Chapter 279: Before she heard
Alexander’s POV
“Are you sure you can handle this?” I ask Collins, glancing sideways at him. “I mean… I’ll understand if you don’t feel up to it. I can face Malik myself, you know that.”
Collins scoffs, shifting on his feet. “And that’s exactly why I need to do this,” he says. “I don’t want to sit around, dwelling on everything. Whatever Aria decides… I have to respect that.”
He exhales, then lifts his head and raises an eyebrow at me, his usual teasing spark flickering through. “And whose friend am I again?” he asks. “You think I’m going to leave you alone now? No way.”
His voice tightens slightly, but he pushes through. “Now that we’ve got real info about him, I just need to make him see the risk of silence. He talks, or he loses everything. Don’t worry, Alex. I can do this.”
Then he’s walking ahead, like the weight of everything he’s carrying doesn’t matter.
I shove my hands into my pockets, watching him.
I know he’s hurting.
He’s just trying hard not to show it.
Collins has always been like that—brave, bold, never scared of what life throws at him. Sometimes I think he’s stronger than I am. Always ready to help. Even now, when his heart’s clearly breaking… I feel useless. Because I don’t know how to fix it. Or ease his pain.
We walk into the basement.
Malik sits tied to the chair, his face bruised—a souvenir from the last time he dared mock me. That blow should’ve humbled him, but as his eyes meet mine, he scoffs. Arrogance still clings to him, like he doesn’t fully understand the position he’s in.
But today… we didn’t come empty-handed.
Collins steps forward, folding his arms. “Still laughing?” he says coldly. “Let’s see if you’ll still laugh after I show you what I’ve got. Who knows—you might finally understand the weight of what you’ve done.”
Malik’s expression shifts. He blinks, uncertain. I catch the flicker of fear in his eyes.
I pull out my phone and turn the screen to him.
A video plays. A woman and a child, trapped in a dimly lit room.
“Daddy, please save me… Daddy…”
Their cries echo from the phone speaker, chilling and raw.
Malik’s face drains of all color. His hands clench into fists as he jerks against the ropes. “Don’t you dare hurt my daughter!” he growls, his voice cracking.
I raise a brow. “So you do care. Good. Then you know her safety depends on you.”
Malik trembles. “Please… I’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt them. I’m begging you.”
Collins laughs, his voice sharp. “Look who’s begging now. Can you believe this?”
I lean forward, locking eyes with Malik. “Then tell me everything about your boss. Her hideout. Her plans. Everything.”
A heavy silence stretches. My words hang in the air like cold steel.
He hesitates.
I straighten and step back. “You have a few seconds to decide. After that… I won’t be responsible for what happens to your family.”
“No! Please!” Malik screams. “I don’t know where she is. I swear, I don’t know her new hideout!”
I shake my head. “Then you leave me no choice—”
“The only thing I know,” he whispers suddenly, “is that… she’s planning an attack on Isabel.”
I freeze.
“What?” My heart jumps into my throat.
Malik breathes hard. “She’s targeting her. On the day of her wedding.”
Something inside me snaps. I grab his collar and pull him forward. “What do you mean attack? Who’s involved? Explain!”
He coughs, voice hoarse. “I don’t know where they are now… but Cynthia isn’t working alone. Her mother… they’re together now. They want revenge. On Isabel. On the day she’s supposed to marry Roy.”
My grip tightens around his shirt. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until Collins grabs my arm.
“Alex,” he says, pulling me back. “Let go. Breathe.”
I barely hear him.
Then a voice cuts through the air—sharp, familiar.
It pulls something loose inside me.
“Alexander!”
I turn, startled.
Standing at the doorway… is her.
Isabel.
Her face is flushed, red with something I can’t name. Her fists clenched at her side. Her eyes locked on me.
My mouth opens to speak, but no words come out.
Not a single one.