His Ex Wife is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus)

Chapter 683

The name echoed, tugging at the frayed edges of Aaron’s tightly wound heartstrings.

“Aaron, help me

Marilla’s pale face was streaked with tears, each one falling from her long lashes and landing on Aaron’s chest.

He wanted to comfort her, but any reassurance could provoke the hostage–taker, making her situation even more perilous.

Aaron met Marilla’s gaze before shifting his attention to the man’s bloodshot, terrifying eyes.

“Don, take a breath, buddy. The girl’s innocent. She doesn’t know your story, never met those five kids – she’s just an outsider here. How ‘bout this: I’ll be your hostage. Let her go, and you take me instead.”

Marilla’s teary eyes followed Aaron as he cautiously approached the captor, waves of guilt washing over her.

How could she have been so foolish? If only she’d waited patiently in the classroom for Lily to return. If only she hadn’t been so clumsy, maybe she could’ve outrun this.

But it was too late for what–ifs.

As Aaron edged closer, Don roared, “Don’t come any closer! I’ll slit her throat and jump, we’ll both be done for! Don’t think I can’t see right through you! You want to trade places and then fight me? You’re a cop; you think I can take you? I’ve already taken two lives what’s one more at this point?!”

Aaron’s face was stern, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs, “I get it; I really do. I don’t have a daughter, but if someone hurt my sister like this, I wouldn’t stand for it either. I’d want justice for my family.”

Don’s pupils shrank, the knife against Marilla’s neck trembling, its cold blade biting into her skin.

“I know your daughter was a student here, that those five guys hurt her, right? School bullying, isn’t that what they call it?”

Marilla’s eyes widened in shock as painful memories exploded in her mind, ringing in her ears, a relentless barrage of taunts.

in school? Can you even understand what

be at a normal school; she belongs in an asylum!”

– she’s crazy! Who

shut her eyes tightly, her

aching as he spoke again, his voice hoarse, “I truly want to help you! You’ve made a mistake, but don’t compound it with another. Your daughter’s still fighting for her life in the hospital.

waking up to find out her father turned into a murderer for her sake. She’ll carry not only the pain of being bullied but also the burden of your crime. How can she bear it, so young and already so wounded? She’s tried to

on with admiration. Captain Ashbourne, though young, possessed the negotiation skills

he was sincere – a lethal weapon

only did he aim to save the hostage, but he also empathized with the perpetrator, treating them as a victim, which often broke through their psychological defenses.

appeal seemed to reach Don.

that bull! You cops talk a good

and my daughter, we’ve gone to the school authorities, to the cops, to deal with those five beasts more than once! Just because they come from influential families, they just walk

anger. The Elmsworth Academy of Fine Arts was outside their jurisdiction; only now, with a criminal case, had they been

– protecting the elite’s offspring and the collusion of

I understand

opened her swollen eyes, her frail voice shedding its prior terror for a touch of heartbreaking

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Chapter 683

what your daughter

“What did you say?!”

your daughter walk out of the shadow, and find justice,” Marilla struggled against the suffocating fear, which made her barely speak

can a frail girl like you do?!”

am Marilla Abernathy from the Abernathy family. Don’t believe me? Check your phone right now.”

sweat, “My brother is the CEO of the Abernathy Group, Thaddeus Abernathy. My sister–in–law is an Ashbourne heiress, Evadne.

other girl would have been paralyzed with fear, but Marilla managed to stay rational in the face of doom, crafting an

is

who didn’t have a smartphone these days,