?


    Taylor held Yvonne hostage and dragged her toward the back of the church.


    However, there was nowhere left for him to run.


    The police had surrounded the church from all sides, leaving Taylorpletely trapped with no escape route.


    "Stop fighting against them..."


    As he tightly held Yvonne in his arms, Yvonne''s face turned pale. Her lips had turned a bluish-purple from being choked for so long. "You have no way out... You and Christopher are finished!"


    "Shut up!" Taylor shouted, his eyes bloodshot and his body trembling uncontrobly.


    But Yvonneughed. Her expression showed relief, joy, and contentment.


    With nowhere to escape, Taylor had no choice but to take her up a rundown ten-story tower behind the church.


    The police had blocked all exits and surrounded the tower. They left him with only one option: to call for backup. A helicopter might be his only way out.


    However, when Taylor called every confidant and subordinate he could reach, it seemed like they had all conspired against him. They refused to answer his calls.


    "Damn it! A bunch of ungrateful bastards!" Taylor fumed.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Haha... Do you still think you''re the all-powerful secretary to the chairman of the Iverson Group? Do you still think those crooks in Sentania will still bow to you?"


    Yvonne''s eyes shone brightly as sheughed openly, her disdain and contempt for him obvious. "When rtionships are based on benefits, they end when the benefit does. When based on power, they crumble when the power fades. You and Christopher are nothing but defeated dogs now. There''s only one path left for you-death!"


    "Do you think I did all this for myself?! I did it for us!" Taylor tightened his grip on the numb woman in his arms. He was on the verge of a breakdown. Do you have any idea how much I''ve sacrificed to be with you? Do you know that for over a decade, I''ve dreamed of being with you and marrying you? Yvonne... Why can''t you understand how I feel? Why are you praying for my downfall? Haven''t I been good to you? Haven''t I?"


    "All these years, Christopher humiliated, abused, and exploited me... He sent me to different men to gain benefits and satisfy his desires." Yvonne closed her eyes in pain with hatred. The wickedughter of those men echoed in her ears, and the unbearable scenes yed out before her eyes. "You just watched for years. Did you ever help me, even once?"


    Taylor''s body shook violently, his hand trembling uncontrobly while holding the gun.


    "You were terrified of Christopher. You were afraid of him. No, it wasn''t just fear. You admired him, respected him, and willingly submitted to him. As for me, you were just waiting for the right moment, when I had lost all value, to ask Christopher for me as your reward. After all, you''d been his loyal dog for so many years. Christopher would have no reason to refuse you. Taylor, you can lie to yourself all you want. But if you''re trying to lie to me like you did to yourself, just save it." Yvonne coldly exposed his so-called act of deep affection.


    "Yvonne..." Taylor was desperate, angry, and heartbroken. However, he was at a loss for words to argue.


    Because her every word hit its mark and struck straight to the heart.


    This time, even he could not lie to himself.


    "Yvonne!"


    Drew was the first to rush up to the tower''s roof, his hand gripping his gun so tightly that his veins bulged. He aimed directly at Taylor''s head. "Let her go! I won''t say it again!"


    Yvonne''s wedding dress, now soaked in cold sweat, clung to her trembling body. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at her lover who was steadily approaching her. She felt like a bloody nail was lodged in her throat, rendering her able to speak. All she could do was shake her head repeatedly at him.


    But she knew that the word "retreat” did not exist in Drew''s dictionary.


    "Damn it... If you''ve got the guts, then shoot!" Taylorughed wildly, taunting the man before him. "If you shoot, she won''t live either!"


    Large beads of sweat gathered on Drew''s forehead, soon rolling down his sharp, handsome face.


    His heart pounded as if it might burst out of his chest.


    He did not dare think about what might happen the next second. Otherwise, his hand might shake, and his aim might falter.


    Yvonne was not just anyone. She was his first love. She was one of a kind in the world.


    He could not afford to gamble on her life. He could not afford to lose her.


    "What do you want?" Drew''s pale lips trembled slightly, his inner conflict visible in his eyes.


    "Within half an hour, I want $200 million and a helicopter! Let Yvonne and me leave this ce!" Drew gritted his teeth, fury boiling inside him.


    Not far behind him, Asher and Ralphy in ambush, ready to act at any moment.


    Ralph cursed under his breath. “$200 million? In half an hour?! Even if we emptied every bank in this city, we wouldn''t have enough!" "We can." The shadows obscured Asher''s handsome face. He then spoke coolly, "I have enough in my ount. We can use my money."


    Ralph was dumbfounded. “Oh my god! Can we be friends, Mr. Millionaire?!"


    "In this life, we''re brothers. We can


    be friends in our next life." Although it was not the time for jokes, Asher


    still yed along with his sel


    sudden shift in tone, easing


    tension just a little. "But I don''t think


    we''ll need that money will


    never let this guy leave this ce alive."