Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 817

I stared at Hayden, my mind spinning. I'd thought he was Wayne's hostage, but now? He wasn't just an accomplice-he'd turned on Lena. Why not take me instead? Was it because he couldn't bring himself to hurt me? Or was this some twisted plan to use Lena against us? The chaos around us stopped cold. Everyone froze, their eyes locked on Hayden. His icy glare swept the crowd, finally settling on Aaron.

"Mr. Ace," Hayden said sharply, his voice slicing through the silence. "You know what to do."

Aaron was here too, though earlier he'd been attacked, kept from helping Lena. Now he stood frozen, his gaze fixed on her.

"Let her go," Aaron said. "I'll take her place."

"You know what happens to people who waste my time," he said flatly. The warmth I once knew in his voice was gone, replaced by something cold and unrecognizable.

I couldn't stay silent any longer. "Hayden, why are you doing this?" I yelled.

He glanced at me-just for a second-before turning his attention back to Aaron, his gaze sharp, oppressive, full of unspoken threats.

Lena, to my shock, stayed calm, her face steady. Meanwhile, I was shaking.

"Hayden!" I shouted again, desperate. "If you need a hostage, take me! I'm pregnant-it's not just me you'd be hurting! Take me instead!" "Shut up," he snapped, his voice ice-cold.

bit deeper into Lena's skin, a

screamed, my

I'll arrange a helicopter to get you out

they kill me. What

she'd

I cried, trembling, turning back to Hayden. "Please, don't do this! Hayden, if you have

cracking under the weight of my plea. But his face stayed cold, emotionless, like the

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you hurt her, I'll never forgive you-never! Not in this lifetime or the next!

talking to a wall. He didn't flinch, didn't react. He

hold back anymore. "You're a monster, Hayden! You're not even human! Did you forget everything you promised me before you

my anger, "Don't waste your

pulled out his phone and made the call. "Send a helicopter

no choice but

chaos had quieted, but the air was thick with tension, heavy with a dread that made every second feel like

unwavering. There was worry in his gaze, fear, and something deeper-something that looked a lot like love, the