Chapter 55

Chapter 55
Third Person’s POV

“How’s everyone? Are you enjoying the game?”

Simultaneously, everyone in the room turned toward the speaker as a playful voice echoed from all four corners, coming from glowing speakers—a clear sign someone was speaking. Nearly everyone looked forward, eager to hear what the mysterious voice would say next.

“Uno…” Andrea whispered, his expression serious as his fists clenched tightly.

She was irritated. The voice was clearly toying with them, choosing to remain unseen, its only presence felt through the speakers.

“Lara, you're up first. Stand in front of Rigella, please,” Uno commanded.

Lara’s eyes widened, but she quickly obeyed. He didn’t want to admit it, but his 'wife’s' voice was terrifying. Fear crept into his chest like a cold shadow. He feared Uno might kill him if he disobeyed.

“Now, do whatever you want to her,” Uno ordered. Lara immediately smirked. “And no one is allowed to interfere,” Uno added, threatening everyone in the room.

Lara clenched his fists as he glared at Andrea with a cold, emotionless expression. He felt lucky and wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. He wanted revenge—revenge on the woman who had ruined his life.

“I’ve been wanting to hurt you for so long, you know that?” Lara’s voice was cold, her eyes glassy. “I want to make you suffer—more than I ever did. And now that I’ve been given the chance, I won’t waste it.” With that, she slapped Andrea hard across the face.

The loud slap echoed throughout the room. Lara’s breathing grew heavy as she lowered her hand. She had used all her strength—she was sure it had hurt.

Andrea’s head snapped to the side. The sting settled in, a faint ache blooming on her cheek. No one had ever dared to slap her before. No one laid hands on Andrea Steinfields.

A twisted grin spread across her lips. The pain dulled quickly, replaced by numbness. She laughed.

“That’s not funny!” Lara shouted, scowling.

Andrea bit her lower lip before meeting Lara’s glare. In her mind, she vowed: once she was free, she’d kill every single person in this room—except for Amethyst.

“That’s all you’ve got?” Andrea said defiantly.

“You’re not hurt?” Lara asked with a frown.

Andrea chuckled. No, she wasn’t hurt. She was furious. That slap had only fueled her rage.

“You think your little slap could hurt me? Keep dreaming,” she sneered. “Stupid bitch…” she muttered under her breath.

Lara heard it, and it made her blood boil. She grabbed Andrea’s hair, yanking it violently, as though she wanted to rip it from her scalp. But Andrea didn’t even flinch. She had gone numb—just like always.

“You manipulative, boyfriend-stealing bitch! I’ll kill you!” Lara screamed.

“And you, pathetic, sleazy mistress—I won’t let garbage like you take me down!” Andrea shouted back. Her voice echoed through the room.

“Oh really? What if I do this?” Lara turned to Ivan and snatched the gun from his hand. Ivan's eyes widened for a moment but then he relaxed and shrugged, acting like he didn’t care what she did.

Lara returned to Andrea and pointed the gun at her. She inhaled sharply, then smiled. Uno told her to do what she wanted—and what she wanted was Andrea dead.

“I’ll kill you. Accept your fate, Rigella Crisostomo,” Lara said with a crazed smile. She was ecstatic—one shot would end the life of the woman who ruined everything.

Andrea smiled back. “For your information, Rigella Crisostomo is already dead. Andrea Steinfields will remain alive,” she said, emphasizing every word.

“Oh really? What if I shoot you in the head right now? Will Andrea Steinfields still remain alive?” Lara asked mockingly.

Andrea nodded. “Yes. My spirit will remain, Lara. Killing me won’t be enough. I’ll haunt you with my revenge. You’ll beg me to finish you off.”

Her glare was deadly. If she weren’t tied up, she would have killed Lara herself.

“Still so full of yourself, bitch. Women like you—flirty and pathetic—should be eliminated,” Lara said calmly.

“Oh, coming from you? Really, Lara? Then go ahead and shoot yourself. Sounds like you’re describing yourself, not me,” Andrea snapped with a fake smile. “Because I’m not what you say I am—you just exposed yourself.”

“Ugh! Damn you! I’ll shoot you dead and let the worms feast on your corpse!” Lara screamed.

Andrea laughed again. “Worms? Wow. So classy. Must be the influence of your low-class upbringing.”

Then she grinned even wider. “But go on—shoot me. Because even if I die, the fact remains that I’m the one married to the man you love. I gave birth to his child. I carry his name. He’s mine. And he’ll never be yours.”

“No! You just stole him from me, you slut!” Lara cried, her voice trembling. Deep down, she knew Andrea was right. And she hated it.

Furious, Lara raised the gun to pull the trigger—but before she could, Uno’s voice boomed again.

“Time’s up. Drop the gun, Lara. Or I’ll order Dos to kill you,” he warned.

Lara gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and hurled the gun across the room. She stepped back, furious that Uno had stopped her.

Andrea, meanwhile, sat there smugly. She knew she wasn’t going to die—not today, not tomorrow, not ever. She would always live. No one could take her from this world. Not even the Devil himself.

“How are you feeling, Ms. Steinfields?” Uno asked through the speaker.

“I’m fantastic, Uno. You know, your people are weak. I haven’t even felt real pain yet,” Andrea taunted.

“Oh, really? Want me to have them beat you again?” Uno replied sarcastically.

