Chapter 368 Choosing one to Live

Chapter 368 Choosing one to Live
James raised his hands slowly, his tone steady despite the chaos. “Emily, we came—just like you wanted. Now tell us, what is it you want from us?”
Emily scoffed, eyes locked on James. King and Victoria were helpless. Laura was powerless. James—James was the only one left who could matter.
“I knew you’d come,” she said coldly. “You’re all so noble. Willing to die before you’d ever let anything happen to your parents. Especially with parents like them.”
James narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by that?”
Emily’s lips curled into a twisted smile. Her voice was triumphant, high on control. “It’s simple, really. Laura—choose one. Between James, King, and Victoria. Pick one to live. The other two… I’ll kill. And after that, I’ll shoot myself.”
She leaned closer, her voice sharp as broken glass.
“So? Who gets to survive?”
Laura’s breath caught. But when she spoke, her tone was calm—almost gentle.
“If you hate me that much… then kill me. Let them go. At least that way, I’ll be with you. You won’t be alone.”
“Laura, no!”
The room erupted in panic. James. King. Victoria. All shouted at once.
Emily paused. For a moment, the room held its breath.
Then she gave a cruel laugh. “That would be too easy. If you die, it’s over. Pain gone. What’s the fun in that?” Her gaze darkened. “No—I want you alive. I want you to suffer. So choose. If you don’t, all three of them die.”
Laura didn’t flinch.
“Then kill me and my parents. Let James live. That way, we’ll be together on the other side. And maybe… maybe you’ll still have a chance with him.”
“Laura, are you insane?!” James exploded. His voice shook with rage. “You’d sacrifice your entire family—for me? I’d rather die than let her touch me!”
Laura’s face was pale but firm. “You’re innocent, James. You don’t deserve this. This isn’t your fight. Let us die… and walk away.”
James stared at her, eyes filled with disbelief—and pain. But he said nothing.
Emily smirked, as if savoring the agony.
That’s when James snapped.
He turned to Laura, fury in his voice. “Speak clearly—who was it who told me I should’ve sent Emily away? That I was too soft for letting her stay? Wasn’t that you? And now I’m the heartless one?”
“What?” Emily’s eyes flared, snapping to Laura. “You said that about me?! That’s why James left me so quickly—it was because of you! You turned him against me!”
Her rage blinded her. The gun trembled in her hand, no longer pressed firmly to Victoria’s temple.
Sensing an opening, Laura played along, feigning panic and retreating a few steps. “I didn’t mean it that way. I love you too, Emily—but you were going to kill my parents! What else could I do?!”
“Fine!” James barked, stepping forward, grabbing Laura by the shoulders. “So your parents matter. But I don’t? You’d let me die? Didn’t you say you’d love me forever?”
Laura winced. “Let go—James, that hurts!”
He didn’t.
“Let go of me! You want to strangle me now? Fine! Then I won’t have to choose anymore!”
With a roar, James shoved her back.
Laura staggered, crashing into Emily.
The impact knocked Emily off balance, her arms flailing. The gun slipped away from Victoria’s head.
James lunged.
With a sharp kick to her wrist, the gun flew from Emily’s hand. It arced into the air.
He caught it mid-fall.
Laura collapsed onto her parents—but they broke her fall. She was shaken, but safe.
James wasted no time.
He turned, fury in his eyes, and drove his fist into Emily’s jaw.
She crumpled to the floor.
But James wasn’t done.
Another punch. Then a kick to her ribs.
Emily screamed, curled into herself—but he didn’t stop.
“You almost killed them! You tried to kill her! You think you deserve to live?!”
Another kick.
Then silence.
James stood over her, chest heaving. Finally, he turned away and tucked the gun into his belt.
Laura pushed herself up and crawled to King and Victoria, checking their restraints. “Are you okay? Do we need to get to a hospital?”
King coughed but managed a smile. “We’re fine. Just weak.”
James knelt beside them, beginning to undo the ropes. “The drug was light—just a paralytic. No lasting harm.”
Laura nodded, but her hands were trembling. The adrenaline hadn’t worn off. Not yet.
As she helped her parents to their feet, Emily lay motionless on the floor, broken in body, shattered in spirit.
And for once—silent.