391

391

Chapter 391

THIRD PERSON POV

Just as Liam raised the gun and was about to pull the trigger, loud shouts suddenly filled the garage.

“The cops! Drop your weapons!”

In the next second, the place was surrounded. Armed police officers rushed in from different angles, guns raised.

Ashley’s men followed closely behind them, moving swiftly and carefully. Damien and Ashley were right there too.

“Hands up! Everyone, on the ground!” an officer yelled.

Liam froze for a split second, shock flashing across his face.

His men looked around in panic, realizing they had been cornered. Slowly, one after the other, they raised their hands.

“Shit!” Liam cursed loudly.

Before he could react, two officers lunged at him, knocking the gun out of his hand. It hit the floor with a loud clatter. They twisted his arms behind his back and snapped the handcuffs on him.

“Get him up,” one officer ordered.

Roland let out a deep breath he didn’t even realize he had been holding. His chest was rising and falling heavily. Miss Rose burst into tears, sobbing loudly as relief washed over her. Karie and Sugar were crying too, confused and scared.

Ashley ran forward immediately.

“Karen’s kids!” he said, his voice shaky. He rushed to them and knelt down. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

They shook their heads quickly.

“No, Uncle Ashley,” Sugar said in a small voice.

Ashley pulled them into a tight hug, his eyes closing.

“Thank God,” he whispered.

Roland was untied, then Miss Rose and the kids. As soon as the ropes were off, Miss Rose stood up unsteadily and Damien rushed to support her.

“Are you okay?” he asked, worry written all over his face.

She nodded weakly. “I… I think so.”

Ashley finally looked up and his eyes landed on Liam, who was being dragged up by the police. His face hardened instantly.

“Liam?” he said in disbelief. “All this… it was you?”

Liam turned and glared at him, hatred burning in his eyes.

The officer holding Liam spoke.

“We owe you an explanation,” he said to Ashley. “When we took him out on patrol some time ago, he escaped. We searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. It was kept quiet to avoid panic.”

Ashley clenched his jaw. “So he’s been free all this time?”

“Yes,” the officer said. “We are sorry for not preventing his escape.”

Liam laughed darkly. “Sorry won’t bring your dead back,” he sneered.

Roland stepped forward angrily. “You almost killed my children,” he growled. “You’re a monster.”

Liam turned to him. “This isn’t over,” he said loudly. “I will be back. I swear it. I will avenge my mother and take everything you all love!”

“Get him out,” an officer ordered.

As they dragged him away, Liam kept shouting.

“You can’t stop me! I will come back for you! For all of you!”

The sound of his voice slowly faded as he was taken out.

Silence fell over the garage.

Ashley turned to Roland and walked up to him.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “You were brave and a really fast thinker. If you hadn’t alerted us…”

Roland nodded slightly.

“I just did what I had to do.”

Ashley then looked at Miss Rose. “Are you okay?”

She nodded again. “I’m fine… just shaken.”

“We’re going home,” Ashley said gently. “All of us.”

They left the garage together. The kids were held tightly by Ashley and Damien as they walked. Miss Rose leaned slightly on Damien for support.

Outside, fresh air hit their faces. It felt unreal, like they had just woken up from a nightmare.

On the drive back, no one spoke much. The kids were quiet, exhausted from everything. Miss Rose stared out of the window while Roland sat back, deep in thought.

When they finally got home, Karen was already in the living room, pacing.

The moment the door opened and she saw her kids, she screamed.

“Sugar! Karie!”

They ran to her and she dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around them. She sobbed loudly, kissing their heads over and over.

“My babies… my babies…” she cried. “Thank God… thank God…”

Ashley walked closer and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“They’re okay now,” he said softly.

Karen hugged Miss Rose too.

“Thank you… thank you for staying strong.”

Miss Rose smiled weakly.

“I’m just glad it’s over.”

Ashley exhaled deeply. “It’s finally over. No one is threatening us anymore.”

Karen nodded, still crying. “After everything… I still get my happy ending.”

Ashley pulled her into a hug. “Yes. You do.”

Roland watched them quietly. He felt happy for her, but there was also pain in his chest. A really subtle but wicked one.

Later that evening, Roland stood up.

“I should go,” he said.

Karen looked at him. “You’re leaving already?”

He nodded. “Yes. I… I need to.”

Ashley walked him out, and Damien followed.

Outside, Roland turned to Damien.

“Let’s go home. I need to pack.”

Damien nodded.

“Are you sure about this?”

Roland sighed.

“I am. As much as I don’t want to leave Karen… I have to. For her peace.”

They got into the car and drove off.

At Roland’s house, he packed only a few things into a small suitcase and Damien watched him quietly.

“You really mean it?” Damien asked.

Roland paused.

“If you love a bird, let it go,” he said calmly.

Damien sighed.

“You’re a good man.”

Roland smiled sadly.

He then booked a flight for the next day.

~

Back at Ashley’s house, Karen was in her room with the kids. She laid on the bed with them, holding them close.

“I was so scared,” she whispered. “So scared of losing you.”

“We’re here, Mommy,” Karie said softly.

Karen smiled through tears. “Yes… you are.”

Ashley stood by the door, watching them with a slight smile.

Everything finally seemed calm and safe.

Karen closed her eyes, holding her children, believing that all the pain, all the fear, and the chaos was finally behind her.

She believed that this was her happy-ever-after and that every chaos like the one that just happened was truly over.