Andrea rolled her eyes. “Nah, that’s boring. Untie me, and let’s shoot each other. That’ll end this stupid game.”

Uno laughed. “Still clever, huh? But no—you can’t fool me again. You’ll die here. In this building.”

Andrea narrowed her eyes. “Then why stop Lara from shooting me? You should’ve let her do it.”

“I want you to know the truth first. That’s all.”

Andrea scoffed dramatically. “I didn’t think you had it in you, Uno! Wow! You’re finally going to explain your pointless insanity?” she said with sarcastic delight.

Uno chuckled. Andrea clenched her fists—his mocking tone irritated her even more.

“Want me to start the story, cupcake?” he said sweetly.

Andrea’s face hardened. Only Seymour used to call her that. And Uno was no Seymour. He was a monster.

“Stop calling me ‘cupcake.’ It’s disgusting,” she spat.

“Alright then, Ms. Steinfields,” he said, voice cold again. “Let me tell you a story. Listen carefully. Ask anything you want—after all, you’re about to die. Might as well leave with answers.”

“Quit the drama. Just tell me the fucking truth,” Andrea snapped.

“The reason I’m doing all this is because… your father caused my father’s death,” Uno began.

Andrea frowned. That wasn’t what she’d heard. “But Dos told me my father killed yours,” she said, glancing at Ivan, who remained silent.

“And you believed him?” Uno scoffed. “You really think my father was killed? No—he had a heart attack. Your dad stole money from our company. Imagine that: your best friend betraying you. That’s what happened. My dad was devastated. The betrayal broke him.”

Andrea clenched her jaw. She cursed Ivan silently.

“Go on.”

“I left after that. Went to the U.S. No goodbyes. I didn’t want to hate you or your family. But I couldn’t stop. I was sixteen—trying to run a bankrupt company. My uncle helped me. I worked hard. I barely slept or ate. But I survived—for my family.”

“I wouldn’t have taken revenge. But your dad hurt us again.”

Andrea's stomach turned. “What now?”

“He raped my mother. My brother Dave tried to rob your dad's company. He got jailed. Our lives went to hell. Luckily, Darlyn was in Australia—she didn’t suffer as we did.”

Andrea looked at Darlyn, who now sobbed silently. She had no idea what had happened.

“No. My dad wouldn’t—he couldn’t—do that…” Andrea’s voice trembled.

“You really believe that? Your father and my mom were lovers in college. She dumped him for my dad. I think your dad befriended mine just to get revenge. Because he still loved my mom.”

Andrea’s breath caught. “No…”

“Yes, Rigella. Your perfect ‘best dad’ raped my mom. Your parents separated because your mom discovered the truth—and that your dad still loved mine.”

“Stop it! Stop lying!” Andrea screamed, tears now falling freely.

“I’m not lying. Your father’s evil turned me into this. I became worse than him.”

“Why did you kill my parents then? Why them?”

Uno chuckled. “For fun. I was bored—”

“Fuck you, Uno!” Andrea shrieked.

Uno laughed louder. “I’m joking. I killed them because your mom hated me for you, your brother tangled with Dark Alpha, and Rina betrayed me.”

“And me? Because I betrayed your org?”

“No. That I could forgive. It was something else.”

“What?” Andrea asked.

“You gave me false hope, Rigella,” he said softly. “At senior prom, you told me you liked me. You said you saw a future with me. But you ended up with him. You let my best friend get you pregnant.”

“Best friend?” Andrea frowned.

“Ivan. He was my best friend since elementary.”

She turned to Ivan—still the same.

“I don’t need to know that. You’re all liars,” she said.

Uno sighed. “Yes. We all lied. We fooled Andrea Steinfields…”

Andrea shut her eyes. Her whole world was crumbling.

“Got anything else to say? If not, just kill me already.”

“You want to die that badly?” came a new voice.

Andrea turned. It was Ivan, walking toward her with folded arms.

“You’re really going to give up? Not even fight for justice?” he asked gently.

Andrea blinked. He was right.

“You talk too much, Dos. Shoot her now,” Uno ordered.

Ivan smirked and looked at the ceiling camera.

“Sorry, Uno. I can’t kill the woman who taught me what love is.” Ivan pulled out his gun and shot the speaker and camera.

Andrea stared in disbelief.

“I got tired of pretending,” said Creed, stepping forward with a grin.

Ivan pulled out a knife and began cutting Andrea free.

“Did you really have to beat Madam and drug me?” Amethyst asked as Creed untied her.

“Sure, babe. Worth it. We fooled Uno,” Creed laughed.

“Hurry. Uno might come. Where are Diamond and Sapphire?”

“They took Lara and Uno’s kids to safety—Darlyn’s orders.”

Andrea turned to see Darlyn choking Lara and pointing a gun at her.

“Try to move, and I’ll blow your head off,” Darlyn warned, then smiled at Rigella.

Xyleus was loading guns from a briefcase. Andrea realized—everyone in the room was on her side. She’d been the only one left in the dark.

Once free, she stood. Ivan supported her by the waist, smiling.

“Thank you. I really thought you were a traitor,” she whispered.

Ivan smiled, then kissed her. She blushed.

“I told you, 343. I’ll save you. And more than that—I’ll love you,” he whispered.

“Ivan,” Xyleus called, tossing him two guns.

Ivan turned to Andrea. “Can you fight?”

Andrea grabbed one of the guns, cocked it, and winked. “I can. Let’s go—together.”