Chapter 302

Chapter 302
【Luna's Perspective】

William had been staying in the villa for several days now. What troubled me most was his apparent lack of interest in the presidential election. Instead, his focus had shifted entirely to planning our departure from America.

I gently stroked Liam's soft cheek before walking to the balcony door. The rain had intensified, matching my darkening mood.

The sound of a key turning in the lock startled me from my thoughts. I spun around to see William entering the bedroom I had deliberately locked. My body tensed immediately.

"What do you want?" I asked, backing away instinctively.

William's eyes, once warm when looking at me, now held a strange mixture of obsession and determination. "Good news, Luna. I've made arrangements. We'll be taking a sea route to Europe. I have connections who can ensure our safe passage."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I replied firmly.

William stepped closer, his voice softening. "I'll give you everything, Luna. The best life possible. You and your son will want for nothing."

I straightened my spine, looking him directly in the eyes. "William, I'll tell you one last time—I would rather die than leave with you."

His face contorted with frustration as he grabbed my shoulders. "Luna, every mistake I've made has been for you! Why can't you see that? Why can't you understand how much I love you?"

I shook my head, anger rising within me. "Your mistakes are your own. Don't you dare blame me for the choices you've made."

William's eyes grew red-rimmed with emotion. He glanced toward the crib where Liam slept. "If you won't come willingly, perhaps I should give you proper motivation. How much does that child mean to you?"

My blood ran cold. "Are you threatening my son?"

"If that's what it takes to make you see reason," William replied, his voice dangerously calm.

I stepped between him and the crib. "Go ahead then. Kill us both. Because that's what you'll have to do. My son and I live or die together."

William studied me for a long moment, then his expression shifted. "What if... what if I killed Max instead? Would you come with me then?"

My heart lurched painfully in my chest. Every muscle in my body tensed. "What are you talking about?"

William's eyes narrowed, noticing my reaction. "Interesting. You seem more concerned about Max's safety than your son's." He laughed bitterly. "I should have known. I'll kill Max, and then you'll have no reason to stay."

"William—" My voice caught in my throat.

"What's wrong, Luna? Afraid for your precious Max?" His voice dripped with venom.

I forced myself to appear confident. "You can't kill Max. You're not his equal."

William's hand shot out, gripping my chin painfully. "You're right. I'm not his equal... but I have you. And you, Luna, are Max's only weakness."

Despite the pain, I managed a cold smile. "Even with that advantage, you'll never succeed."

"You're wrong," William whispered, his face inches from mine. "I could kill him right now if I wanted to."

My heart skipped a beat. Something in his tone made me believe him.

"Put the child down," he said, his voice suddenly gentle. "I want to show you something."

My arms tightened around Liam, whom I'd instinctively picked up when William had threatened him. "What are you talking about?"

"I want you to see him," William said, reaching for my son.

I backed away, but William was faster. He snatched Liam from my arms and placed him carefully on the lounge chair. Before I could protest, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the door.

"Where are you taking me?" I demanded, struggling against his grip.

"To see Max," he replied simply.

The rain had intensified, soaking through my thin blouse within seconds as William dragged me across the lawn toward the back of the property. My heart hammered against my ribs when I saw two men with automatic rifles standing beside a freshly dug pit.

And there, tied to a chair, was Max.

His face was bruised, his clothes torn and dirty. When he saw me, his eyes widened in horror and he began struggling violently against his restraints.

"Max..." His name escaped my lips as a broken whisper.

I tried to run to him, but William's grip tightened painfully around my arm. The rain fell harder now, mixing with the tears streaming down my face.

"William, please," I begged, falling to my knees in the mud. "Please let him go. I'll do anything—anything you want. Just don't hurt him."

William's jaw clenched. "I have to kill him, Luna. As long as he's alive, you'll never truly be mine."

"Please," I sobbed, clutching at his legs. "I'll go with you. I'll be yours. Just let him live."

William knelt beside me in the mud, taking my face between his hands. "Luna, you have no idea how much I love you. I thought controlling the Blake fortune would make you mine. But you... even with amnesia, you fell in love with Max. Do you know how much that hurts me? I love you so much."

I swallowed my revulsion and forced myself to look into his eyes. "If you truly love me, then spare him. I'll leave with you. I'll be yours completely. Just don't kill him."

For a moment, hope flickered in my chest as William seemed to consider my plea. Then his expression hardened. He stood up and shouted, "Shoot him! Now!"

"NO!" I screamed, but the sound of gunfire drowned out my voice.

I watched in horror as bullets tore through Max's body. He slumped forward in the chair before toppling into the pit.

"MAX!" The scream that tore from my throat didn't even sound human.

William pulled me to my feet. "He's gone, Luna. Time to accept reality and move on with me."

I felt nothing but emptiness and rage. With strength I didn't know I possessed, I broke free from his grip and scrambled toward the pit. One of the men was already shoveling dirt onto Max's body.

"Stop!" I screamed, but William caught me from behind.

"It's over, Luna. Max is dead. It's time for you to let go."

I twisted in his arms and sank my teeth into his forearm. He yelled in pain and loosened his grip enough for me to break free. I rushed to the edge of the pit and fell to my knees, frantically digging with my bare hands, trying to reach Max.

"Max, hold on," I sobbed, my fingers tearing through mud and earth. "You can't die. Do you hear me? You can't leave me like this!"

I kept digging until my fingers touched something solid—Max's hand. I tried desperately to pull him up. "Max, get up! Please get up!"

William's arms encircled me from behind, dragging me away as his men continued filling the grave. I fought like a wild animal, screaming until my throat was raw.

"William, I will kill you for this," I vowed, my voice breaking. "I swear I will kill you..."

---

When I awoke the next morning, for one blissful moment, I thought it had all been a nightmare. Then the pain in my raw, bandaged fingers brought reality crashing back.

I sat up slowly, feeling as though my soul had been hollowed out. Across the room, William sat on the sofa, cradling Liam and speaking to him in soft tones.

Without acknowledging either of them, I walked to the balcony. The rain had stopped, but the ground remained sodden. My eyes were drawn immediately to a fresh mound of earth in the back garden. A new grave.

Tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I crouched down, wrapping my arms around myself.

William approached, standing just behind me. "You have three days to get over him. Then we're leaving the country."

"Kill me," I whispered.

"I could never hurt you, Luna," he replied softly.

I stood and walked past him, back toward the bed. "If you won't kill me, then I'll kill you. First chance I get."

"You won't risk your son's life," William reminded me, nodding toward Liam.

I lay down on the bed, curling into a fetal position as tears soaked the pillow. My chest ached with a pain so profound I could barely breathe. All I could think was: Max is dead. Max is dead. Max is dead.