Just as the four bodyguards were about to chase Sophie down the stairs, she shouted, "Vanessa! The rules only said hunters could chase, not bodyguards!" "The rules are mine to make, and what I say, goes!" Vanessa shot back, ice in her voice. "Seize her!"


    "On it!" The bodyguards charged at Sophie in unison. She took two steps back and challenged, "Have you thought about what''ll happen if youy a hand on me?" Unfazed, Sophie continued, "How much is Vanessa paying you? I can double it!"


    But the bodyguards didn''t flinch, and Sophie frowned.


    Vanessaughed from the sidelines, "Oh Sophie, save your breath! No one''s gonna take your money today! Today is your end!"


    As the bodyguards closed in, blocking her escape, Sophie took a deep breath, gearing up for a fight.


    "Get her!"


    They lunged at Sophie all at once. She dodged with agility, but the cramped stairwell soon became too tight to maneuver. Just then, someone stepped in front of her, kicking the oing hunters down the stairs. Logan grabbed Sophie''s hand and made a break for it, with the bodyguards hot on their tail.


    "If this keeps up, we''re done for!" Sophie panted after nearly two hours of running and extreme tension, her energy waning and legs growing weak.


    Seeing her struggle, Logan tightened his grip, "If you don''t want to die, run faster. If they catch us, it''s over!"


    "Catch them!" The hunters and


    bodyguards were closing in. Logan, hearing their footsteps growing louder, whispered coldly in Sophie''s ear, "Everyone''s after us now. Take


    the right staircase to the fiftake


    floor;


    I''ll hold them off here."


    "No way!" Sophie protested, but Logan pushed her downward before she could finish.


    As the group nearly caught up with Logan, he stood his ground, waiting for them.


    Realizing arguing was pointless, Sophie veered right to the staircase.


    Back on the second floor, a blind spot, Vanessa could only vaguely see a struggle, missing Sophie''s escape.


    Meanwhile, all the socialites had gathered on the second floor, blocking Sophie''s path.


    "Move!" she shouted, thinking of Logan still fighting. Every second she wasted added to his danger.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ladies! If we catch her, we''re


    saved!" Desperation filled their eyes as several lunged at Sophie. This time she didn''t hold back, kicking them to the ground.


    In the stairwell, Logan fought fiercely. His mask slipped off in the scuffle revealing James''s face Distracted, a bodyguard stabbed him in the thigh with a small knife.


    James grunted in pain, copsing.


    Just then, a loud noise erupted from outside.