Chapter 299

Chapter 299

The words barely left Helena’s lips before the first shot rang through the night.

It shattered the fragile stillness that had settled over the observatory, sending everyone inside the control room into motion. The security monitors flickered as Noor switched between camera feeds, searching for the sniper responsible for the attack.

“Did they hit her?” Kayla asked, her voice unsteady.

“I’m trying to confirm,” Noor replied, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

The smoke drifting across the eastern perimeter made it difficult to see. For several agonizing seconds, Helena disappeared from view.

Jason instinctively moved in front of Kayla, shielding her from the windows even though they were several floors above the attack. His protective reaction was so natural that he did not realize he had done it until Kayla gently touched his arm.

“I’m all right,” she said softly.

He looked at her, his expression filled with concern.

“I know. I just need you to stay that way.”

Kayla gave him a faint smile before turning her attention back to the monitors.

The smoke finally began to clear.

A collective sigh escaped the room.

Helena was still standing.

The bullet had struck the stone pillar beside her, scattering fragments across the ground, but she had not been hit. Ethan had reacted the instant he heard the shot, pulling her behind the concrete barrier that had protected him only moments earlier.

Marcus shook his head.

“He just saved her.”

Arthur nodded thoughtfully.

“That wasn’t the action of a man looking for revenge.”

Outside, Ethan remained crouched beside Helena, speaking to her in low tones that the distant microphones could not capture. Although they were surrounded by unseen enemies, neither of them appeared to be panicking. Instead, they were watching the tree line with remarkable patience, waiting for the next move.

Charles studied the tactical display.

“They’re forcing the snipers to reveal their positions.”

Jason followed the same screen.

“They know the first shot was meant to create panic. The second one will be the real attempt.”

Kayla felt her heart tighten.

“They won’t stop until they have what they came for.”

Arthur looked toward the security teams gathered in the corridor outside the observation room.

“They’re not leaving this building without resistance.”

He immediately began issuing orders through the communication system, directing guards to reinforce the eastern entrance while another team quietly moved through the underground maintenance tunnels. Every instruction was measured. There was no shouting, no confusion, only disciplined preparation.

Noor suddenly enlarged another camera feed.

“Someone is moving behind the northern wall.”

The image sharpened, revealing a shadow slipping between the trees.

Then another figure appeared.

And another.

Marcus frowned.

“They’re closing in from every direction.”

Jason rested one hand on the back of Kayla’s chair as he continued studying the screens.

“They’re not attacking the observatory.”

“What do you mean?” Kayla asked.

“They’re surrounding it.”

Arthur slowly nodded.

“If they wanted to destroy this place, they would have attacked already. They’re waiting for something.”

Charles looked toward Ethan.

“They’re waiting for him to make a move.”

Outside, Ethan carefully peered around the edge of the barrier before ducking back into cover. Helena said something to him, and he shook his head almost immediately.

Kayla wished she could hear their conversation.

She wanted to know what he was thinking.

Whether he had spent years believing she hated him.

Whether he remembered anything about their childhood.

Whether he had ever wondered if she was still alive.

The questions weighed heavily on her heart.

Jason noticed the sadness in her eyes.

Without taking his attention from the monitors, he quietly reached for her hand.

She intertwined her fingers with his.

“You’ve been quiet,” he said.

“I keep thinking about everything he lost.”

Jason looked at her.

“You lost those years too.”

She nodded slowly.

“I know. But I had memories. Even if they weren’t happy ones, I knew our mother. I knew what it felt like to belong somewhere, even for a little while.”

Her voice softened.

“He never had that.”

Jason gently squeezed her hand.

“That’s why you’re determined to help him.”

She looked at him with grateful eyes.

“I don’t want another family torn apart because someone else decided they had the right.”

Jason smiled faintly.

“That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”

Kayla laughed quietly despite the tension surrounding them.

“You choose interesting moments to be romantic.”

“I’ve learned that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.”

His answer silenced her.

She leaned her head against his shoulder for a brief moment, drawing comfort from his presence.

“If we get through this,” she whispered, “I want us to leave for a while.”

Jason looked down at her.

“Just the two of us?”

She smiled.

“No secrets. No meetings. No weapons.”

“No Charles.”

She laughed again.

“Especially no Charles.”

Charles glanced over from the operations table.

“I know you’re talking about me.”

“You always do,” Jason replied with a grin.

Even Arthur smiled.

For a brief moment, the room felt lighter.

Then every light inside the observation room flickered.

Once.

Twice.

A warning alarm immediately sounded across Noor’s workstation.

She stared at the screen, her expression changing from confusion to alarm.

“They’re inside.”

Every conversation stopped.

Arthur stepped toward her.

“What did you say?”

“The western maintenance tunnel…” Noor replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “Someone breached it three minutes ago.”

Marcus reached for his weapon.

“How many?”

Noor enlarged the internal security feed.

Only one figure appeared on the screen.

The person wore dark clothing and moved through the corridor with calm, deliberate steps, never once looking toward the cameras.

Jason narrowed his eyes.

“Whoever that is…”

He stopped speaking as the figure reached a security checkpoint.

Instead of forcing the door open, the intruder entered a six-digit access code.

The reinforced door unlocked immediately.

Arthur’s expression darkened.

“That’s impossible.”

Charles slowly folded his arms.

“No,” he said quietly. “It’s much worse than impossible.”

Kayla felt a chill run through her body.

“What is it?”

Charles kept his eyes fixed on the monitor.

“Those access codes exist only for members of the founding council.”

The figure stepped into the light.

A familiar face appeared on the screen.

Evelyn’s expression drained of color.

“No…”

The whispered denial escaped her before she could stop it.

Kayla turned toward her.

“You know him?”

Evelyn’s eyes remained fixed on the monitor as tears slowly filled them.

“I thought he died twenty years ago.”

The man looked directly into the nearest security camera.

Then, with the faintest smile, he spoke five words that left the entire room frozen.

“Tell Helena I’m finally home.”