You really think you will walk out of this?
“She is still my wife.” Austin said it like a fact carved in stone, his eyes steady, voice calm, too calm. His lips curled slightly as he looked at Douglas, taunting him without raising his tone.
Douglas did not hold back. His fist flew fast, cracking against Austin’s jaw and forcing his head sideways. He stepped forward, ready to hit again, but Austin blocked it in time with his forearm.
Another swing. Another dodge. Austin was not fighting back, not yet. He was watching, waiting. Bruised and worn down already, he had a plan: tire Douglas out. Let him burn through the rage before going for the final strike.
He stepped back, twice. Douglas, maddened by the space, surged forward, fists swinging harder, breathing faster. Something in Dora’s eyes, the way she looked at Austin, had struck a nerve Douglas had tried to bury for months.
Love and concern, and emotions he had fought so hard to earn from her. But they had never been his.
“You cannot make someone love you, Douglas,” Austin said, his tone rough from effort but clear. “Even if I disappear, her heart will never belong to you.”
Douglas’s growl rumbled deep from his chest as he charged again. Two punches missed. The third came with a spin, a blow aimed at Austin’s neck, but it was avoided in the last second.
“I should have had her by now,” Douglas snapped, fury breaking through his words. “You were gone. You stayed out of the hearing. If not for your surprise return, the divorce would be done.”
He lifted his leg and struck Austin’s stomach. The impact bent Austin slightly, but he stood upright quickly, holding his ground.
Dora sat nearby, quiet tears on her face. Her body trembled from exhaustion, her soul worn down from the endless war between the two men who both claimed her for different reasons. All she wanted now was peace. Sleep. Silence.
“You filed for divorce,” Austin recalled, circling slowly, still defending more than attacking. “You gave her up.”
“I only did that because I needed her to trust me,” Douglas hissed. “My plan was working. I would have gotten her, and once Sienna was out of the way, nothing would stand between us.”
Austin’s eyes narrowed.
“So it was you. You were behind what happened to my mother?”
“I was too late,” Douglas said with a cruel smirk. “Paulina panicked before I could handle it. Your mother figured out the truth about the fake assault. She was going to expose everything. But Paulina… she lost control. Hired someone. Thought she could end it fast. Too bad the old woman lived.”
He laughed, cold and sharp. That laugh was the trigger.
Austin lunged. But this time Douglas was ready. He ducked low, shoved Austin in the stomach with his shoulder and slammed him hard against the wall. One hand gripped his neck, the other throwing quick, heavy punches into his ribs.
Austin gathered his strength, brought his hands together and slammed them down on Douglas’s arm, once, twice, and finally broke free. He struck back with an elbow to the face, sending Douglas stumbling back.
Both men were breathing hard, chests rising and falling with exhaustion and rage.
“Once I finish with you,” Douglas panted, wiping blood from his lip, “I will make sure your mother and Sienna join you.”
Austin’s blood ran cold.
“You really think you will walk out of this?”
The room was tense. Air thick with sweat and hatred. Neither man would stop now, not until one was down for good.
"You really want to know the truth?" Douglas said, tilting his head with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
"That day at the mall, I saw the signs. Paulina was clever, but she felt threatened the moment she noticed your interest in Dora."
He took a step forward, his voice growing colder. "I approached her, told her to reach out if she ever wanted to work with me. And she did. She was smart—used your mother's phone to contact George. She twisted your mother’s words to plant doubts between you and Dora."
Austin’s jaw clenched, but he stayed silent.
"She faked her own kidnapping. Even the rape was her idea, just so you would pity her and marry her. From the beginning, she made sure she played the victim. And I was the one who told her to disappear until I called her back."
Dora’s soft sobs broke through the room. Her eyes were wide in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing. All this time, she thought Austin came back to hurt her. Now she saw the weight he had been carrying in silence. Their eyes met, and in that single look, they shared everything, pain, regret, and something that still felt like love.
Douglas’s nostrils flared, rage building inside him as he watched them. He took a step toward Austin, but Dora's voice stopped him.
"You wanted me to hear Austin’s confession so I would leave him?" she asked, hurt and confused.
"No, baby," Douglas said with a crooked grin. "I was the one who told you to trust him, remember?"
"You toyed with her feelings. You used her," Austin snapped, watching the colour drain from Dora’s face. He knew what she was thinking. She blamed herself for everything.
"Why did you kill George?" Austin asked, his voice low.
"He became a threat. I knew under pressure, he would tell the police everything. I only needed him to trigger you, to get you to say things in front of Dora. And you did. You thought you were smart, Austin, but I played you."
He paused. "I made George insult Dora because I knew that would set you off."
Then Douglas stepped back, his tone shifting, calm, cold. "Now that I have said everything, I no longer need you alive. Once you and Sienna are out of the way, it will all look like an accident. And then… Dora will finally be mine."
Austin’s eyes narrowed as the meaning sank in. He lunged forward just as Douglas reached for the pistol. Tackling him to the ground, Austin fought to knock the weapon from his grip. But Douglas was faster. He slammed the gun’s barrel against Austin’s forehead, making him cry out, and shoved him aside.
"Austin!" Dora screamed as she saw the gun aimed straight at him.
Austin had no idea where the bullet would land. He rolled just in time, the shot missed. Douglas was about to shoot again when Austin, with trembling fingers, pulled a knife from his calf and threw it. The blade struck Douglas’s arm, forcing it down, but he still held onto the gun.
The basement was silent except for Dora’s frantic breathing. Her heart was racing. "Please," she whispered, eyes on Douglas. "Do not kill him."
She stepped forward. "I will do whatever you say. Just let him live."
"Dora!" Austin called out, trying to stop her.
But she ignored him. "I will marry you."
"I want proof," Douglas said, grinning like he had already won.
Dora walked closer and reached for his face. Austin's eyes widened as she leaned in toward Douglas’s lips. Before he could stop her..
Bang! Douglas pulled the trigger. Dora froze. She could not turn around. Then came a grunt, Austin had been hit, but he was still breathing. She let out a shaky breath.
Douglas, flushed with victory, grabbed her by the waist and kissed her. Dora went still. He closed his eyes, lost in the moment. He never noticed the figure moving behind him.
A sudden thud rang out. His eyes snapped open just as his head was yanked backward. Dora stepped away in fear as Douglas stumbled. He turned, just in time to see Daniel standing behind him, holding a heavy sculpture in both hands. Then everything went dark.
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