Hugh Jones erupted into cruel laughter, relishing the sight of Kingswell's fighters dropping one by one.
Jasmine watched in horror, her face drained of color as the brutal truth sank in—they never had a chance.
"See?" Hugh mocked, eyes glinting with twisted amusement.
"They came here to save you, and look how pathetic they turned out. Weak. Useless."
Hugh suddenly reached out, gripping Jasmine's hair roughly, inhaling deeply with sickening pleasure.
"Vancouver is weak," he growled softly. "Chicago is going to swallow it whole. You’d be smart to accept the deal I’ve offered you."
Jasmine glared, her eyes fiery despite her fear.
"Marry you?" she scoffed bitterly.
"It's the best deal you'll ever get," Hugh sneered, gripping her hair tighter.
"Dupont and Hernandez are planning to reduce Vancouver to ashes. Our wedding would save it."
She laughed sharply, contempt dripping from every note.
"And conveniently put Vancouver, my father, and Kelly under your thumb. You’d control three territories at once."
"And you'd have Chicago," Hugh argued smoothly, arrogance thick in his voice. "It would be the political marriage of the century."
Jasmine stared at him coldly. "Maybe so."
Hugh smiled triumphantly, misreading her. "Then let's make it official. Everyone wins."
"Except," Jasmine snapped fiercely, "I already have a man."
"You mean that nobody, Alex?" Hugh spat out the name with venom.
"He's the reason Hernandez and Dupont want Vancouver in flames. Are you really willing to sacrifice an entire city for that worthless piece of garbage?"
Jasmine’s laugh rang out defiantly. "For Alex, I would burn this whole world down without a second thought."
In a sudden burst of defiance, she grabbed a full wine glass and hurled it straight into Hugh’s face, the liquid splattering violently.
"And stop touching me! Every part of me belongs only to Alex!"
Hugh's expression darkened dangerously, his eyes flaring with rage.
"Fine, princess," he hissed through gritted teeth. "I’ll let this insult slide today. But mark my words—I’ll shatter your spirit and break your heart."
His voice dripped with lethal promise. "When I finally have Alex, I'll snap every bone in his body right in front of you."
Jasmine met his chilling gaze unflinchingly. "You better hope Alex doesn't get to you first."
In a sudden fit of rage, Hugh grabbed the wine bottle from the table and swung it brutally at Jasmine’s face.
The glass exploded, shards slicing her skin open, blood streaming down her cheek.
Yet, despite the agony pulsing through her skull, Jasmine held Hugh’s eyes, unwavering.
Blood dripped steadily, painting her pale skin crimson, yet her voice came steady and ice-cold.
"You've just sealed your fate. Alex despises nothing more than someone hurting me."
Outside the villa, the bald man tore away Four’s clothes with vicious intent, eyes glinting with predatory hunger.
"You're gonna scream my name tonight," he promised with vulgar excitement, licking his lips obscenely.
"After I'm done, every night you'll dream about me."
Four’s courage evaporated, leaving behind sheer terror as reality crashed down on her.
She had stormed in ready for battle, but never anticipated such overpowering brutality. Despair clutched her heart tightly, squeezing out every drop of hope.
"It’s over," she whispered brokenly, eyes wide with dread. The bald man and his companions towered over them, merciless and unstoppable.
They were wolves, and she was nothing more than prey caught in their savage grip.
These attackers were special forces, a ruthless breed far superior to anything she and her comrades had faced before.
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