Chapter 143 Angry Lusy

Chapter 143 Angry Lusy
"Drop the gun, Lusy!" Evan shouted, his voice echoing through the dusty, old room.
Lusy only tightened her grip on Emily's small shoulders. The barrel of the black handgun in her right hand trembled beside the child's head. Her face was a frantic mess, her eyes red and burning with rage.
"Don't take a single step closer, Evan! Or I'll pull the trigger right now!" Lusy shrieked hysterically.
Emily sobbed softly, her tiny body trembling violently in Lusy's forced hold. Rose, standing behind Evan, held her breath as tears streamed down her face.
"I am begging you, Lusy. Take whatever you want, but let my daughter go," Evan said quietly, taking a cautious step forward with both hands raised.
"I don't want your money, Evan! I just want to watch Rose suffer the same way I did!" Lusy screamed, her eyes darting wildly toward Rose, who stood pale and weak.
Behind the pile of old timber and a broken wall behind Lusy, Jody moved silently. His feet glided over the dusty concrete floor, taking meticulous steps to avoid making a sound.
Evan caught Jody's movement out of the corner of his eye. He deliberately pulled Lusy's attention back to himself.
"Lusy, look at me. The ones you hate are Rose and me, not this child. She has nothing to do with this," Evan said in a calming tone, buying time inch by inch.
"Don't pretend to care! You two ruined my life!" Lusy snapped back.
"I know you're angry, Lusy. But if you hurt Emily, you'll end up with nothing," Rose called out from behind Evan, trying to steady her shaking voice.
"Shut up, Rose! This is all because of you!" Lusy shouted even louder, the barrel of the gun wavering wildly as her fingers shook violently.
Behind Lusy, Jody was now just two steps away. He took a deep breath, locking his eyes on Emily's small frame.
"Die, all of you!" Lusy suddenly shrieked. Her eyes widened, her index finger contracting against the trigger.
"Now, Jody!" Evan shouted.
Jody lunged forward, tackling Lusy from the side. With one swift motion, Jody snatched Emily from Lusy's grip and threw the child forward toward safety.
Evan reacted instantly, catching Emily and wrapping her tightly against his chest as he scrambled backward.
"Emily!" Rose cried out, embracing her child and husband on the floor.
Lusy, sprawled on the ground, let out a maniacal scream. She spun around and pointed the gun straight at Evan, whose back was turned to protect Emily.
"Evan, watch out!" Jody yelled.
Before Lusy could pull the trigger on Evan and Emily, Jody threw his own body forward, stepping directly in front of the barrel.
A gunshot shattered the quiet of the room.
Jody jolted violently. The bullet tore straight into the left side of his chest. Fresh blood quickly soaked into his white shirt.
"Jody!" Rose screamed hysterically.
Lusy moved to pull the trigger a second time, but the side door burst open. Dylan and three security officers surged into the room.
"Don't move!" Dylan roared.
A security officer kicked the gun out of Lusy's hand, sending it flying across the floor, while two others pinned her arms to the ground.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Lusy shrieked, thrashing against the floor before she was slammed into handcuffs.
Jody collapsed onto the concrete floor. His breath came in short, ragged gasps as blood pooled beneath him.
Evan immediately handed Emily into Rose's arms. "Rose, hold Emily! Dylan, call an ambulance now!"
Evan rushed over to Jody's limp body, pressing both palms against his chest to stem the heavy bleeding.
"Keep your eyes open, Jody! Listen to me, keep your eyes open!" Evan called out, his voice laced with tension.
Rose knelt beside them, holding Emily, who continued to cry in terror. Rose's face turned pale as she watched Jody weaken.
"Jody... why did you do this?" Rose whispered, her tears falling onto Jody's arm.
Jody reached for Evan's fingers with what little strength he had left, his fading gaze shifting between Evan and Rose.
"Call an ambulance, hurry! He's losing too much blood!" Dylan shouted into his phone as he ran over.
Jody coughed weakly, a trace of blood slipping from the corner of his mouth. His eyes fixed directly on the panic in Evan's face.
"Evan... I can't feel his pulse anymore," Rose whispered in a panic, her hand pressed against Jody's neck.