Anderson's eyes locked onto mine, cold and unwavering, like he was weighing every word I said before he spoke again.
"Look, Dear," he said, his voice smooth but edged with impatience. "I've tried to be reasonable with you, but this is the last time I'll ask." He took a slow step forward, his presence imposing as he closed the distance between us. "We've come all this way, and this isn't something that can just be ignored. We're not here for a conversation—we're here for you. Whether you like it or not, this is your reality now."
The room felt smaller, the air thicker, as if every word he spoke added weight to the atmosphere.
"I'm not asking for your cooperation," he continued, his gaze never wavering. "I'm telling you, one last time. Will you come with us, or do we need to take this further?"
His voice was calm, almost too calm, but there was an undercurrent of something dangerous beneath it. The subtle pressure in the air made my skin prickle, and for a moment, I could feel the gravity of the situation pressing in on me.
I took a breath, my hands trembling slightly, but I steadied myself.
"No," I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tension. "I've made myself clear."
For a moment, it was as if time froze. Anderson didn't move, didn't even blink. But the tension in the room thickened, and I knew—this wasn't over.
Aaron shifted slightly, his gaze narrowing, and for the first time since they arrived, I saw a flicker of something—frustration? Disappointment? It was hard to tell, but it was there, just beneath the surface.
Then, he spoke, his voice low, but sharp. "You've just sealed your fate, Mia."
His words struck with cold finality, and I could feel the weight of his anger simmering just below his controlled exterior. Aaron's patience was thinning.
Aaron's jaw tightened as he exhaled sharply, shaking his head just slightly. Then, his eyes locked onto mine, cold and unwavering.
"That was a wrong choice," he said, his voice quieter than before, but somehow heavier. There was no anger, no frustration—just certainty, like he had already accepted what was about to happen.
"I wanted to give you a chance," he continued, glancing briefly at Anderson before looking back at me. "I really did." He motioned toward the men outside, their presence an unspoken warning. "But now, it's out of your hands."
The menace in his tone was palpable, as though I were standing at the edge of a cliff, with no way out but the fall.
I glanced at Alex, he smirked, tilting his head slightly, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Well," he mused, his tone almost playful but carrying an edge, "I guess having a little sister is going to be more interesting than I thought." He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe the situation. "Didn't think you'd be this stubborn, But I guess it'll make things more... entertaining."
I was confused. I had expected them to argue, but this... this felt different. The tension in the air had shifted, and for a split second, a flicker of doubt crossed Anderson's cold exterior. His lips barely moved, but there was an almost guilty look in his eyes. It was as if, for the briefest moment, he regretted what was about to happen.
But that moment of hesitation was fleeting.
Without warning, the guards outside suddenly moved. They were quick—too quick—and before I could react, two of them stormed into the room. Their hands were on me in an instant, their grip like iron, pulling me away from the door.
"Hey!" I gasped, trying to free myself, but their hold was unyielding. "Let go of me!" My voice was full of desperation, but my words were swallowed by the overwhelming sound of movement around me. I kept struggling, pushing against them, but they didn't flinch, their hold tightening with every movement I made.
Anderson didn't react. There was no surprise, no emotion, just cold calculation. But for a brief moment, I saw something flicker in his gaze—almost a flash of hesitation, like he was rethinking his next move. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by that same impassive stare.
Aaron and Alex stood behind him. I saw them both, their faces tight with something I couldn't quite place—hesitation, maybe? It lasted barely a second before they masked it again, their expressions unreadable.
I tried to speak, tried to reason with them, but my breath hitched in my throat. "Please," I cried out, but my voice was drowned out by the clatter of footsteps.
Anderson didn't flinch. He took a step toward me, his presence imposing as he stood tall. "We gave you a choice," he said, his voice still calm, but now there was something colder in it. It was as though he had already moved past the point of compromise. His gaze held mine, unwavering.
"It didn't have to be this way, dear," he murmured, almost as if he regretted it. Almost. But there was no real remorse in his tone—just finality. "Now you'll come with us."
Before I could even respond, one of the guards stepped forward, a needle in his hand. I didn't even see it coming. In a swift motion, the needle pierced my neck. The cold sting of the injection spread through my skin, and before I could fully process what was happening, my vision blurred. My limbs went heavy, and I felt myself losing control.
"no...." I tried to say, but the words were muffled as darkness took over. My body sagged in the guards' hold, and within moments
everything went black.....