75

AUDREY
I felt a little dizzy when I opened my eyes. I didn’t understand what was going on. I was lying in the middle of the rooftop floor. I almost screamed at the sight of Gabriel’s bodyguard unconscious on the ground, bleeding to death.
Then I gasped in horror when I saw the figure in front of me. Edward Hopkins. Everything was back now. He punched me earlier, and I lost consciousness. So much for a man who called himself my father. I touched my forehead, and I was bleeding.
I moaned as I remembered I was in pain.
I pushed my legs to crawl over the corner, and he bent down in front of me. “I’m not going to hurt you, Audrey, only if you listen.”
“I’m never going to listen to you anymore. You’re not my real father. You neglected me. You hurt me!”
He touched my face. “Oh, but we are family, Audrey,” he whispered. There’s no more hint of a soul in his eyes. “Because even if I know you and that boy Liam messed up my life, turning Charles against me, I’m still willing to forgive you. Because you are my daughter.” He lifted his gun and unlocked the safety. “We can live again like a family.”
I spit on his face. “You’ve never been a father to me! The man I looked up to was gone. Long gone!” I screamed in his face.
He hit my face.
“Ahh!”
“Ungrateful child! You are not so different from your mother, after all. She had become uncontrollable, so I had to finish her. Imagine all the wealth she’s left me. She was useful. I hope the same from you.”
“You killed Mom? But she’s sick.”
“She was, but then she cheated on me. A fucking cheater. A whore.”
“Mom would never do that!” I shouted.
“She did. She lied to me about you. She told me you’re mine!”
“Guess what? I don’t want you either.”
“Shut up!” He slapped my face.
“Ahh!” I was left bleeding inside my cheek, but it didn’t matter. I suddenly felt so numb. “Did you kill Sam, too?”
His eyes turned sad, but he had no right to look that way. “That’s an accident. Sam was a good boy. What a waste. He’s so unlike you. You’re a brat.”
I wept hard. This man almost begged to listen to him the other day, but then I guess an evil man will always be evil. “What the hell do you want from me? You murderer!” I screamed.
He clicked his tongue. “You have much value to me, you’re probably aware of, my dear. Your mother has left you so much money, more than you can imagine, and I know just how you’ll get it. You are coming with me, and we leave tonight.”
“What if I don’t? You’ll kill me too?” I sobbed.
“I won’t because I need you to get that money. Now, if you want this the easy way, you’ll come to me. But if you don’t play like the good girl you always are, I’m going to have your boyfriend killed. Properly this time.”
“You can never get away from here.”
“Are you sure about that?” He clutched my face with his fingers. “You seemed to forget what your father was capable of. I have people who work for me, Audrey. We can start again, and we will forget everything that has happened to our family. You were not the favorite, but you were always obedient. Ah, I see them now. Our rescue.” He stood up and shot his head up, watching a private helicopter approaching us.
“No!” My eyes widened. He planned to run away after all. Was this even legal? No, of course, he could pull this off. Legal or not.
“Come on!” He pulled my hair to lift me up.
“Please, please don’t—Ahh!” I shrieked. He picked me up in his arms. I struggled, but my father could carry us three when we were children, and I had no chance to run away with his build. He waved his hand to the helicopter, but suddenly, a shout came from behind.
“Audrey!” It was Gabriel and behind him was the company’s security, lined up with their guns pointed at Edward and me. Some of them attended Jones.
”Drop your weapon and let the girl go,” one of the security shouted.
Immediately, Edward captivated me with his arm and pointed a gun at my head. “Liam Cross!” Edward crooned. “We meet again.”
“Don’t shoot.” Gabriel gave the security a signal to halt. “Stop this madness now, Hopkins. It’s over.”
“It is when I say it is!” he shouted back.
The helicopter came approached us and dropped the rope ladder. The sound of its blades shattered my ears, and the wind shoved us back.
“Please, stop this. If you really think of me as your daughter,” I begged, but I wasn’t sure anymore if that would convince him.
“Shut up! Run away, and I will shoot you. Now get up!” He ordered, and I grabbed onto the ladder. He was still pointing the gun at Gabriel.
“Audrey!” Gabriel bellowed. “Don’t!”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry…” I clambered up the ladder, frightened that I might fall into one wrong move. The ladder was swaying in the air. I almost wanted to collapse. I was always afraid of heights. I briefly shut my eyes.
“Move!” Edward yelled and followed me.
“I can’t!” I screamed back. “I’m going to fall!”
I tried to look down, but a gunshot fired… A man screamed… I heard shouting… a shuddering thud.
“Audrey!” It was Gabriel’s voice.
I broke free from the ladder. My knees suddenly felt unsteady, and darkness consumed me.