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Richard couldn't stand the scene in front of him. Every second that Natalia leaned on Nathan and Jarek was like a stolen victory that tore him apart inside.

His jaw tightened, and without warning, he took a quick step toward her.

“Natalia, come with me.” I'll get you out of here," he said, reaching out his hand, his voice laden with urgency and an authority he still claimed to have over her.

Nathan immediately stepped in between them, his dark eyes shining with a determination Richard had never seen before.

“You're not going to touch her.”

“Move aside, boy,” Richard growled. “She's my woman, and you have no right to stop me.”

“I'm not a child you can yell at and expect to obey. Not after everything you did, Richard.”

The exchange grew heated, and the atmosphere became tense. Natalia was breathing heavily, her mind caught between memories of a broken past and the chaotic reality unfolding before her.

Richard, feeling himself losing control of the situation, made a sudden move to grab her arm, but a hard, firm hand stopped him. Jarek had caught him by the wrist, squeezing hard.

“Not another step,” he warned in a deep voice, each word imbued with a silent threat.

Richard tried to break free, but the old man's grip was relentless.

“Old man... you always thought you could control everything. This time you won't be able to hold her back.”

“I don't have to control everything...” Jarek replied, without looking away. “Just prevent you from destroying what's left of my family again.”

The tension exploded. Richard spun around, trying to push his way free. In the struggle, Natalia took a step back, but her foot caught on the edge of the rug.

Nathan's heart stopped when he saw her lose her balance.

“Mom!” he shouted, lunging toward her.

In a second that seemed like an eternity, Nathan caught her before her head hit the floor. Natalia, trembling, clung to his shirt as if it were her only anchor in the storm.

Richard, panting and breathing heavily, stopped. His eyes shifted from anger to a strange mixture of fear and frustration.

He saw her there, so close to his son and so far from him, and something inside him broke, though he would never admit it.

“This doesn't end here,” he spat, taking a step back but still staring at her.

Nathan, still holding his mother in his arms, returned his gaze coldly.

“No. It ends now.”

The silence that followed was tense, charged with emotions that none of them were ready to resolve.

“This is real life. People are human beings capable of making choices.” They're not dolls!" Suzanne exclaimed angrily.

The situation was overwhelming her; she felt like her head was going to explode.

“People are whatever I want them to be, and you... you're an essential part of my plan, Suzie,” Richard said brazenly, with a malevolent smile.

Suddenly, he grabbed her arm forcefully, and when Nathan tried to intervene, Richard pulled out a dagger and held it to Suzanne's side.

“Don't come any closer or you'll regret it!” he said with a calculating look.

Suzanne was distressed and feared for her life and Nathan's, who were now the main targets.

“You're not taking her, you're not going to ruin my grandson's life like you did with yours and my daughter's, Richard,” Jarek said harshly. “I'll do whatever it takes to stop you from getting away with it again.”

Richard laughed sarcastically.

“Yeah? And what are you going to do?” he sneered. “It's more than obvious that all you can do is beg me. One snap of my fingers and all of you would disappear from the map.”

They knew it was true. That evil man had many connections and people willing to save his skin. It seemed like they had everything to lose.

“Then... take me and let's settle this once and for all,” said old Stone, his eyes burning with fire.

Richard's smile widened, enjoying the fear that was etched on everyone's faces.

“Well, Jarek... offering your life to save this woman. How noble,” he said mockingly. “But tell me, do you think I'm going to believe that you'll agree to be my pet after how stubborn you are?”

Jarek stepped forward, not taking his eyes off him.

“It's not a bad deal if you can settle all your outstanding accounts with me,” he clenched his jaw. “Let them go.”

Richard narrowed his eyes, weighing each word.

“If you fall into my hands, old man, there will be no mercy. I'll make you pay for every damn second you've wasted.”

“I know,” Jarek replied, his calmness contrasting with the tension of the moment. “But if you want this to end once and for all, here I am.”

Natalia, who was behind him, let out a muffled gasp, bringing her hand to her mouth.

Suzanne pressed her lips together, feeling the pressure of the dagger against her side increase slightly, causing her to stifle a moan.

“No,” Suzanne said, her voice tense. “I won't let him take you, Jarek.”

The old man gave her a firm look, like a silent order not to interfere.

Richard tilted his head, amused by the scene, and lowered the dagger slightly to look at them all more freely.

“Interesting... although I'm tempted by the idea of seeing you crawl, Jarek, I think I want a different kind of show today.”

Suzanne felt a chill run down her spine. Her heart was pounding, and the adrenaline made her hands sweat.

If they didn't find a way out, he was going to win... and when Richard won, destruction was inevitable.

It was then that Nathan, who until then had remained motionless, took a subtle step to the side, his eyes fixed on the dagger. He was calculating the exact moment to move.

Richard, however, was not naive.

“One more step, Nathan, and I swear this time my hand won't shake.”

The silence grew heavier, as if the air itself were holding its breath alongside them.