam, no matter what it takes!" Angelina had no choice but to plead with


    Cyrus and ced all her hope on him, even when she knew he was a thorn in Landon''s flesh.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll risk my life to save Lauren because it''s my duty as a policeman," Cyrus promised.


    After that, he warned Angelina, "Do not alert Landon Harper just yet. He''s a hot-tempered man. I fear


    he might show up with his men to blow up the school in a panic. Listen to my instructions if you want


    Lauren back safe and sound."


    It took Cyrus only five minutes to race up the rooftop from the first floor and memorize the background


    information of Denver Whitman.


    Within five minutes, he had to structure the negotiation and construct various scenarios to rescue the


    hostage. He even had to consider the worst-case scenario.


    In his long career, he had been involved in hostage rescue countless times. He had even faced


    criminals armed with knives and hostages with bombs nted on them.


    This time around, his face turned white from shock and his mind went nk before he opened the door


    to the rooftop, perhaps because Lauren Beckett was the hostage in a daunting crisis.


    He heard a remark from his earset. "Chief Taylor, the snipers are in position!"


    Snapping back to reality, he said coldly, "Do not fire without my orders. We need to protect the


    hostage!"


    Then, he opened the door and headed toward Denver Whitman with determination.


    "Do not take one step closer. If you do that, I''ll sh her neck!" Eyes filled with a murderous look,


    Denver pressed the de harder against Lauren''s neck.


    He made a cut on her neck, and blood started trickling from the wound.


    A couple of policemen stood not far away from Denver with guns in their hands, but none dared to


    approach him.


    Tears rolled down Lauren''s cheeks. She shut her eyes in despair. In the moment of desperation, all she


    could think of was Landon, her one and only love. She muttered his name repeatedly, "Landon...


    Landon, I''m scared."


    "Denver Whitman, calm down! Don''t make any move!" A familiar voice echoed in the area, surprising


    Lauren. She slowly opened her eyes.


    Spotting Cyrus, she called out to him, "Cyrus. Cyrus!"